Birad Score of 4

Ladies so sorry that you are faced with these fears, especially waiting over a holiday weekend. Hopefully the results will be benign and you can put this heartache behind you.

If not, stay with us on these boards for support and education

Hi Angela:

Congratulations! :

Minor internal itching can be a sign of healing and is common.

BarredOwl

Hi,

I am new to this board. I found a lump in my left breast a little over a week ago. I noticed a small pimple looking thing under my nipple on my left breast and when I felt it it was a lump. I got in to see my primary care dr right away and she felt it and said that it moves which she said is a 'good sign" and she sent me to have a diagnostic mammogram and ultrasound. I had both last week and the results were that I have extremely dense fibroglandular tissue in both breasts which lowers the sensitivity of the mammogram. They found nothing in my right breast but found the lump to be a solid nodule measuring 9x13x8mm and they also found pleomoephic microcalcifications in the left upper, central breast and other additional microcalcifications are noted in the left breast. My BI-RADS score is 4 with additional score of BI4B along with a follow up code of R and a result code of SUSB. I am 36 years old with no history of breast cancer in my family. We have endometrial hyperplasia in my mom and sister both diagnosed after age 40. My sister has dense breasts and has had irregular but normal mammograms and my other sister has had a biopsy and it was a cyst but they knew that before the biopsy so not sure why they opted for the biopsy?? This is not a cyst and I have a consultation with the surgeon tomorrow morning and then two biopsies (one for the lump and one for the calcification) after that if I choose to go ahead with it and if that is what the surgeon recommends. I was told she may disagree with the radiologist and do a follow up instead. My calcifications were labeled "indeterminate". I have looked up everything on my lab report and gave found out some things such as I am in the grey area between definitely benign and definitely malignant based on the shape of the lump and calcifications. I am not fond of this breast care place, the radiologist sent a nurse to talk to me who just said the lump is solid and you have microcalcifications being labeled indeterminate and two biopsies are recommended then she spent 25mins explaining the procedures to me. Never was given a copy of my results nor was I shown the images. I have them now as I requested them. Called my dr to see if I could consult with her and ask her my 1001 questions my biggest one being what are the risks/dangers if any of waiting 6 months and doing a follow up mammogram and ultrasound to see if anything had changed but my dr said I have to talk to the specialist now not her. Well drs office called breast center who called me back saying I had an apt tomorrow morning. They never called to tell me I had appointment so I would of missed it since I was never even told the appt was made! The woman I spoke to seemed very annoyed with me wanting to talk to a dr and have all my questions answered that were never answered after my initial apt. I feel so alone in this entire process and those who I assumes would be the most supportive, the people at the breast care center, are the most insensitive women I think I've encountered in the medical field. But all that aside I am unsure about going through with a biopsy right now. I want to wait and see if anything changes in 6 months and am told I can do that if I want to. The biopsy scares me, none of my questions have been answered, my results haven't even been discussed with me by a doctor which has heightened my anxiety even more. I feel like I have no support and no one to turn to and that I am just a bother to my drs. I hear people talk about how great their drs are and how they can call them and talk to them about anything. Well mine refused to see me and the breast people acted like I was a bother or nuisance like I shouldn't be asking questions or questioning their recommendation for biopsy. This is a huge procedure and I like to have as much information given to me as possible but now I feel like I'm just bothering people and its making me scared to even ASK questions! I am probably annoying everyone on here too! I'm sorry. But does anyone have any knowledge of these findings and any knowledge of what they could possibly mean? And does anyone have any knowledge of what can happen in a 6 month period of time? Is it ok to wait watch and see or can it jump a lot of stages if it is bad in 6 months?

Thank you for reading this.

Hi svurookie:

This is a difficult time in the diagnostic process, because everything is new and because of the unknowns.

Most primary care physicians do not have the specialized training to interpret imaging results or to advise you regarding appropriate action. This is why you have been referred to a breast specialist and will be seeing them tomorrow.

You don't need to decide anything tonight. Tomorrow, the breast specialist will review the findings with you, and make a recommendation about biopsy. You can ask the breast specialist your questions, including things like what is the estimated risk of malignancy associated with Bi-Rads 4B score, etc.

Unfortunately, although less likely, breast cancer can occur at a younger age, and can occur in the absence of family history, as many women here can attest.

Hope your appointment with the breast specialist is informative.

BarredOwl

Hi jhv:

This is a difficult time in the diagnostic process, because everything is new and because the unknown is very scary. I also obsessed, slept poorly ("awake asleep"), and lost my appetite (and conveniently, several pounds). It isn't easy, but try and distract yourself however you can, with work, mindless television, a gripping airport novel, a favorite hobby - whatever works.

It sounds like an excisional biopsy is being recommended based on access concerns ("to get to the spot"), and you are working with a breast surgeon you trust. I had a wire-guided excisional (surgical) biopsy for one area of suspicion, and it went very smoothly and healed very quickly.

As for whether you should be concerned or not, it sounds like you've received the most relevant advice already about the estimated risk of malignancy associated with the types of imaging findings you had, as well as the limits of such population-based statistics in predicting individual outcomes (0 / 100). Prompt action is preferred, because if benign you get back to your life sooner, or if not, you move toward treatment sooner.

A lot of people request or receive a prescription for anti-anxiety medications (e.g., Ativan) to help with stress and anxiety and find it very helpful. I read up on and used "mindfulness" approaches to try to stop obsessing and to get to sleep. You can learn about "mindfulness" and begin to practice it at any time, and you don't need to be a zen master to benefit. To learn more, see for example, Section I of this book used by many hospital-based stress reduction programs for background and some simple techniques:

https://www.amazon.com/Full-Catastrophe-Living-Revised-Illness/dp/0345536932

I also listened to ocean sounds to help fall asleep (you can search "ocean sounds" on Amazon or iTunes to find something you like and play it from your phone). Hoping for benign results for you!

BarredOwl

Hi to all!

I have written a few times but I have not gotten much information. I have not been diagnosed yet, but from what I have read things aren't looking too good. I started having a sharp pain on the side of my left breast under my armpit about 6 to 7 months ago. I went to have an ultrasound done and they found a hypoechoic mass with a microlobulated margin on my left breast and a mass with angular margin on my right breast. The pain in the side of my breast has gotten worse, its constant and it gets worse with my period but I found that the lump is also bigger and it now has more of a burning sensation when the stabbing pain hits me. In researching online it seems that the pain and lump might be an anxillary lymph node. I have an appointment with my specialist next week but I would like to know if anyone has had anything similar. The Birad score is 4B. What I read online about a category 4B makes me want to cry but on this site I have read that category 4 is usually bening. I can really use some advice and insight. Thanks to all!

Hi I am new here and scared. I had my first mamo last week and was called back for another mamo and sono. I spoke to the radiologist after and he said since it is my first mamo he has nothing to base the 6 mm nodule that was found in my left breast. He said I can wait 6 months but recommends a biopsy. On his notes he said a 6 mm nodule that is benine in shape and seems to be a lymph node. I have no history of breast cancer in my family. I don't eat meet and am health. I am scared to death to leave my 2 year old girl. Did any one else have a lymph node found? I don't understand why I am a bi rads 4???

12 months ago I was birads 3 had a biopsy on left side biopsy of a lymph node that was large the Results were reactive. I've had swollen lymph nodes weight loss and many more serious symptoms. Just had the ultrasound sound done on the right breast I have a mass and the lymph nodes weren't just large this time their thickened In both breast. Results for ultrasound this time is birads 4 a lymph node that thickened in right side and a mass in the nipple just biopsied and waiting on results. I had a peripherial blood smear test done and the results says reactive so my doctor is ending me to a cancer doctor. I just had the ultrasound done because my doctor wanted to get it done so the cancer doctor will have some more tests to look at. I've had major symptoms over 48 months. I'm almost down to 100 pounds

Hi Nikki2011, we hear you and we wanted to say that we're so sorry for the circumstances that bring you here, but we're glad you've found and joined our Community. Some times it takes a little while to get responses from other members. Just spend some time navigating the forums or even create your own new topic so your comment has more visibility for our Community members and we're sure you'll find lots of support and encouragement soon.

Please keep us posted on how everything is going, we're thinking of you!

The Mods

so my question is

I was diagnosed with a birad 4 and this was in the report

1 cm solid hypoechoic mass with irregular microlobulated margin and peripheral color

So I shouldn’t really do stress because it will probably be benign?