I had a mammogram last Friday. My first; it was just supposed to be a baseline. It wasn’t painful; it wasn’t much of anything, contrary to all the horror stories I’d been told. They told me that if I didn’t hear from them in a few days, the news was probably good. Well, I didn’t hear from them in a few days, so I assumed I was okay. Mr. Rilch is across the room from me, going through papers, and he handed me today’s mail, which I hadn’t seen yet. There are two letters from the
clinic where I had the mammogram. One says, “Your recent mammography examination showed a finding that requires additional imaging studies for a complete evaluation.” The other is a form that says, “The results of your recent medical tests are shown below: Mammogram: The [unreadable] showed calcium deposits.”
I am so scared. I went through this whole thing in 1994 and early 1995: the OB/GYN found a lump at the annual exam, which led to another exam, then to a sonogram, then to a needle biopsy, then to the diagnosis: “It’s nothing.” This could be nothing, too, but I’m five years older. And is a calcium deposit good or bad?
Remember, I’m pulling for you; we’re all in this together.
—Red Green
Often a calcium deposit shows up after the birth of a baby or breastfeeding, or it can just be some fatty tissue. I have a friend who went through this and it came out fine. Think positive!! I hope all goes well for you.
A true friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out…there are Angels among us
Hope this turns out to be nothing, sometimes it happens. My mum went through the same thing some months ago, but is now happily calm and healthy.
I know that I would be shit cared myself, so of course you are worried. But as canadian sue said, stay positive
take care, good thoughts coming your way.
Thank you. I know, logically, that there’s no need to panic until I get the results of Further Testing, but I can’t help having this feeling of “Oh god…it’s all happening again!” When I sign off, I’m going to call and make that appointment. I’ll keep y’all posted.
Remember, I’m pulling for you; we’re all in this together.
—Red Green
I know it’s scary but the odds are it’s nothing to worry about. The medical business always errs on the side of caution and we really wouldn’t want it any other way but it can be unpleasant at times.
I thought of a clever new sig line last night, but I forgot it when I woke up this morning.
Thanks, Rilch, for making me feel better by resolving to make the second appointment NOW.
My mother went through every “alternative” treatment in the book for the past four years, also suffering through two lumpectomies and a radical mastectomy.
Tonight she went in for her first-ever round of standard chemo; but it’s not for breast cancer anymore. It metastasized and there are tumors all over her bones and marrow. If the chemo doesn’t knock it down, she’ll be dead by March.
If it’s cancer, hit it hard and fast with the most powerful drugs you can afford. To do any less will put your family in the position I’m in: hindsight.
Rilch, try not to worry too much ok? As a former X-ray tech and current nuclear medicine tech, I have seen this a million times. It is pretty common for women to have these calcium deposits in their breasts. Especially, as Sue said above, after having children or going through some other hormonal change, such as menopause. As you know, it is SOP to take a biopsy of anything suspicious looking. It’s good that you have made a follow up already though, because, as Roach noted above, you wouldn’t want to give anything the chance to metastasize if it were something malignant. The odds are in your favor that it is nothing though, so keep the faith until you find out. Best wishes.
Calcium deposits may occur in a number of situations, as described above. Microcalicifications (many pinpoint calcium deposits) are the kind most likely to be cancer, but are still more likely not to be cancer.
You can’t help but worry in this situation, but it helps if you realize that worrying isn’t going to affect anything, but the fact that you have already made that follow-up appointment WILL! You will know one way or another sooner, and if the worst comes to be, you will have more choices & options and a MUCH better chance of beating it sooner rather than later.
{{{{{{Rilch}}}}}} my thoughts, prayers, and good wishes are with you. E-mail/IM anytime. I am not a subject matter expert, but can point you to good sources & help with perspective.
You’re not alone. I’m waiting the recommended 4 months to go back for a repeat mammogram to see if a lymph node is going away or growing.
Sue from El Paso
Experience is what you get when you didn’t get what you wanted.
Thank you all for thinking of me. No, I would never let something like this ride; the longer you wait, the worse off you are if it really turns out to be something. My appointment is for January 7th; I’ll post an update then. Anyway, hope I’m not bringing anyone down: this is Christmas Eve, and I’m just going to put it out of my mind. Blessed be to all!
Remember, I’m pulling for you; we’re all in this together.
—Red Green