Law of Sod this - I’d just ‘celebrated’ 2 years since my original dx in March 09 with a trip to Madeira. I had my annual mammogram the Friday before we left, and to be honest didn’t worry too much about it - I felt fine, I had no lumps or bumps, I’d just had my 6 month onc check - all was well in the world.
However 2 weeks had elapsed and I got a bit twitchy so rang my BCN last friday. No results but she said she’d chase them on Monday. Call on Monday, signs of calcification in left breast (the affected one) and further more detailed mammo wanted plus ultrasound scan plus - the bit that scares me - a core biopsy but under mammo squashed conditions - my original core biopspies were agony cos the local anaesthetic didn’t go far enuf into my boob, and I ended up taking Valium to let them do the 3rd one. All this is scheduled for Thursday, and my breast surgeon doesn’t know yet!
So that’s bad enough, and me being me, I’m thinki8ng the worst - prepare for that and if its good news its fine and if it’s not I’m ready. Am i right in thinking cos I’ve already had WLE on that breast (and ANC with 15/20 nodes affected) that the next step if surgery is required is MX? I recall you can’t have RT twice in eth same area, and have tehis vague wrecollection about surgery - can anyone confirm or deny as it were?
Any advice / experience anything appreciated. Oh yes, and the insult to injury - 2 weeks for results!! This is not fun.
Nina
So sorry you are having such a horrid time. Two weeks sounds like a long time to have to wait for results and waiting is nervraking so I really do sympathise.
A couple of years ago I had calcification to affected breast and had biopsy under steriotatic(?)ultrasound. It wasn’t the most pleasnt experience but nor was it as awful as you imagine. Take heart, it turned out that it was indeed calcification and not cancer. So as unsettling and as scary as it is the nweed for further investigation needn’t mean bad news.
I’m not sure about further surgery, I think it would depend upon exactly where the cancer was, I know you can’t have rads to same area but not sure further surgery would necessarily mean mx, hope someone else can answer you.
Sending you big hugs, try to remember calcification can be innocent.Let us know how you get on, Julie
Thanks for that response - anymore please - I really am worried sick about this. I thought having been there once I’d be comparitively ‘OK’ with another scare but I’m not.
Nina
Hi Nina, I too have had this miserable desease twicw I’m just out of the hosp Again!!! so don’t have the energy to rewrite my story , you can get a potted history under " I can’t believe it" in the newly diagnosed link. 4 weeks ago I had WLE and 2 days ago had SNB ( awaiting those results) I have been told I have to have another mx so to hopefully allay your fears it is possible to have WLE and go on to have mx and many have I think? I too have been scared,still am!!! More waiting!!! we get through it together eh???
hi Nina
i have had BC twice but in opposite sides, however i work in breast screening so can advise you a little on what might happen.
the stereotactic biopsy is done in the mammogram machine but you should be given plenty of local anaesthetic but if its sore tell them and ask for more LA as the biopsy shouldnt be sore.
there are lots of different calcifications so seeing them on mammo doesnt mean they are definitely the cancerous type… if they are the cancerous type (DCIS) they would often offer mastectomy as they generally dont like to give radiotherapy to the same area twice… if there is DCIS then there is always a possibility that there could also be an area of invasion and they would also check what ever nodes you have left and thats why they would want to do the ultrasound.
when i got the second cancer i was absolutely scared sh*tless at the time but with time i became less worried when i knew what i was dealing with… i think that fear of the unknown thing is always the horrible bit.
fingers crossed that it is only benign calcs.
lulu x
hi- I have just had my 6 monthly check up and mammogram -it’s 2 yrs since diagnosis (2.4 cm idc with dcis - SNB but no nodes ER + - had WLE and rads and tamoxifen) The mammo results weren’t ready at my appointment but got a letter today from breast unit saying that there have been some changes in my other breast which suggest further imaging is required-so am having an ultrasound next week. Am strangely calm really - anyone else had this ?
I too was called back after my 1year mamogram for more images. It turned out I have calcifications on my good side - they are diffuse, that is not like a bunch of grapes. So the plan is to have another mamo in Sept and see if there are any changes. I got myself worked up into a frenzy going through possible scenarios in my head. You are right to feel calm - wait and see. I got so stressed and wasted so much energy(which is in short supply).
Good luck and keep us posted.
thanks Dolly - hope all goes well for you
Quick update from me. Had biopsy done under ultrasound and it was OK - I think my problem first time round was my tumour - it didn’t like being touched as I had teh same problem with the guide by wire pre WLE. 2 weeks later however was told results ‘inconclusive’ and needed to be done again. Not a happy bunny, but waited the 3 days to have it done, took valium a bit earlier so more chance to work and hey presto - biopsy under mammogram machine. this wasn’t as bad as I’d imagined - they even let me sit - cos sometimes people faint which can’t be fun with your boob stuck in a machine!!
Results delayed due to no of bank holidays helping my fraught nerves not one iota but glad tidings on Tuesday that AOK! So thanks to all those who tried to reassure - I’ll try and take notice next time.
Nina
Glad all was ok, thanks for letting us know. Very pleased for you!
Julie xx
just reporting back- had a diagnostic paddle mammo today and there is only dense tissue,nothing more suspicious than that !
Brilliant Chipper! So pleased,thanks for telling us. Have a good weekend now!!
love julie x