Birads 4, strong family history

Shellyerrn

I'm 36 years old and I have been told that my mammogram is Birads 4 after 2 mammograms, US and comparison to mammogram 10 yrs ago. My mom, aunt, and 2 2nd cousins are all survivors of breast CA. My aunt also survived uterine cancer. All of those relatives are on my mother's side. The mass is very close to my chest wall and is 17mm, hypoechoic and has a blood flow. Driving myself crazy reading what ifs. Biopsy is Tuesday. Only thing I have ever noticed is in the shower my breast will turn red with an area that is blanched that is where mass is. I can't feel the mass. Any thoughts or similar experiences? I can deal with a diagnosis bc I KNOW I will get thru it. It's the not knowing that is torture.

blainejennifer

You are right - not knowing is the hardest part. Wish I could help you through this, as it's the part we all hated the most.

Don't go to Dr. Google so much right now. You don't have a pathology and a diagnosis, so you will just make yourself mental. On the other hand, 17 mm is pretty teeny, and in cancerland, that's a good thing.

Good luck Tuesday. You can do this!

Shellyerrn

Lol. I'm a nurse and I tell my patients all the time "Dr. Google is not your friend!". I left the doctors feeling like "uh oh", instead of "oh it's probably nothing!". He was very kind but reserved. He just kept saying "lets wait for the biopsy results." Where is the crystal ball when you need it??

SarahsMom

Hi Shelly! So sorry you find yourself out here with us! My intial thought is that Birads 4 definitely leaves the door open, don't you think? If they were 90% certain it is bad news, they would have outright said 5? Well even ladies on here with 5s have found their mass is benign. So I know this is hard, but try to stay positive :-)  I always look at stress as "feeding the beast" if it's there, all of that adrenaline, me not eating, sleeping, et al! So it is what it is and you'll know soon. The mass is very, very small, you were vigilant and you are young, so much in your corner here!  I know with your family history that your anxiety level is higher, that is understandable. 

So interesting about your breast and the area being a different color after a shower. After being out here for a few years are reading so many stories, I think nature definitely tells us something is awry, we just have to be open to those signs and in turn with our bodies. I remember stories out here of ladies who found their cancer by accident due to other incidents like being hit in the breast by a car door, and exuberant pet, etc.  Also ladies have said the area of their breast that was affected itched, looked different, etc. So I do think nature tells us. 

Keep us posted and I will be back to check on you soon :-)