Breast calcifications are calcium deposits that build up over time in the breast tissue and can feel like a lump in the breast. They are extremely common among women and are generally completely harmless. In rare occurrences, breast calcifications can be an early sign of breast cancer. If breast calcifications are determined to be benign, there are a number of ways they can be treated.
Mammogram
Physicians and radiologists pay close attention to breast calcifications if they are present at the time a mammogram is performed. In most cases, the way the calcifications form is an indication as to whether or not they may be an early sign of breast cancer. Generally, only one out of every four or five women who have calcifications is diagnosed with breast cancer. Even if they are diagnosed with cancer, the abnormal growth is usually in the early stages and can be cured through treatment.
The first step that most physicians will take in treatment of breast calcifications is a mammogram. This is a test that performs an x-ray of the breast tissue. If calcifications are present, they will show as small white areas within the breast. The radiologist will then examine the x-ray to determine the pattern of the calcifications. Certain patterns of build-up are indicative of breast cancer, while other patterns are harmless. Once the radiologist has made the determination of the type of breast calcifications that are present, a patient's physician will decide continue treatment.
Treatment for Benign Calcifications
A majority of the time, breast calcifications are benign and not indicative of cancer. However, a physician will want the patient to have follow up visits every six months once breast calcifications have been identified. After the first mammogram if the calcifications have been determined to be benign, the doctor will ask the patient to return to the office for a follow up mammogram after a six month period. If the mammogram at that time shows that the calcifications in the affected breast are still of no concern, the doctor will then request a mammogram for the other breast after another six months. If at that point the other breast does not have calcifications, or does not have calcifications that would indicate breast cancer, a patient can then continue seeing their doctor for annual breast examinations, according to information from the California Pacific Medical Center.
Treatment for Suspicious Calcifications
The treatment for suspicious calcifications is a bit more complex. After a radiologist has examined a patient's mammogram and determine calcifications are suspicious, the doctor will then perform a biopsy. This is a process of putting a needle into the breast to remove some tissue to send to a laboratory. The lab will then analyze the sample and determine if the cells are cancerous. If the cells are not cancerous, then treatment for the calcifications is the same process as discussed above. However, if the cells are determined to be cancer, then the doctor will take steps to treat the breast cancer in its early stages.
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