20 years old- Ultrasound results- BI-RADS 3

alicee95

Hi everyone,

I found a lump back in Dec- Jan 2015 in top right quadrant of my left breast. Put it off for a few cycles as it seemed to come and go. However, I finally went to the doctors. My GP did an examination and only just felt the lump I was talking about. She sent me for an ultrasound, and said to get it done in the next 2 weeks, as she wasn't worried. I had no other symptoms other than the lump and eczema over my breasts (which I have over my entire body). The lump felt firm-ish, like a pea that moved under the skin, which gets very sore from about 1-2 weeks before my period, but becomes painless as soon as my period starts.

I booked in for an ultrasound the next day. Results came back with finding two lumps (I had felt both, but had them as the one lump in my head- they're kind of close together). Findings said two lumps both about 1cm-1.5cm in mass, with well defined borders. "Almost certainly fibroadenomas"- BI-RADS 3. They said given my young age and no family history (only history is grandfather's mother- which isn't counted by the doctors?), they said to monitor over a 2 year period, every 6 months.

I was surprised there was no mention for biopsy. My GP said she likes to refer people with masses over 1cm to a breast surgeon to get a 2nd opinion. Had an apt. with the breast surgeon who also did a exam and said from what he can feel he thinks it's nothing and that the chances of it being anything bad is "1 in a million". He asked me if I would just like to monitor it myself over 3 months. However, because the ultrasound place didn't provide any 'pictures' and only worded findings, he is sending me for another ultrasound so he can see the pictures and to monitor the stability of the masses. I think the higher lump has slightly enlarged and changed into more of an oblong shape- which I'm concerned about, but still moves freely under the skin. He suggested I get this follow up ultrasound in late Aug, but I'm scared that if it has changed to something bad that I'm just delaying things (seeing as i've had the lump/s for 8 months now). I'm monitoring the lumps every week or so, and so far no change in about 5-6 weeks.

Any experiences or input on the chances of the masses being malignant despite being given a BI-RADS 3, given all symptoms, age etc. ? Should I just get this 2nd ultrasound ASAP rather than wait till August like the surgeon said? I'm really torn. Help!

Luttece

Hi Alice

I had an MRI and an ultrasound with a bi-raids of 3. I took it up on myself to see a breast surgeon and she immediate suggested a breast biopsy and I was diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer. The MRI results were normal , but on the ultrasound I had some cysts on my right breast which were read by the radiologist as benign and follow in 6 months. Thank God I didn't wait that long. You have to trust your own instincts and be your own advocate. I would go to your breast surgeon and tell her that you would like to have a breast biopsy don

Moderators

Welcome alicee95,

We are sorry that you are having these difficulties but glad that you reached out to our community. Here is a link to more information on our website about the meaning of the BI-RADs classification system. We hope that this will help. The Mods

Redporchlady

Get them biopsied. I had three mammograms and three ultrasounds in 13 months and my radiologist kept telling me they were benign. I went in for elective surgery and ended up coming out then they told me I had cancer. I ended up with stage III cancer when I could've caught this a lot earlier by just getting the biopsy done. The biopsy is so easy and painless compared to if you let it go

txlady

Hey Alice,

I kind of have the same thing going on - I'm just a little older than you. My doctors had me do a six month follow up, and after they noted that it had grown, referred me to a biopsy, which showed it was indeed a fibroadenoma. There was a lot of freaking out on my end, so I can definitely appreciate what you're saying! Maybe you could move the ultrasound up (early August) just for your own peace of mind?