BIRADS 5 Ultrasound. Yikes.

oddboood

I'm 56, no history of cancer in the family. I found a hard immovalble lump on Friday, had ultrasound at the gynaecologists office yesterday (Monday). The doctor told me she is certain that the 1.5 x 1.6 mass is malignant and there may be a smaller 8mm satellite. I have a mammogram and biopsy scheduled for tomorrow morning. This is all so overwhelming. Part of me is hoping that BIRADS 5 is wrong, but I when I felt the lump I also felt like I kind of knew what it was. That sinking feeling when you just can tell that it's something that does not belong. I'm sort of veering back and forth between relative calm and emotional exhaustion. I live overseas so this means I will probably have to move back to the US for treatment. No clue where I will go. So much to think about but nothing I can actually do at this point except try not to freak out. In short, this sucks. But I am grateful to have this place to vent to others who are going through the same thing. And so the fight begins.

Melbo

the waiting and wondering is the worst part. The good news is that if it does turn out to be cancer there are a lot of treatments available and there is a very good chance of a good outcome. I knew nothing about breast cancer when I started last year, but this is an excellent site to learn from.

I was supposed to move overseas last year, but then I got my diagnosis and canceled the move because of the insurance. Well… that and trying to arrange an international move during a pandemic and while in chemo seemed like a bad plan. Hopefully I’ll get another chance in the next few years.

Unfortunately if it does turn out to be cancer you won’t get a treatment plan until they have the full results from the biopsy, which will take a few days. The most common options are:

Surgery, then radiation, then Anti-hormone pills of some type.

Surgery, chemo, radiation, and anti-hormone pills (for ER/PR positive)

Chemo, surgery, radiation (for HER2 pos or triple neg), and maybe anti-hormones (if ER/PR positive.)

Good luck!