Hi jzcareformom. At 83 I can understand your mom’s concern about having surgery. It is not something to take lightly at any age, but for someone who is up in age I can understand the need for weighing the risk/benefits. It is a surgery with anesthesia and a breathing tube (and a pre-op surgical check-up and all the rest that went w/ it) and for me, at 59, I didn’t particularly find it to be a walk in the park. Her diagnostic mammogram findings should state the size of the microcalcificaitons and when she goes back for her 6 month follow-up (which she should definitely do), then they can do a comparison which might help her to come to a decision on going forward w/ the excisional biopsy. Making these decisions is difficult and lots of people (doctors included) will tell you what you should do - I know from personal experience how debilitating it all can be if you question your own judgement. Good luck to your mom and to you...