Grouped calcifications on mammogram, worried
Hello!
I just got my first ever abnormal screening 3D mammogram, and I'm pretty anxious about it. I also just need to get something off my chest because I think I might have messed up my mammogram. I'm 52 with no family history of breast cancer. I've had at least 5 years of normal mammograms.
On my last mammogram, my right breast was normal, but the left one was birads 0 with the comment "grouped calcifications are seen in the mid to posterior left upper outer quadrant, 4.7 cm from the nipple". The recommendation is for magnified diagnostic mammogram with spot compression and possible ultrasound. The radiologist didn't say anything else about the type of calcification. I have very dense breasts as well.
I am kicking myself as well because on the day of this mammogram, I did put some Aveeno lotion on the arm and breast area. I did not wear deodorant, but for some reason I forgot about the lotion requirement. At the appointment, the tech only asked about whether I had deodorant on, to which I replied no, so we didn't do any additional cleansing. Also, she redid the the pictures on the left breast after looking at her initial ones, saying she needed to get more of the breast in there. That makes me wonder if she saw something.
I am wondering how common it is for lotion to cause problems on a 3D mammogram. I know deodorant does but I thought the lotion requirement was only so their equipment doesn't get mucked up, but apparently that's not the case. Yes, I know I should know better 😭. I wish I had not done that so at least I wouldn't have to wonder about it now.
Assuming it's not the lotion that is at fault, and there is some real calcifications in my breast, I've been reading and re reading the comment on the report and it just seems so generic I don't know what to think.
My diagnostic scan is scheduled for 9/17. Any advice or words of support are appreciated. I am not talking about it with my family yet because I don't want to worry them. I have only told 1 friend, who is living with stage 4 breast cancer, and she kind of panicked (understandably given her situation).
Comments
-
Hi @technimom, A BIRADS 0 result on a mammogram means that the image is not clear enough for the radiologist to evaluate. I wouldn’t worry about the lotion since you will be having diagnostic imaging. Now you know to skip the lotion as well as the deodorant.
After your next scan you will receive a BIRADS score of 1 to 5. Calcifications may or may not trigger a score of 4 or 5 and a biopsy, the only way of actually diagnosing cancer. Some but not all calcifications are suspicious. Hopefully nothing concerning will be found. All the best.
1 -
I have had this happen where I did not speak up and Machine looked dusty. I had call back and everything fine…or so I thought. I have years of mammos and no one said anything about calcifications being connected to cancer. I should have looked it up. I have dense breasts and go yearly for diagnostic mammo and sonogram. I would demand this. Dense breasts, you demand it. Anxiety. Demand it. I switched hospitals due to insurance and recently was told I needed biopsy for these same calcifications which were bi rads 4b grouped. To me they look the same ish on all imagery. None of the imagery is great. So I went for vaccum assisted core needle biopsy. They could not do. I am too small. I then was told to get a surgeon. I went for marker placement . Had surgery to remove calcifications. Before this I had to get pre op eval from primary care. I went out of network for these two doctors. I got results back today , benign. It was worth it to me to get this done but holy hell. This was one month of absolute torture. Stress . I am going to surgeon tomorrow and hoping I can be checked every six months. Statistically most things are benign but only if you catch them. I am stunned at the lack of tools they have. I am post menopause and my mother died of breast cancer 20 years ago. I feel like not much has changed. She was older than me when first diagnosed and no family history before her. Go back and demand diagnostic and you just tell them you need this everytime and it is your body and if insurance gives you a problem you can tell them you will bill them for mental health treatment. Squeaky wheel .
1
