New Bi-Rad 3 Mass - should I get a biopsy

FabFive

I am 37 years old and have a strong family history of breast cancer - for the past 4 generations every woman on my mothers side has had it. Including my mom at age 55 and my sister at age 36. I am the only one that hasn't. All of us have been negative for BRCA1 and BRCA2. So I started screenings at 30. I had a breast MRI earlier this week and they found a new 6mm mass that is categorized as Bi-Rad 3. It is 5mm from the nipple and I have some tenderness there but it is not palpable. My doctor just said to wait 6 months and repeat the MRI. So it's super small and didn't look that concerning to the doctor. My concern is that we know it wasn't on the MRI last year and it didn't show on my mammogram in August either so we already know it is new. With my family history should I be pushing for a biopsy or just chill and wait the 6 months? I don't want to be the super anxious patient but I also don't want to sit and wait if it is a problem

Texasmom123

I would push for biopsy. BIRADS 3 is “probably benign”, but there’s really no such thing. It either is or it isn’t.

NancyHB

I’m sorry you find yourself here with worry, understandably so with your family history. Even with that in mind, though, you may be hard pressed to find a doctor willing to biopsy something noted Birads 3, which is in general considered a benign finding. If there was any concern about the scan your report would be a 4 or higher. MRIs are notorious for finding everything little thing, too. Biopsies create scar tissue, too, which can eventually make discerning scans more difficult. You sound like you’re in a good place for 6 months, but if you’re really concerned I encourage you to talk this through with your doctor to explore your options. Good luck!

FabFive

I sent a message to my high risk doctor just to have her review the radiologist report and make sure she's ok with waiting. If she says she is good with it then I am ok waiting. I think my concern comes from the fact that it was not there on past MRI's and it is now so we already know it is a change - if it had shown on the baseline MRI I wouldn't worry at all. I think my other worry is just that the radiologist read the report and sent it to the nurse practitioner at my doctors office who called me but I am not sure if my actually high risk doctor reviewed it. My sisters was also Bi-rad 3 but because it was a change from the previous mammogram they biopsied it anyways and it turned out to be DCIS. Thanks for the input. Hopeful my doc can put me at ease.

FabFive

I went back after the 6 months and the mass is now 1.2 cm so it has doubled in size. Both the ultrasound and mammogram are clean and cannot see the mass. So they have to send me in for a MRI biopsy next week. So we will see.

Stherye

Good luck Fabfive,

It is peobably something benign (there are so many benign conditions) I hab birads 4a two times and both were papillomas, one of them atypical but not cancer.

Maybe it is adh. Anyway, if they catch something it will be very very early.

Each_day_2018

You have to be your own advocate. Given your details, I would push for a biopsy. That way you can know either way and wont be worrying for months and months. I had a palpable lump that did not show up on mammogram or ultrasound. The breast specialist said it was 'probably' nothing and didn't recommend biopsy, esp because of my age (29 at the time). I don't have a strong family history of breast cancer, so I let it go. I've also had fibroadenomas in each breast since I was a teenager, so I was never really overly concerned about a new lump.

Well, here I am 31 with stage III breast cancer. If I'd pushed for a biopsy 2 years ago, my treatment may not have been so aggressive now...and let me tell you, chemo is no joke and I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy.

Good Luck, and I hope everything works out for you!

KBeee

You definitely need a biopsy. Additionally, even though you have tested negative for BRCA gene, you should have full panel genetic testing. I have a similar family history, and for us it is the CHEK2 gene that seems to be the culprit. Keep us posted.