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microcalcifications

Hi I had a breast biopsy in 2000, since then I have a mammogram faithfully yearly. 11-02-09 I had my yearly exam. A few days later my doctor called wanting me to have a second follow up exam on 11-11-09.  Today 11-17-09 I received a phone call from my doctors office wanting me to schedule for a biopsy due to microcalcifications which has increased in interval.  I am so scared. I question the lady who did my breast exam as to why microcalcifications wasn't mention last year.  Also why the radiologists didn't know about my previous biopsy.  Well to make a long story short she became very angry with this horrible attitude. I only wanted answers due to the nature of my situations. I just don't understand how or why a person in her profession would take a frighten womans questions in my situation personal. Needless to say she added to my problem.  I hope no other woman would have to go through what I had to go through with such an attitude today and also having to deal with being upset and scared to death. My biopsy is schudeled for thursday 11-19-09 this forum really helped me more than anyone will ever know god bless.
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Hey Sophie, It's so good to hear from you. I'm so glad that you are doing well. That new beautiful baby will keep you young and vibrant. Today was my 5th treatment. I'm a little tender around the nipple at this point. Yes spiritual guidance is powerful. The cream they gave me is called DimethiCreme Skin Protectant by Hollister Woundcare. I finally bought the Crystal Deodorant yesterday.  I normally just wash with deodorant soap but now that I can't I found myself getting very ripe a few hours after using Dove lol.

You know it's very nice at the prat center all the cancer patients and their family members treat each other like one big happy family. I love the vibe of the atmosphere.   You are so good at remembering your dosages.  I can’t remember anything. I would have to check. Glad to hear the baby shower went well. It’s things like that that leads to a full recovery and knitting what a relaxing hobby. I’m glad to hear that you are getting your rest.  I find myself good and ready for bed after treatments. My radi is at 5:30p.m which the center is approximately 40 mins away in good traffic so I’m usually home buy 8:pm but today I had to be there at 10:30 am.

I checked out the bralette it was only 58.00. Well Sophie can you believe we’re almost through this long road to fully recovering.  Keep KA6823 in your prayers. We are so blessed. Many blessing with the new grandbaby and to a great future, peace and love Faithhealing.

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Thanks so much for your help. Hope all is going well for you. Take care, Faithhealing.
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Thanks for the useful information and shortcuts!   I hope you are well.
sophie
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962875 tn?1314210036
I don't know if you are aware of this, but instead of having checking in to see if one of you has been  here, you can click on the + sign in the little green box near the top, to add this thread to you "watch list," and you will be notified by e-mail anytime a new reply had been added to this thread.

Or, better yet, you can PM one another from your profile page, and will also be notified by e-mail of any new messages. Or, if you all want to be able to see one another's communications, one of you could start a journal on her profile page, and then each of you could make comments there that all of you could see, and you would be similarly notified of new posts there.

Of course, you can also just continue as you have been, but some of the other methods of communication might make it easier or more efficient to keep in touch.

Best wishes to you all...
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Avatar universal
This is so very strange!  I haven't been on this site for such a long time as I've been on breastcancer.org discussion board for patients who stated rads in January.  You may want to check it out as it's a good source of sharing and information on side effects, tips and just general support.  

Anyway, faithhealing, I was thinking about you today and decided to come on line to see what's going on, and there you are!  Talk about spirit guidance!  I'm glad to see you've finally started treatments and I too wonder how KA6823 is doing.  If she's out there I hope she checks in as well.

My rads are the Canadian fraction....16 tx plus 3 boosts.  Friday was tx #13 and I had a CT scan for measurements and prep for the boosts to start on Thursday.  As far as SEs, so far I'm just a wee bit pink and have been using the gel they onc nurse gave me when I started treatment.  It's a prescription gel called RadiaPlex and I use it morning and night.  My tx sessions were at 3:45 and recently changed to 3:30 as 2 patients completed their tx.  As far as fatigue, I've been so busy with commuting back and forth to work/treatments, preparing for the big baby shower for my daughter (which was last Saturday and a huge success if i do say so myself), it's hard to tell if my fatigue is from tx or life!  I've also had a great deal of pain dealing with my knee which needs knee replacement and I'm not taking any drugs for it...it's quite debilitating but I'm just dealing with it since there's enough going on in my life right now.  

I've spent today knitting baby hats, reading and resting so I guess I AM a bit tired.  Actually, I do try to shift into low gear on Sundays just to allow for some rest...reminding myself that I am dealing with quite a lot of STUFF, and need to be good to myself. And, if I don't do it, my good friends remind me to take it easy.  They were such great help at the shower last week.  Take care and give a shout, sophie
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Hey Sophie how are you?  You should be done with your radiation treatments by now.  Would you believe I just started my treatments Thursday?  My oncologist went out of town the week I was due to start at the same time as you. I don't know, I guess this is the result of having appointments during the holidays because my surgeon went out of town back in December when I were due to have surgery.  Anyway, Just wanted to touch bases with you. I don't know if you got my last message a few weeks ago or not since I didn't hear from you.  I haven't been on the forum in weeks myself. I've been stressed waiting for my treatments to start now that they’ve finally started my spirit is back up. Take care, Faithhealing. Oh my first treatment left me very tired.  How about you? I message KA6823 hopes she's doing well.  I felt her vibe as to how frighten she was. She was like I was when I first found out.
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How are you? I don't know if you or Sophie still come on the forum or not. I haven't been on here in awhile myself.  Just want you to know that I still think of you. I'm passed the scare of it all but I still keep you in my prayers. Would you believe I just started radiation Thursday?  My oncologist is good but slow. In the beginning she went out of town, as well as my surgeon.  I Guess that’s what happens when your appointments are scheduled during the holidays. Peace and Love faithhealing.
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Hi KA6823, I was diagnosed with microcalifications category 4 stage 0 suspicious abnormality also but the biopsy showed that the microcalifications had not increased but biopsy showed DCIS in the cluster shape and were located in the ducts. I’ve been so tired here lately.  I guess it’s from the stress of it all and the healing from the surgery.

It’s very normal for you to feel the way that you do, due to not knowing. I had mixed emotions during the waiting period but like you stated prayer works and I will continue to pray for you my dear. You are so blessed to have a sister in that field. I’m sure she will shed light for you during your waiting period keep your faith and take care of yourself. faithhealing
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Hey Sophie. I am working overnight again. I appreciate your looking at your report and sharing it with me. I know you are glad all of that is behind you and you have something that is extremely curable. I have a sister that is an administrator of a oncology radiation clinic and she has had 4 biopsies in the past and her last was dysplasia. She is watched closely and could possibly never turn into cancer. She says women do extremely well with insite results. You are blessed. I hope I will be as blessed. I do not have a good feeling. I wasnt being watched every 6 months this time.

Hope you and Faithhealing are great and excited about the new year. Take care and keep me in your prayers..I feel that you are and I appreciate it.
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Avatar universal
Hello KA,
I did have microcalcifications that had increased from the last diagnostic mammo six months prior.  I looked back at the report at that time and it didn't mention pleomorphic or amorphous...just "increasing microcalcifications ...that are indeterminate...cannot exclude the possibility of DCIS.  Stereotactic guided biopsy of the calcifications is advised for further evaluation.  ACR Category 4 - suspicious abnormality"

I'm happy to hear you're going to schedule your biopsy very soon.  I will keep you in my prayers so that you can get scheduled quickly to avoid the torture of waiting and wondering which is so difficult.  God bless, KA.  Sophie
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Hey girls. I really took time off from everything. Now back to work and back to thinking and planning. I will call next week and set up my biopsy. I am scared. I think you both are sooo very blessed you have insite. That is very curable.

Did either of you have the type of microcalcificaitons noted on your mammo? Amophoric or pleo something? Just curious...

You both are on the road to strong healthy living. There is a reason why yours was found early. Be blessed...That is so wonderful. I hope I am so lucky.

God bless, Happy New Year...and keep me and my biopsy in your prayers. Prayer works....Just look at both of you......
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Hey Sophie, I'm up later than normal. I'm so happy that your cancer was non-invasive so was mine when the radiologist explained that to me right before prep on surgery day I was able to breath alot better knowing that the cancer had not traveled out side the milk ducts. I'm with you on this waiting game it's less stressful now after all we've been through with waiting and not knowing. We have jumped the big hurdle. Thank god for that. My appointment was cancelled and rescheduled for January 12th with the oncologist and I'm scheduled for another consultation with my doctor at the breast center on the 29th.  Radiation should follow in the first week of February. All of these appointments are a bit confusing. I really wish they had another medical treatment other than radiation but I realize I’m blessed that I do not have to have chemo.  Like you I’m in a dream like state that I will also be a breast cancer survivor the first in my family ever. On to better and brighter days, your new found friend, faithhealing.
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Dear faithhealing and KA,
Well, it's post-Christmas and time to continue treatment consults...had my consultation with the radiation oncologist today and I like him very much.  He spent a good deal of time with me explaining (and drawing pictures) breast cancer in general and specifically my DCIS diagnosis and path results.  He agreed that the mammosite option was probably not the best option for me and explained everything about the standard rad treatment, what to expect, etc.  Before finalizing anything though, he wanted to discuss my case with the surgeon and the pathologist because of the 1mm margin area from the path report.  So I should know more he said by Thursday noon.  Then we set up 2 "planning" sessions a few days apart...one for all the measurements and whatever else there is, and the second for a "dry run" simulation to make sure everything is set up.  Treatment would start then probably around the 2nd or 3rd week of January.  Also, he mentioned the shorter version of treatment now used for DCIS, the "Canadian" option which is higher rad doses over shorter duration...total radiation is less than the standard 5 weeks plus 1 week boost.  I think he said 3 weeks plus 1 week boost.

Anyway, it looks like there are a few more days of waiting and wondering, but frankly, ladies, after the past month, it seems I'm getting better at coping with the waiting and wondering...not as anxious as during those first couple of weeks.

However (and this is a big one), as I listened to him I began to realize this IS REAL.  I really DO have to go through this radiation stuff.  I DO have cancer...perhaps as they say a "good" kind of cancer since it's non-invasive, but still have to go through treatment to prevent the Big C Invasion.  Later today as I was out and about it hit me right between the eyes.  This is REALLY happening and this is going to be with me the rest of my life.  Wow.  I really will be a survivor once I get through it all.

And you will too!  When are your appts?
Best, sophie  
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Hi there KA6823. I hope you had a merry Christmas. I know this is a hard time for you right now but like all things this to shall pass.  I'm finally at a point where I'm not worried daily about this unexpected/unfortunate scary thing that has seemed to have snuck up on us. My oncologist appointment was cancelled and rescheduled. I can't wait to hear from Sophie so she can let me know what to expect. I thought about you Christmas day and prayed that you were holding up with not telling your family until after the holidays. Like always keep your spirit up. Peace and love faithhealing.
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Hey Sophie, hope all is well an that you had a wonderful christmas. We're almost at the new year!  My appointment was cancelled today and rescheduled for January 12th with the oncologist.  Once again the doctor is out of town for the holiday and will not return until after the new year. So, how did your appointment with your oncologist go?
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To faithhealing and KA,
Just returned from my daughter and son-in-law's Christmas Eve celebration....good time with family and friends and time away from even THINKING about BC.  Just wanted to leave a message that I'm thinking about you and wishing you both a very blessed and peaceful Christmas.  Best, sophie
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Hey Sophie305 and KA6823 I've been with my sister since noon during last minute christmas shopping and I just wanted to take time out to wish you guys a merry christmas.

Sophie thanks so much on the info about the bra. I've been wearing a sports bra but its not that great for sleeping. I will certainly check into getting one like yours. Comfort while sleeping is what I'm missing.  Yes isn't it strange how we're both on the same appointment scheduling? I'm so happy for you and your good news lets continue to pray peace and love faithhealing.
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Great news. I know you are relieved. I hope to hear from faithhealing soon. I will enjoy my holiday. Keep me in your prayers. God Bless your wonderful results.

Merry Christmas and Blessed New Year
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Hello KA,
Good to hear from you and thank you for your prayers!  Good news last night that margins are clean and I'll be moving to next phase of radiation.  Appointment with radiation oncologist on Tuesday the 29th.  Take some time to rest during this busy season...you'll want to build up your strength for January snows and whatever may be in God's plan for 2010.  Have a beautiful Christmas with family and friends and keep in touch.  God bless, sophie
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I am hoping and praying for you both today. Women are so strong, they really are. You are both in my deepest prayers and are well on your way to healing and bouncing back. I feel tired and diddnt even have surgery. I think the weather and time of year pushes us to our max. I love snow, and I took this snow as a good omen.

Fingers crossed for both of you while on bended knee.
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Dear faithhealing,
Happy to hear your stitches are coming out tomorrow.  Perhaps you'll also get your path results tomorrow as well.  I'm hoping to hear my results tomorrow as well so we can compare notes.  My stitches are supposed to dissolve but I've not been able to take the dressing off yet.  I guess I just don't want to see it yet.  How is your energy level?  I can't believe how tired I still feel.  Of course the snow and gloom don't help much.  I've decided I'm going to work from home tomorrow rather than take the chance of commuting into the city only to get there totally worn out.

Good luck tomorrow, sophie
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Just a quick note to say hi! Thanks so much I just read your note today it lift my spirit to know that people like you guys care.  I'm waiting for my pathology report now but my surgeon will remove the stitches Monday. Take care faithhealing.
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Dear KA and Faithhealing,
The first couple of days I was pretty energetic but yesterday afternoon I think I overdid it..decided to go out for a manicure/pedicure and ended up exhausted....albeit lookin' good!  I've done nothing today but rest and knit, no energy to work from home.  Breast is a little sore since yesterday...not bad just occasionally uncomfortable.

My surgeon called tonight to say he'd heard from the pathologist who said the report wouldn't be ready until Monday...there were lots of slides of tissue that he's studying for margins.  Surgeon said not to take this as any indication that something is wrong...only that they're checking everything.  

Yes, KA, radiation will follow.  I've been told I may be a candidate for partial breast irradiation (sometimes called Mammosite) but now I'm not so sure that's the best choice....there is alot out there about how great it is but still plenty of opinion that it's not been used long enough to provide enough survival data as compared to standard rad therapy.  I have an appt with radiation oncologist on 29Dec09 so I'll find out then.

Time to go back to rest...I feel so lazy...but I'm sure I'll be ready to go to work by Monday.  Prayers and peace to both, sophie
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Sophie and Faithhealing, I am so happy to hear that both of yours went well. Merry Christmas for sure. Let me hear how you are feeling as the week goes by.

So will be there any radiation next? I do believe in herbs by the way. I used it for my sciatic nerve that never got better with prescription meds and for neuralgia in my head that never got better with meds either.

God is good and his arms are open to all of us. I hope I dont show any cancer but if I do, I pray for it to be insite.

Prayers to both of you...
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