I wanted to ask this here. I do believe some of the best breastfeeding minds are here on MDC. (I am going to cross-post this in Health & Healing and Breastfeeding Beyond Infancy. Mods, please offer guidance if I should post elsewhere. I'm just looking for thoughts, ideas, theories, etc. (I am not looking for debates on whether or not to have mammograms, or any medical treatments. Thanks.)
My sister was diagnosed with breast cancer at 38, and by the extent of it, it appeared the cancer had been present and growing for many years. I am 31, and just had my first digital mammogram to establish a baseline. To my shock (and to my dr's), it came back abnormal for BOTH breasts. My mammogram results showed many clusters and some pairs of microcalicifications bilaterally, in both breasts. It states that the micrcocalcifications in my breasts are in a "mildly nodular pattern which is stable." The report says there are also "some punctate calcifications" and "dense parenchyma." Of course, I had to start googling as soon as I read the report.
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"Microcalcifications are specks of calcium that may be found in an area of rapidly dividing cells. The residue left by rapidly dividing cells can appear as microcalcifications. When many are seen in a cluster, they may indicate a small cancer. About half the cancers detected appear as these clusters."
http://ww3.komotv.com/Global/story.asp?S=1230164
"Microcalcifications, specks of calcium found in an area of rapidly dividing cells, are the first sign of breast cancer in more than half of all cases."
http://publicaffairs.uth.tmc.edu/hle...tion-1007.html
"Macrocalcifications are bigger bits of calcium, and are not usually linked to breast cancer.
Microcalcifications are quite tiny bits of calcium, and may show up in clusters, or in patterns (like circles or lines) and are associated with extra cell activity in breast tissue."
http://breastcancer.about.com/od/mam...ifications.htm
"Microcalcifications: Microcalcifications are tiny specks of calcium in the breast. They may show up alone or in clusters. Microcalcifications seen on a mammogram are more of a cause for concern, but still usually do not mean that cancer is present. The shape and layout of microcalcifications help the radiologist judge how likely it is that cancer is present. In most cases, the presence of microcalcifications does not mean a biopsy is needed. But if the microcalcifications have a suspicious look and pattern, the radiologist may recommend a biopsy.."
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/co...ocedures_5.asp
"Calcification. With high-quality films and use of a magnifying glass, detection of microcalcification should not be a perceptive problem. Many cases of high-grade ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), the most common subtype found in screening practice, exhibit specific mammographic features of casting type microcalcification due to comedo necrosis (Figure 4). This type of DCIS accounts for 54% of DCIS detected in screening practice.[14] However, many cases of high-, intermediate-, or low-grade DCIS are detected on mammography as clusters of microcalcification with mammographic features indistinguishable from appearances due to benign change (Figure 5). In fact, on review of previous mammograms of newly diagnosed DCIS, punctate microcalcification, and clusters containing <10 ecks of microcalcification were more common. Ductal carcinoma in situ showing more typical malignant features such as the rod shapes and a ductal distribution were more common at the time of diagnosis[15] (Figure 6). Therefore, early detection of high-grade DCIS requires recall and assessment of both mammographically suspicious and nonspeci c, indeterminate microcalcification clusters."
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/462246_4
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Here is what I'm wondering. I did extended breastfeeding, and child-led weaning. I still had milk present in my breasts (albeit not very much) when my son was 3 years old. My child is now 4, and I have no more milk. I cannot express any, and haven't been able to for a year.
I'm wondering if the extending nursing (having milk present in the mammary glands) for years could have caused all of these "abnormal microcalifications." I'm wondering if maybe having such calcium in the breasts may be "normal" for women who have nursed for a long time.
I have done extensive searches online, but haven't really found anything to truly validate my theory. I did read in a few places that sometimes some microcalifications may be from having milk in the mammary glands. However, I don't currently have milk. But I am wondering if it could be the vestiges from when I had so much milk - since I have SO MANY microcalcifications.
Please offer input. I am anxious, so good vibes are also welcome. I am having a second radiologist look at the mammogram results. As of now, the plan is to retest in April to see if any microcalcifications have grown or changed. If they have, then to go from there. On one hand, I'm relieved to wait until April. I always try to resolve things naturally first. On the other hand, given my family history (There were 4 of us kids. Both of my brothers are dead from cancer at young ages, and my sis is a living survivor of breast cancer), I want to stay on top of things. I have a host of other serious medical issues as well. I want to get/stay well to watch my beautiful little boy grow up.
Thanks for reading. Please be gentle with me.
My sister was diagnosed with breast cancer at 38, and by the extent of it, it appeared the cancer had been present and growing for many years. I am 31, and just had my first digital mammogram to establish a baseline. To my shock (and to my dr's), it came back abnormal for BOTH breasts. My mammogram results showed many clusters and some pairs of microcalicifications bilaterally, in both breasts. It states that the micrcocalcifications in my breasts are in a "mildly nodular pattern which is stable." The report says there are also "some punctate calcifications" and "dense parenchyma." Of course, I had to start googling as soon as I read the report.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
"Microcalcifications are specks of calcium that may be found in an area of rapidly dividing cells. The residue left by rapidly dividing cells can appear as microcalcifications. When many are seen in a cluster, they may indicate a small cancer. About half the cancers detected appear as these clusters."
http://ww3.komotv.com/Global/story.asp?S=1230164
"Microcalcifications, specks of calcium found in an area of rapidly dividing cells, are the first sign of breast cancer in more than half of all cases."
http://publicaffairs.uth.tmc.edu/hle...tion-1007.html
"Macrocalcifications are bigger bits of calcium, and are not usually linked to breast cancer.
Microcalcifications are quite tiny bits of calcium, and may show up in clusters, or in patterns (like circles or lines) and are associated with extra cell activity in breast tissue."
http://breastcancer.about.com/od/mam...ifications.htm
"Microcalcifications: Microcalcifications are tiny specks of calcium in the breast. They may show up alone or in clusters. Microcalcifications seen on a mammogram are more of a cause for concern, but still usually do not mean that cancer is present. The shape and layout of microcalcifications help the radiologist judge how likely it is that cancer is present. In most cases, the presence of microcalcifications does not mean a biopsy is needed. But if the microcalcifications have a suspicious look and pattern, the radiologist may recommend a biopsy.."
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/co...ocedures_5.asp
"Calcification. With high-quality films and use of a magnifying glass, detection of microcalcification should not be a perceptive problem. Many cases of high-grade ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), the most common subtype found in screening practice, exhibit specific mammographic features of casting type microcalcification due to comedo necrosis (Figure 4). This type of DCIS accounts for 54% of DCIS detected in screening practice.[14] However, many cases of high-, intermediate-, or low-grade DCIS are detected on mammography as clusters of microcalcification with mammographic features indistinguishable from appearances due to benign change (Figure 5). In fact, on review of previous mammograms of newly diagnosed DCIS, punctate microcalcification, and clusters containing <10 ecks of microcalcification were more common. Ductal carcinoma in situ showing more typical malignant features such as the rod shapes and a ductal distribution were more common at the time of diagnosis[15] (Figure 6). Therefore, early detection of high-grade DCIS requires recall and assessment of both mammographically suspicious and nonspeci c, indeterminate microcalcification clusters."
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/462246_4
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Here is what I'm wondering. I did extended breastfeeding, and child-led weaning. I still had milk present in my breasts (albeit not very much) when my son was 3 years old. My child is now 4, and I have no more milk. I cannot express any, and haven't been able to for a year.
I'm wondering if the extending nursing (having milk present in the mammary glands) for years could have caused all of these "abnormal microcalifications." I'm wondering if maybe having such calcium in the breasts may be "normal" for women who have nursed for a long time.
I have done extensive searches online, but haven't really found anything to truly validate my theory. I did read in a few places that sometimes some microcalifications may be from having milk in the mammary glands. However, I don't currently have milk. But I am wondering if it could be the vestiges from when I had so much milk - since I have SO MANY microcalcifications.
Please offer input. I am anxious, so good vibes are also welcome. I am having a second radiologist look at the mammogram results. As of now, the plan is to retest in April to see if any microcalcifications have grown or changed. If they have, then to go from there. On one hand, I'm relieved to wait until April. I always try to resolve things naturally first. On the other hand, given my family history (There were 4 of us kids. Both of my brothers are dead from cancer at young ages, and my sis is a living survivor of breast cancer), I want to stay on top of things. I have a host of other serious medical issues as well. I want to get/stay well to watch my beautiful little boy grow up.
Thanks for reading. Please be gentle with me.
