Ultrasound with potential biopsy

DinoBiscuits

I’m feeling really nervous and am looking for others who may be in a similar boat.

I’m 37 years old with a significant family history of breast and other cancers, but negative for BRCA. As a result, I get alternating MRIs and mammogram/ ultrasounds every six months. Six months ago, I received the all clear on my mammogram and ultrasound. I had my MRI at the beginning of July. The report came back with two suspicious areas, with the most significant being in the left breast. Language from the report is:

“clumped non-mass enhancement in the LEFT breast 12:00 position which demonstrates high signal on T2 images. Recommend focused ultrasound of this area. No sonographic correlate and six-month follow-up MRI recommended.”

I booked my ultrasound for the earliest available on July 30th. I followed up with my breast specialist this week and she said that I should expect a biopsy with my ultrasound. This surprised me since everything overall seemed kind of casual and unrushed, and none of the language in the report sounded especially damning. The radiologist indicated BIRADS 3 so I wasn’t even thinking biopsy.

The constant imaging leads to a certain level of anxiety every six months. And being young, it feels like this is just my forever; cancer feels like an inevitable. And then the imaging and scans become even more high stakes than they are now (and it already is stressful). Anyone else having asimilar experience?

LivinLife

Dino I feel for ya! Scananxiety is real! Odd with BIRADS 3 they are planning biopsy....? I would still suppose unless something BIRADS 4 or higher shows up on ultrasound they may not do that. Your point is that this is or may be never ending. It sounds like they are being very careful with you due to your extensive family history. That is good from the cancer perspective though emotionally painful with the every 6 month scans ++++ as they see something suspicious. Please let us know how the ultrasound goes and if indeed they do the biopsy... Sending positive energy your way.....

DinoBiscuits

Thank you, LivinLife. That’s exactly how I’m feeling. I’ll be sure to post back with results once I have them. Greatly appreciate the time you took to respond.

DinoBiscuits

Wanted to provide an update. I did have a core needle biopsy because the radiologist didn't like what she saw on ultrasound. Overall — not the most fun procedure and definitely less fun because I didn't go in mentally prepared for it. She took quite a lot of samples from the one spot — eight in total and inserted a clip. It was very deep in the breast and she had a difficult time getting the needle in due to dense tissue. She also mentioned she was “not overly concerned" about the spot…but then why biopsy it? An unpleasant and confusing experience all around. 😟

I should have results by Wednesday next week, she said.

LivinLife

Sounds like she wanted to do her due diligence. I hope she is correct on no concern. They are experts so that is more likely than not - you really won't know until you get the results tho.... Pulling for you! Please let us know....

DinoBiscuits

Here’s the update — biopsy was benign. 😁

Thanks for your support here, LivinLife!

LivinLife

Fantastic Dino!!!!! Thanks for the update!

JoieDeVivre73

Woohoo! Glad to see it was benign. That gives me hope...I was reading one of your earlier posts and your story is very similar to mine. I go in for my biopsy tomorrow (after MRI/US BI-RADS 4, irregular hypoechoic with internal vascularity). Hearing your benign news gives me a ray of hope. Thanks for posting your follow up! I hope all continues to go well for you!

4kids4dogs

yay!!!!!! That's great news!!!!

DinoBiscuits

Sending many positive thoughts your way through what I know is a very stressful time for you, Joie. Best of luck on your biopsy tomorrow!

I was surprised that my breast specialist wanted to biopsy my BIRADS 3 imaging site — even your BIRADS 4 gives lots of space for benign results. The odds are in your favor and I’m pulling for you. Please update and let me know how it goes for you.