Thanks for all the support. I am going out of town for a couple of days and won't have my next appt. with my Dr. until Tuesday morning.
I had my appt. The magnified view showed that the mass is round and appears to be just a calcification. Two radiologists looked at it in the magnified view and both said it was not stellated/spiculated. I have an appt. with the surgeon on Sept. 27th. I suspect that she will tell me then that she can take it out or leave it in. I am inclined to have it removed just to be on the safe side.
Removal is a great idea, it is the best way to know for sure. The pain and discomfort is very minimal and very doable. I missed just the day of work for surgery and was back the next day. Breast was sore, but did not interfere with working for me.
Please keep us posted!
Lori
Please keep us posted!
Lori
Were you able to do it awake or did they have to put you out?
Did it leave a big indentation? Idon't care really, just curious.
They used a local anesthesia but put me under a twilight. I have no recollection after being wheeled into the OR and then waking up in recovery. I think it is pretty standard to use this for a lumpectomy. I was told not to drive that night but returning to work the next day was ok. As long as I did not apply pressure to the breast, I had no pain. Cosmetically, it will depend on where the lump is and how big and what tissue comes out with it. I had a lumpectomy twice, and since it was cancer, they took a lot of tissue out. The second time was to clear a margin, but I am much smaller on that side now (too bad, I was smaller on that side to start!). I notice that it is flatter on the outer side too, but I am ok with it.
To just remove a lump that is benign, I would think would leave a great cosmetic result. Good luck!
Lori
To just remove a lump that is benign, I would think would leave a great cosmetic result. Good luck!
Lori
I agree that the best idea is to have it removed. It is easy surgery, you do have some light anesthesia. There should be no reason you couldn't go to work the next day. I had one on Friday just to be sure and never missed work. Let us know when you are going to have it done and we will be with you in spirit to hold your hand.
I just realized I forgot to mention the indentation question. I had two biopsies. One left no indentation at all, the other left quite a large one. I guess it depends on the location. But I wanted to let you know that the big indentation filled out on it's own within a year or so. You could never see either scar after they healed.
Hugs MK
Post Edited (gma) : 8/26/2005 11:51:48 AM (GMT-6)
I did call today and request that they get a second opinion on the films, if they hadn't already, so that it would be on hand for the next appt. I will keep in touch after that appt.
I haven't gotten back to this because a lot has been going on. I had my appt. in Sept. and got a clean bill on my right breast. However, when the surgeon did a manual check of the left breast, a lump was detected deep in the left breast anterior to the nipple and just above the rib cage. I had a mammogram that same day and an ultrasound two days later. The results came back suspicious and now I am scheduled for a breast MRI in a city 2 hours away.
My question now is whether the MRI is done to determine whether or not I need a biopsy, or if the MRI is in place of a biopsy. Will the MRI show conclusively whether or not is is cancer?
Hi and thanks for coming back to us! I am not sure about the MRI as I never had one...but I think the MRI may tell them more about it or may detect any other abnormalities besides what is seen on the films. Frankly, if the u/s indicated it was suspicious, I am not sure why they don't just schedule surgery to remove it. My hunch is they are using the MRI to look at the whole breast and not just the lump....
Good luck!
Lori
Usually the MRI is for a better look, and as Lori said, they are most likely checking the whole breast and possibly the other breast, too? If the word suspicious was used I would not stop until I had a surgical biopsy. Removal of the lump may be all that is necessary, but I would insist on getting that done. Hugs MK
Well, I just hope tomorrow puts some definition into this whole scenario. At this point I don't care how it turns out...just tell me, darnit. I'm ready to deal with whatever it is or isn't. I just need to know and have the waiting over with.
hi, just read your article and yes, i too was diagnosed with calcification in my right breast. Went to the surgeon two days ago and now i am waiting for an appointment with a special radiologist for a biopsy to be done. My doctor said that it may be nothing but could also be the beginning of something. He told me that my very worst scenario would be if that it is cancer, i would need a surgery to remove just a little portion of the breast where the calcification is spotted.
The waiting is the most miserable part for me - the rest i can accept - i just say WHATEVER God. Amen. AmazingGraceIM@aol.com wishing you well.
I had a biopsy after the MRI came back. <!--StartFragment -->! BENIGN CELLS!!!!! WHEW AND WHEW AGAIN.
I just popped the cork on a nice bottle of red wine.
I just popped the cork on a nice bottle of red wine.
the hardest part really is the waiting. I was ready to deal with losing both breasts. Now, no matter what happens down the road, I have learned I can deal with whatever happens. Thankfully I get to keep my little babies.
Thanks to all for listening and being so supportive.
Dinah (my name is really Dinah)
Great news Dinah!!! B9 is what we all like to hear! I am glad you are fine. I don't have any wine, but I will pop open a cold beer with you to celebrate! (Twist my arm, LOL) Hugs and take care, Gail
"Inside this body lies that of a skinny lady. But I can usually shut her up with chocolate.".
"Inside this body lies that of a skinny lady. But I can usually shut her up with chocolate.".
Wonderful news!!!! B-9 is best. Hugs MK
hi, doesn't seem as if anyone has posted here for a while but any info or conversation i can get on microcalcifications will be greatly appreciated. specifically, i just had a digital mammogram where microcals were spoted and biopsy was suggested. a surgeon was recommended but i can't get in for at least one month. i simply can't wait that long -- i'll go crazy. i've tried to call others but have to wait til monday to try again. is there some secret to getting in to these doctors and is the biopsy usually done on the first visit or do they refer you to someone else? thanks for any help....i'm pretty nervous....the biopsy is supposed to be to rule out any cancerous cells.
Hi Sadie-
Yeah, it doesn't seem like anyone has been using this sight in a while! I just went through 3 mammos, a sonogram and mri to find that I have microcalcifications that need to be biopsied. I only have to wait a week until the procedure which is being done by a technician and radiologist- it is a steriotactic biopsy. I'm learning all I can about it- the Dr will call in 2 to 3 days after with the results and we'll go from there. Good luck to you and me!
Penguin1
Penguin1, this is a very old thread that "sadie me" dredged up! Most people start a new thread. Anyway, let me tell you that this is an active board. Many on this board have been together for 10 years or so, and we keep adding new people all the time! So there is a wealth of knowledge about breast cancer. I started a new thread re: sadie me's post, so people would perhaps notice it.
Good luck to both of you!
BEV
"There's a difference between a philosophy and a bumper sticker." --Charles Schulz
"There's a difference between a philosophy and a bumper sticker." --Charles Schulz
Hi there...
I was hesitant about posting but everyone sounds so great here that thought maybe I can share as well..
Trying to make a short as poss. story...I'm in the midst of waiting out my 6 month follow-up diagnostic mammogram due to microcalcifications in the right breast, a few of which were grouped. No lumps were seen. Weren't there in last mammo 1 year and 10 months ago...I have had an enlarged axillary lymph node right side as well that has slowly grown over the past 2 years..there is now maybe another I can feel as well. I know everyone is probably thinking why on earth have I not has the node checked out yet!? I have no health coverage and go to the health dept. and have mentioned the enlarging node several times in the past but they've just run bloodwork and said no worries. I FINALLY had the last dr. FEEL the node and he finally sched. me with a surgeon to have it biopsied. I know the link between axilla lymph nodes and breast cancer....this can possibly not have a "good" outcome. To top it all off and this one IS my fault I may possibly have a lump or more like a mass in the right breast. Haven't had a breast exam in years.If anyone has had cancerous lumps please let me know about them! I have extremely dense breasts also. OK, I know pretty irresponsible on my part but gosh, I nursed 3 out of 4 children and if anyone knows what that is supposed to do for your chances of having breast cancer...well.....I really welcome any input good or bad from anyone and I promise my future posts will not be this long... 
I'm new and don't know what these silly icons mean. Long ago- 1999 i was dx with micro calsand did nothing but read what I could. Two years later I had Stage II BC. Do not wait 6 months. Find a BC surgeon who is a woman and act fast