waiting to have biopsy, looking for support

PurpleGirl123

Hi,

I'm in the high-risk category, seeing as my paternal grandmother was diagnosed with breast cancer at a very young age (mid to late 20s). I am now in my late 20's and have supported both my parents through individual cancer battles. Mom died when I was a teenager of skin cancer. Dad died half a year ago of leukemia.

I went in for my first precautionary Breast MRI last week, and I was so sure that they would find nothing. Seeing as I am very aware of changes in my breasts, and have no pronounced lumps, it came as a surprise.

I am so confused by the written report. Apparently it is a "non mass" in my right breast, and is in category "4a BIRADS." The suspicious area is 2.6cm, so at least whatever it is, it's small. I am going in for a biopsy next week. I'm SO worried. It's especially difficult not having my parents around to support me. I keep flashing back to when they were first diagnosed. Very scary.

I'm hoping to find support from others who have been through this terrible waiting period. My mind is all over the place. No one should have to be put through this type of stress, especially alone. Thanks in advance Best regards.

LW422

Hello Purplegirl123. I'm so sorry you have to go through this, and waiting is the hardest part. Hopefully your biopsy will show benign results, so try to think positive. You stated that you had an MRI but are you sure it wasn't a mammogram? A 2.6 cm area is a little over an inch, so it is not a small area. I'm not an expert by any means so I'm not sure what is meant by "non mass" or exactly what they are biopsying. Hopefully one of the more knowledgeable posters here will see your thread. My very best wishes for a good outcome.

PurpleGirl123

Hi LW422,

Thanks for the kind response. I'm sure it was an MRI. They did a IV with dye, and put me in an MRI machine. I think they meant a 2.6cm area was glowing from the dye?

Before doing the biopsy, they told me they'd do a mammogram and MRI again to pinpoint the exact location of the suspicious area.

Thanks again for the kind wishes. Hoping for the best.

LivinLife

Hi PurpleGirl! Sorry you find yourself here though this is a great site for support and information. Likely MRI vs. mammo due to your age... Sorry to hear about loss of family as well. I certainly understand family losses due to cancer... Adds to your concerns as you said. 4a is a good BIRADS if you have to be at 4 or above. Most BIRADS 4 come back benign so hopefully that will be the case for you. Please let us know how the biopsy goes and certainly once you hear results....

Bookpusher

PurpleGirl123,

I am so sorry you have to be here, but glad you found us. You will have a lot of support from the gals here. My heart goes out to you that you have lost both your parents at such a young age. I hope you have close friends and other family members nearby that will be supportive during this scary time.

Waiting for tests and the results is really hard. Try to stay busy and do what you can to get your mind off the medical issues as best you can. Keep us updated, I will be praying all goes well for you. Hugs!

PurpleGirl123

LivinLife and Bookpusher, thanks for your kind words and the helpful info. I will post after the biopsy, and when I get the results. Hugs.

BrinkOfEternity

Hi PurpleGirl123,

After my cancer was diagnosed I had an MRI before surgery and the report definitely did not say non-mass. I had a <1 cm DCIS which was not palpable and a 3cm IDC lump that was palpable.

Recently I had another breast MRI and they found a 4x2cm non-mass (in the other breast), and they called me in for a biopsy, which turned out to be benign inflammation. My report also said BIRADS 4a. Hope it turns out to be nothing for you too! Sorry you have to wait… I have a ton of family history too.

Kbyrne81

Hi PurpleGirl123,

I'm so sorry that you are in this situation. The waiting sucks! I wanted to chime in because I am also waiting to have a biopsy after a "non-mass enhancement" was seen on my MRI. My biopsy is Tuesday. I've done some research and apparently many non-mass enhancements can be any number of benign things that are very common. I wanted to let you know that you are not alone and that there is a good chance this is not cancer. I'm hoping for the best for you!

Moderators

PurpleGirl, welcome, and good luck! We're thinking of you!

The Mods

K-Gobby

PurpleGirl123..I am glad you are going to Doctors. Loosing Mom and Dad to cancer is so hard. All these machines show so much, but the wait is no fun for results!! I had a mass that turns out to be cancer, but in no lymph nodes. I am at a Cancer hospital in Duarte called the City of Hope and found out I have BRCA-2 gene mutation. What? This could be part of why my Mom died of old age, but with a breast cancer diagnosis we did not know of till her death! Also, she had melanoma at 26, so she burned off all the moles on her body after she gave birth to my oldest sister! Dad passed of skin cancer at 66. This BRCA-2 gene is hereditary. Did Mom or Dad have it? I PRAY your 2.6 cm mass is one of those fool fibrous things women get, as women have said. I have found much hope on this site from women who know. Please keep us informed, so we can support you.

PurpleGirl123

Hi all,

Wow, I'm blown away by the number of thoughtful responses, as well as your personal journeys. This online community of women is truly amazing! So glad I made an account.

Reading about your experiences make me feel less alone in this. Your support means so much to me, and inspires me to push through the tests. Hopefully it will be nothing. I will share my results when I get them. Hopefully by the end of the month.

Sending my best regards to you all. Thank you.

PurpleGirl123

Oh! Also, I did get a BRCA 1 and 2 gene test for myself and it came back negative. So that's at least a good sign.

Waves2Stars

Have they done any other imagining on you, like ultrasound? MRI’s are pretty cool, really all imaging is, but often times radiologist will have another type done to kind of cross reference what the first type found. I had a suspicious mass on mammogram and was terrified. Follow up ultrasound showed it was benign. Ten years later I had mammogram, then immediate ultrasound, and later MRI to dx my current condition. Even a pelvic MRI report I had said to check findings against ultrasound or visual inspection. Looks like they are going straight to biopsy because of family history, and that’s scary, like all your old fears flying in your face at once. Try to meditate, talk to friends, talk here about how you feel. It helps to process this. Hopefully this won’t go any further for you, but know it can be normal for young women with family histories and dense breasts to get ultrasounds twice a year to keep an eye on things. I’m so sorry cancer has taken your parents! Love and hugs from another mom out here!!

PurpleGirl123

Update:

I had the biopsy today. The doctors were able to collect a sample and also tag the exact location of the suspicious area. It was stressful, but I only experienced minimal pain. They really numbed my breast out, so I barely felt anything, just pressure. All in all it went well. Now to wait another 2-4 days for the results.

Hugs.

LivinLife

Great you have that over with... Ice, ice, ice Now the waiting for results.... hoping you get those by next week!

Bookpusher

So glad the biopsy is over and it wasn’t too painful. I know the waiting will be hard. Sending prayers for good results!

PurpleGirl123

I just received a call from the doctor informing me the nonmass is benign. I'm so relieved, but will remain vigilant. Especially with my family history.

Thank you all so much for sharing your stories and thoughts with me. Being informed and hearing others stories made a big difference.

Wishing you all the best. Sending positive thoughts to you on your journey. Thanks again. Hugs.

Salamandra

That's great news!

Given your history, I bet your docs will be extra cautious with you, which probably means that what might be coded as 3 for someone else might be a 4 for you to get you the biopsy. (4A is literally the lowest risk something can be coded and still have insurance pay for biopsy). False positives (which MRIs are definitely known for, given how sensitive they are) still lead to a ton of stress, and 'scanxiety' is its own whole thing too.

Taking on the extra level of screening is definitely a prudent move, but don't discount the stress and definitely be kind to yourself and take care of yourself!

PurpleGirl123

Thanks

Ah, that's helpful to know about 4a being the lowest risk that insurance will pay for the biopsy. Yes, the scanxiety is real.

Thanks for the kind, helpful, note

Take care.

BrinkOfEternity

That’s great to hear, PurpleGirl! Now that you have a baseline scan, they can always compare future scans (if needed) to this one, which I think is a good thing.

LivinLife

So glad to hear PurpleGirl!!!