[Mary Degenkolb]

Breast calcifications with multiple myeloma

by Mary Degenkolb on Fri Aug 29, 2014 4:59 pm

Greetings to my Myeloma Beacon family.

I was wondering if any of our family has had issues with calcification in the breast while having multiple myeloma?

On a recent mammogram, the physician noticed that there several lumps in one breast and the other breast had developed numerous new ones. He has scheduled me for a surgical biopsy of both breasts with a robot guided system. And he wants to move aggressively on this.

Has anybody else developed calcification? If so where they benign? Can you develop breast cancer from multiple myeloma?

Thank you for the help,
Mary

[Boris Simkovich]

Re: Breast calcifications with multiple myeloma

by Boris Simkovich on Sat Aug 30, 2014 1:43 am

Hi Mary,

Thank you for your posting.

Did your doctor say that the lumps might be calcifications, or is that something you felt that they might be?

I'm not aware of multiple myeloma being something that can cause breast cancer.

However, in your previous postings you have mentioned that you have been on Revlimid maintenance therapy basically continuously for the past 2 years or so, after your stem cell transplant (but correct me if I'm wrong).

As you probably know, there have been studies that indicate that Revlimid can increase the risk of of developing "second cancers" -- that is, cancers in addition to multiple myeloma.

The risk seems to be the highest when the Revlimid is taking together with melphalan. But an increased risk also has been observed in patients who have taken Revlimid after receiving melphalan as part of the stem cell transplant process. Whether or not the increased risk seen after stem cell transplants is real, or a statistical fluke, is an issue of contention among myeloma specialists.

You can read more about this topic in this Beacon article, "Revlimid And Secondary Cancers: Melphalan May Be The Culprit" (March 7, 2014).

None of this means that what you've seen so far in your mammograms is actually breast cancer. This is something that will have to be checked via a biopsy.

I hope the biopsy shows that the lumps are benign and not an issue. Please keep us updated on what you find.

And, of course, if others have experiences that are relevant to the questions you've asked, I hope they will add to this discussion as well.

Good luck!

[Multibilly]

Re: Breast calcifications with multiple myeloma

by Multibilly on Sat Aug 30, 2014 7:17 am

First off, I'm not a doc. But this could be a sign of amyloidosis, which does occur with some multiple myeloma patients (including several folks on this forum). See:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19024608

To get more info on amyloidosis, see:

"Multiple Myeloma-Associated Amyloidosis – What Every Patient Should Know," The Myeloma Beacon, September 15, 2010.

You might want to talk to your oncologist for getting tested for this.

[NZMum]

Re: Breast calcifications with multiple myeloma

by NZMum on Mon Sep 01, 2014 11:31 pm

Hi Mary,

Just found and article on the Beacon called "Extramedullary Myeloma" (Myeloma Beacon, November 4, 2011) which describes malignant plasma cells collecting together to form tumours outside the bone. The article states these can form in the breast.

Sounds like your specialist has things in hand and should have some answers for you soon.

Best wishes,

Jen

[Zach]

Re: Breast calcifications with multiple myeloma

by Zach on Tue Sep 02, 2014 4:34 pm

Hi,

I was diagnosed with multiple myeloma 22 years ago. 11 yrs ago I started with a thalidomide mono therapy. I was lucky not to experience neuropathy and took thalidomide for 5 years.

Therapy was stopped immediately after breast cancer diagnosis in my left breast. I had a lumpectomy and radiation treatments. Mammogram showed calcifications before the breast cancer was discovered.

Revlimid and thalidomide can lead to secondary cancers. It does not happen often, especially breast cancer.

7 yrs after lumpectomy my latest mammogram showed again calcifications and other pre-cancerous growths which can become cancerous or stay as they are. I am back to 6-month check-ups and "observation", something that weighs heavily on me.

My hematologist told me already 20 years ago that stress is bad for multiple myeloma and living with the possibility of another breast cancer is too much stress for me. I have asked for a prophylactic mastectomy of both breasts. A decision will be made soon.

I wish you the best as to multiple myeloma and hope that your calcifications turn out to be non-cancerous.

I hope I was of help to you!
I.Zach

[Slazmav]

Re: Breast calcifications with multiple myeloma

by Slazmav on Tue Sep 02, 2014 5:11 pm

In June 2013 a mammogram found four micro-calcifications in a row in my right breast. I had other larger calcifications as well. It was explained to me that it was the micro-calcifications that were of concern.

They did a biopsy and then I ended up having a mastectomy of my right breast, and the breast cancer had not metastised - they got it all and my sentinel lymph node was clear. It was three months after that I found out I had multiple myeloma. With both cancers, the specialists had no idea what caused them, and they do not appear to be related - just coincidental.

Breast cancer is a very common cancer, and so it is quite likely that many women will have breast cancer and multiple myeloma at the same time. At this point no scientific link has been found.

[Cheryl G]

Re: Breast calcifications with multiple myeloma

by Cheryl G on Tue Sep 09, 2014 11:48 pm

Hi Mary,

I'm curious if you finally had the biopsy your doctor wanted to carry out and, if so, what the results were. I hope the lumps are just a false alarm and nothing serious.

Sending you lots and lots of good wishes!