I just got a call with the results of my monogram. I have to go back in for further tests. They found calcium deposits in my right breast. She said there was a 80% chance there was nothing wrong. I'm afraid...I'm not thinking positive here. Anyone know anything about calcium deposits and if this could be cancer or lead to cancer? Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

calcium deposits are quite commomly seen on a mammogram. They can be due to many things, the vast majority of which are not serious. There are various shapes and patterns; some can be recogized right away to be nothing. Others may need further evaluation. Cancer is one of the things that sometimes will cause calcium deposits (they either are, or are not due to cancer: they don't turn into it later). Of the patterns that are considered "suspicious," around 90% still turn out ok. Of the ones that are due to cancer, in most cases it's a very early and highly curable kind, which is why mammograms are good: they are the only way to find cancer that early when it's nearly 100% curable. So, in your case, the odds are very high that it'll turn out to be nothing; and even if it were due to cancer, the odds are great that it would be highly curable.

Thank You, sid114, for your quick reply. Hopefully the more I know about this the more confident I'll feel. The tests are scheduled for Friday. I'm not handling this well...Friday is such a long way off.
Again, Thank you.

Good luck, Gin. I sure hope everything turn out okay for you.

How did the tests go today?

Gin? Did you hear about Friday's results yet? I'm thinking about you...and hoping for the best

Thanks you Honi, Nellie and Giz for your concern.

Friday the doctor did a Stereotactic Large Core Biopsy. I won't get the results until Tuesday...more waiting. I had been so depressed, my hubby insisted we to away for the week end with friends to get my mind off things. I was just having run away thoughts. Concentrating on the worst. If this is cancer, I was told it was caught very early and very curable.

I was given just about the same information as our own sid1114 said above. Isn't Answerpool wonderful?

Hey Doctor Sid...I thank you for being here.

I have been avoiding this topic until I had good news...Well, I have good news.

The biopsy showed I had pre cancer but when I saw the surgeon, she said it was cancer, Ductal Carcinoma. I had a lumpectomy done this pass Wednesday and Friday was told they got it all. I still will have to have 6 weeks of radiation and possibly medication..BUT..I'm alright. I'll have to have mammograms done more frequently....I will still be very cautious.

The worst part, to be honest, was the depression. I was put on antidepressants but to be honest, I was ready for a padded room. I have never in my life had such feelings of hopelessness, sadness, and yes, wanting to die. Rudy, Jody, my son, my sister, Joyce, and niece Sheron and dear friends, Rita, Daniele, David, Diane, Judy, Chris, Yafa, Nellie...lots more, tried to keep me going but now I understand, how when you are depressed, nothing matters, except wanting to be numb..wanting the feeling to go away any way possible. I never want those feeling again. I understand now, I can sympathize with those who deal with depression every day.

I feel wonderful. Things I thought were SO important, aren't anymore and things I thought were not important, are...make since?

It's a beautiful day to be alive!!!

Wow, Gin....

I am so glad you are feeling better now. I have been struggling with depression myself, and know that feeling pretty well.

Congrats that things are being taken care of!

I had gone through lobular carcinoma in situ, which did not require radiation. It is true that I walk around with some breasts' calcifications which are not suspicious until revealed so by self-examination or mammogram. Other than performing monthly self-examination and getting a yearly mammogram followed by a doctor's examination, I suggest that you assess your lifestyle to make the chances of a new occurrence minimal or zero. Begin by eating a low-fat diet. Since you also claim to have suffered depression, I think that you can benefit from some sort of support group and from getting literature, etc. from national cancer groups. Ask about these groups at your hospital. On a positive note, I have had no new occurrence of breast cancer for over 10 years, but everyone who has had any cancer must be monitored closely on a continuing basis. I have had some more recent skin cancer bouts. Research has shown that to fight cancer, it is better to have a fighting attitude than a depressed one. So I am glad that you now better know the value of life's offerings.

Gin, it's great to see you feeling better.

Gin, I am so happy you are feeling better. Depression is an insidious feeling... sapping you of strength and resolve. We are here for you if you ever need to talk.

Sher