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| 1/28/2012 | I am a 42 yr old female with no history of BC in my family,though I do have a family history of various cancers including blood cancers (my mother had leukemia and I have a sibling and a cousin who both had Hodgkins disease. My father had colon cancer.) I had a mammogram in early Dec 2011 (my first) and was called back for a diagnostic view,done on Jan. 11th. The radiologist called for a stereotactic biopsy due to microcalcification cluster (3mm) in my right breast. This was done on Jan. 19th and I got the results on Jan. 25th - benign - thankfully. I do have many questions though. My birad score (I got copies of all reports) was 4. Calcifications were described as heterogeneous and linear. I have been doing some research online and from what I have read,that describes the type that are suspicious - which I suppose is why they ordered a biopsy. They have recommended another mammo of just the right breast in 6 months. While I am thrilled to have come back benign, I have concerns about the future because I have read several cases about women with benign results that end up with DCIS and other BC later. Is it inevitable? I also read that some women are followed again in 3 months rather than 6 but they have advised me 6. My gyn said that 3 months would be if I had not had a biopsy - since I was benign,they feel safe with waiting 6. Do you recommend the same? I did not seek a second opinion on my mammo before the biopsy as it did not occur to me. I do like my gyn and I was very impressed with the radiologist. My gyn likes him very much as well. Still, should I consider a second opinion on the mammo? I have read about people getting second opinions on pathology as well but is that ever done in the case of a benign result? My report read "yielded benign findings,breast tissue with calcifications and fibrosis." I have no reason to believe that the pathologist is not competent but I just have concerns when I read all the varied information on micro calcifications and the differing views on BC, all the types of it and approaches to diagnosis and treatment. Thank you for taking the time to read my questions. | ||
| Replied | JHU's Breast Center Reply | ||
| 1/28/2012 | First let's focus on the good news- benign findings!!! and I'm glad to hear that you are now going for annual mammograms!! No doubt that the linear formation of the microcalcifications triggered a birad 4 score and subsequent biopsy. A tiny clip should have been placed where the tissue was removed that was biopsied too. that's important so that in 6 months the radiologist can look at specifically at the area where the biopsy was performed to ensure all remains looking fine. The standard of care is a 6 month follow up. It is further reassuring that they made sure that what was contained in the biopsy (a sample of these calcs) were in fact found by the pathologist looking under the microscope. For bi-rad 4a, 80% are benign and 20% are malignant. so it makes sense that you fell into the majority. that's good!! calcs don't "turn into" cancer. they either are or are not cancer. all women get calcs in the breast at some point in time in their lifetime. a breast injury can even cause them-- something as simple as a bruise that you don't even see. the cancers in your family are thankfully not linked to developing breast cancer either. sorry though you have had so many people with cancer. statistically, 50% of men and 33% of women at some point in time in their life time will develop cancer. sad buy true. All the more reason why research continues to eventually put a stop to all of this we hope. Be well dear. take care and again, i'm proud of you for beginning your annual screening. hopefully you will inspire someone else to begin doing the same. | ||
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