Jumping in with you all - waiting for results on Bi Rads 4

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keepthefaith611
keepthefaith611 Member Posts: 131
edited October 2016 in Waiting for Test Results

Hi everyone, wishing you all a peaceful and tranquil day.

I have been helping a best friend with breast cancer for the last 3 years, went to most of her chemo appointments, etc. and I share that to let you know I am versed in breast cancer but when it came to my own findings, I can't recall a great deal of what was said but my husband was with me and he has a great memory! For info, I started to feel really tired and made a promise to myself that it was time to check on my own health. I sort of regret that decision lol - I am Irish - in my family not knowing and not speaking of it is the norm ; ).

I had my 3D Mamo (age 54) and usual U/S immediately following the mamo as I have "hetrergeneously (sp) dense" breast - tech said about 70% dense. I have received 3 letters from NY state about my dense breasts as it is a law in NY State to advise women (and men) who have dense breast tissue. To boot I have no breasts to speak of (34 A) (just trying to keep a sense of humor about all of it).

Anyhow, the call back on U/S #2 - the tech sought out the radiologist who handed me a bunch of paperwork and said to "go to X hospital this week for an U/S core biopsy". The radiologist as well as the tech were super stressed at their jobs - it's a factory-type MRI/Diagnostic imaging facility.

I called my family doctor who ordered the 3D mamo and he referred me to a breast specialist. Without meeting me, I was instructed to gather CD's, reports, drop to her office, she review same with her radiologist and called me a week ago Friday. She said "there is something funky in there" - she was sweet, I was grateful that she got back to me within 2 days and that she had her head radiologist review the slides with her.

I had my biopsy yesterday. It wasn't bad at all - the new radiologist was a warm reassuring gentleman who loaded me up with local anesthesia. The results will be available on Monday by 3 pm. Not too bad of a turn around! My question is this: My factory generated U/S report states "persistanse of a focal area heterogeneous echogenicity at 6 o'clock position 3 cm from nipple which extends over an area of 1.5x3.1x1.1 cm. There is suggestion of posterior shadowing best appreciated in real time. No internal vascularity is demonstrated. While this my represent fibrocystic tissue, more significant etiologies would also be considered and further characterization with ultrasound guided needle biopsy is recommended. BI RADS Category 4 suspicious findings.

I would love any and all feedback. I am a tough broad (I think) and I am preparing myself for the worst and expecting the best news on Monday. Separately, I have a thyroid biopsy on Wednesday next week which was an incidental finding due to a separate non-urgent medical condition so I have a good deal of waiting coming up this week and a great deal of thoughts rolling about in my brain, some of them get morbid at times, particularly when I read that my chances of it being the big C is 40%?

That is wrong. It is 80 percent change of it being B9 (benign) is, thanks for MelissaDallas "Actually, greater than 80% of Bi-Rads 4 breast imaging come back benign on biopsy. A Bi-Rad 3 is estimated as having a less than 3% chance of being cancer and a biopsy is not recommended. Bi-Rads 4 covers everything from 3% through 94%. That is why most of them are benign."


Back to my saga, I am a glass half filled woman and I'll take 60% chance of it being B9! I think I will take up bingo - B9! Also from what I read, less than 3% of all biopsies (Bi-rad 0-6) come back B9!!!! That is great news!

Thank you for reading this book! I will find the spell check too ; )

KTF611

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  • SongBirdGirl
    SongBirdGirl Member Posts: 9
    edited October 2016

    KTF,

    Brand new to this process as well, but you have got a great outlook/attitude. B9 bingo sounds awesome! Thanks for sharing your story

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  • Francine2
    Francine2 Member Posts: 9
    edited October 2016

    Hi,

    I too am 54 and in neighboring Massachusetts where we are informed frequently about our dense breasts as well. Also had core biopsy last week, also birads 4, and also expecting results on Monday. Glad yours wasn't bad, my bx was kind of horrible and my entire breast is still painful and deep purple.

    Wishing us both the best possible news!

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  • MelissaDallas
    MelissaDallas Member Posts: 7,268
    edited October 2016

    Actually, greater than 80% of Bi-Rads 4 breast imaging come back benign on biopsy. A Bi-Rad 3 is estimated as having a less than 3% chance of being cancer and a biopsy is not recommended. Bi-Rads 4 covers everything from 3% through 94%. That is why most of them are benign.

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  • JXmom2
    JXmom2 Member Posts: 29
    edited October 2016

    with you all! I have another form open. Will

    Post good or bad news on all. They said im a

    bi rad 4C and results should be in on monday.

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  • keepthefaith611
    keepthefaith611 Member Posts: 131
    edited October 2016

    Thanks for sharing Songbird, Francine, Melissa! Thank you for clarifying the percentages! I will edit my post! I really appreciate that! And thank you JX Mom - I will be looking for updates on each of you and all here for Monday and beyond.

    Let's play bingo - B9. Prepare for the worst and expect the best! I haven't ventured to the other boards yet in my journey but have for my friend - I really appreciate the support.

    KTF

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  • tatatootsie62
    tatatootsie62 Member Posts: 86
    edited October 2016

    Hi Francine, I am hoping that you will get your results by tomorrow. Waiting is the real pits !!! My

    core biopsies were on Thursday and I am sore also with some bruising. I am 62 and never in a

    million years did I ever think I would develop breast cancer....no family history but that does not mean

    anything when you are post-menopausal and I had realized that years ago long before this "alien

    invader" appeared out of nowhere. But I guess I am a little scared because of the unknown, but I am hopeful

    and trying to keep a positive attitude which I am told by a dear friend who is a 13 year survivor is the

    most important key of all....but it's very difficult to do when you are new to this. I am hoping when I see

    the surgeon that he will have a lot of information for me so I at least know what direction I may need to

    point my feet.

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  • tatatootsie62
    tatatootsie62 Member Posts: 86
    edited October 2016

    Hi, you do indeed sound like a tough "broad". I read your "book" and it reminds me of exactly where I am

    at right now 2!. I at least know that my core biopsies were not B9 ( ILC-right breast). I am still awaiting

    an appointment with the surgeon and am hoping he will have results on wether or not it has been staged,graded

    and know if it is ER, PR and or HER2 positive or negative. You are right to hope for the best but be prepared for the worst.

    I live in Huntsville, Alabama and we have some of the best surgeons here, partly because of NASA and Redstone Arsenal,

    which if you know anything about the military, Huntsville is a BIG Army town plus NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center;

    you don't live here without cream of the crop physicians if you do. They work FAST and they have to be good to serve the

    "top brass" that reside here....I guess I am fortunate. It sounds like you have fantastic doctors too....I am hoping for the

    best 4 you and with you girl!!!

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  • keepthefaith611
    keepthefaith611 Member Posts: 131
    edited October 2016

    Thank you for replying and sharing Tatatootsie! Very glad to read that you live in an area where you have good facilities/doctors. I have never been to Alabama but it sounds like a really nice place to live from what I have seen of it on the HGTV network and documentaries, etc. I like your attitude - to consider yourself fortunate in the face of further uncertainty. All we have is each other. I hope that the rest of your news is "easy" on your mind, body and soul. It wasn't until after I typed my book that I realized most posts are not more than 6 sentences but it felt good to get it off my chest and have it "written" somewhere in case I need to refer to same - how blessed I feel that you took the time to read it (along with others here) - and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for that. You are very sweet and I will be following up on you!

    It is so important to have the "right" doctors. At the very least a doctor who "listens" to you; your changes; your story. I have watched my friend in a "big" institution and she too is blessed in that her doctors have done everything they can with her and continue to do so; I have also watched my Dad's doctors before he passed on and he wud have to repeat his story to a different attending doctor, etc. I spent time yesterday reading about ILC. I sometimes wish there were articles for the lay-person but in giving the oncology-type abstracts I love to read but have to read them 6x to understand (partially).

    Wishing everyone another peaceful and tranquil day - 6 hours to go.

    KTF


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  • JXmom2
    JXmom2 Member Posts: 29
    edited October 2016

    hi. Monday is here...uhu

    So question do doctors wanna see you and "talk things over" if ts b9

    My nurse called and said to come in today at 145 so me and the dr can talk things over.

    I had no appt set the way they talked was i woild be getting my results over the phone. I even called friday and the nurse checked and said they wernt in yet she would let me know asap.

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  • keepthefaith611
    keepthefaith611 Member Posts: 131
    edited October 2016

    Hi JXMom2, I am not sure what the answer is but I am crossing everything that it is B9 and they wish to discuss removing B9 mass or the like!

    1:45 today - EST? CST? European clock? I will search you out!

    Praying HARD.

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  • JXmom2
    JXmom2 Member Posts: 29
    edited October 2016

    illinois! ..thanks! Im

    Hoping good too but my nurse acted all last week like she would just call me she even had me call her friday to see if the results were in. So its weird they decided me to come in.

    But i have an aunt coming with me so good or bad someone is there

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  • keepthefaith611
    keepthefaith611 Member Posts: 131
    edited October 2016

    That is great news JXMom2 (can you voice memo it?) have your Aunt take detailed notes! BUT YOU WON'T need them because until you tell me otherwise, I am holding out for a B9 mass they want to remove. Perhaps just a little complicated mass.


    If not, then we are all here.


    Best,


    KTF
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  • keepthefaith611
    keepthefaith611 Member Posts: 131
    edited October 2016

    PS: The voice memo is for YOUR own personal reference so that you can listen back to it because, for me, 0 registers and I may as well be on an episode of Charlie Brown when the teacher is teaching class, wop, wop, blop, yop, dop.

    : )

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  • Weneke6
    Weneke6 Member Posts: 88
    edited October 2016

    The voice memo is a great idea. I find myself going back over everything as I wait for my biopsy on Friday. It's horrible, because it feels like this ballon in your gut that wants to burst. But you have kids and family around you and you want to seem normal, but I find myself reading everything I can these days on mastectomy and recovery. I can't seem to stop and I am so deeply afraid every time I hug my child this will be one the last times I can do this or lay in bed on my stomach with her to read or play barbie...



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  • keepthefaith611
    keepthefaith611 Member Posts: 131
    edited October 2016

    My Dearest Weneke 6 - that is probably one of the most poignant, honest and beautiful posts I have read in the last 36 hours that I will repeat it here from you again:


    WENEKE6 says "The voice memo is a great idea. I find myself going back over everything as I wait for my biopsy on Friday. It's horrible, because it feels like this ballon in your gut that wants to burst. But you have kids and family around you and you want to seem normal, but I find myself reading everything I can these days on mastectomy and recovery. I can't seem to stop and I am so deeply afraid every time I hug my child this will be one the last times I can do this or lay in bed on my stomach with her to read or play barbie..."


    I can so relate. It robs of us of the present. On a "typical" pre-bx day, I will often find myself fretting over some stupid thing then about 1 year ago, I gave up fretting. I think about it for 1/2 hour (seriously reflect), then I give to God the best I am able to for that day only, and try to enjoy what I can for the rest of the day. It has been working. If not to God, to your higher power. The present is a present. I rely heavily on laughter to get me through a day and luckily I have a comedian for a husband as well as a comedian for a teenager (2 peas in a pod) who keep me laughing 50% of my day.

    You nailed it.

    We both need to breath.

    Hugs,

    KTF Marie

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  • Weneke6
    Weneke6 Member Posts: 88
    edited October 2016

    Thank you.

    My Hubby is a godsend. He's a my dork. Lol. My sister lives with us. We are all very close. he is ready to take two month off in a heartbeat.

    I mostly worry about my 6 year old daughter. I have always tried to make sure she has a good body image. I have let her see me naked and have until she was four never really cared about her running naked or without pants though the house. I worry about being able still teach her this. I worry about being able to help her fears when mine are always so close. All my fears are tied to her.

    To be honest, I am okay with the mastectomy without recon. I looked a little while at immediate without nipple and there seemed to to still be to many issues. I hate wearing bras now. I basically live in sports bras. My husband says he's a butt guy and he honesly does not care its not why he is with me( thats my winning personality and that I can also dork out to batman with him...) Breasts have never been a big thing in our sex life.....TMI sorry.

    I am just scared. And wish that the the medical personal around were more sensitive and real sensitive not that fake voice.

    thanks for listening.


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  • JXmom2
    JXmom2 Member Posts: 29
    edited October 2016

    hi....

    So i got my diagonosis. Im 27 and have invasive ductal carsinma, grade 3. Her2 1+/neg est-/pro-


    Awesome... Idk whats gonna happen im overwhelmed right now that dr got me an apt with a surgen in 3 days and he said from there il get an oncologis

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  • Kcabrera
    Kcabrera Member Posts: 44
    edited October 2016

    JXmom2 I am so sorry - there are so many people here to support you. You will be in my prayers. I hope the experienced ladies here can guide you in the right direction.

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  • RNstrong
    RNstrong Member Posts: 126
    edited October 2016

    Hi JX2Mom, I cant imagine what youre going through right now, but remember that you will not be on this fight alone. I'll be praying for you.

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  • RNstrong
    RNstrong Member Posts: 126
    edited October 2016

    Why am I not given a Birads score after Mammo and US? They just ticked a small box that says additional imaging needed to conclude evaluation? Does that mean a score of 0?

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  • keepthefaith611
    keepthefaith611 Member Posts: 131
    edited October 2016

    JX2Mom, I am so, so, so, sorry. I am not well versed enough to tell you what your next steps will be. I am more well versed in stage IV cancer mets to brain due to my best friend but early stages, I am not yet educated enough to give you good information to help you along. I am going to search out your original thread and hopefully you have also updated there. Or start a new thread on this page and/or the page "JUST DIAGNOSED" and the women and men here who have been where are you are now will help you along with the medical terminology, your options, their stories, you can share your doctor's advice, listen to the feedback, keep track of all of your questions (start that process right now - find a spiral bound notebook and start writing down your questions in one section and your thoughts in another no matter how random they are. My daughter has a learning disability and this was the only way I could keep track of figuring out her diagnosis which took 4.5 years (narcolepsy).

    I am at a loss for words to help clear the fog you must be feeling but to say you are in my thoughts and my prayers. Please bring someone with you to your very important upcoming appointments, be your own advocate (this is SO important which I learned via my best friend and being at HER appointments). You will be getting terms thrown at you which will make your head spin. Make the doctor stop and slow down until you understand each question/answer discussed. It is your RIGHT to understand the protocol and process' and if anyone gives you grief if you ask the question 80 times, let them know that they must stop and understand and respect your position/questions, etc., all politely but firmly of course!

    Hang around HERE on these boards and read. Hard as that will be read and try to also write down items you pick up browsing these board which many be relevant to your situation. Ask for help. God helps those who help themselves; pride can be hurtful. Please remember that you are NOT an Island. As strong as all of us think we are everyone needs a soft place to fall - find that soft place and it may be a different place than where you have historically fallen. I wish I lived next door so that I could put on a pot of tea and just let you talk - about whatever you feel like talking about - the election, the stock market, your family, the diagnosis, your fears, all of it. Find that person -they are closer than you think. You are so young - 27 - do you have a family history of BC? You may be one of the youngest people I have "met" dealing with this God-awful mess.

    Kcabera and AnxiousRN, I am also following both of your threads and you are both in my thoughts and prayers too.


    Weneke6 - what a great and funny reply you just provided on this thread - I was cracking up! Your mind works alot like mind does. I particularly loved "My Hubby is a godsend. He's a my dork. Lol. My sister lives with us. We are all very close. he is ready to take two month off in a heartbeat." LMAO. I will PM you.


    To all, you will remain in my thoughts and prayers long after I hit the send button. I read a post from someone dated 2012. It said "no one cares about your cancer more than you do". That is an accurate statement and an encouraging statement. NO ONE should worry and/or care about your cancer (or possibility of cancer) than YOU. This will help you advocate for yourself, be informed as you possibly can. Prepare for the worst and expect the best. Don't hope for the best. Expect the best. Don't claim you have cancer until you have told you have cancer. One baby step at a time. And I promise to do the same.

    All of my love, prayers, good wishes, crossed eyes, fingers, toes and when I next laugh, I will be thinking of you JX2Mom. Humor is key to keeping your mind sane.

    Hugs, hugs, hugs,

    KTF Marie

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  • keepthefaith611
    keepthefaith611 Member Posts: 131
    edited October 2016

    AnxiousRN - until I got this year's report, i had never seen a "bi-rads" number for myself either or what it meant, I should say. I collected all of my written reports from 2005 onwards and starting in 2007, they did put a bi-rads figure in there but I never paid it any mind because I had no clue what it meant. I always deferred to "summary and impressions" to find out what my reports were telling the doctors. Even the reports are difficult to read (for me); there is so much "doctor speak" in there.

    Can you call the imaging facility and ask the radiologist (the radiologist is in charge for MRI reports to doctors) - ask him to call you back or his "PA" and ask that department what your b-rads score is. Perhaps your facility doesn't use this scoring system yet? I am not sure if bi-rads is industry wide for both U/S and MRI reports.


    Let us know what happens and best wishes,

    KTF


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  • RNstrong
    RNstrong Member Posts: 126
    edited October 2016

    thanks KTF. Did you get your results already? Kcabrera, hope your MRI goes well! I have a shift tonight but I will still be messaging you guys.

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  • Toad
    Toad Member Posts: 54
    edited October 2016

    JX2mom2 The stage and grade may change, after the lump is removed. Mine was Stage 2 (based on the theoretically very accurate MRI)+, and either grade 2 or grade 1, depending on which pathologist read the slides.

    Once it was out, it was Stage 1 (the smallest) and solidly grade 1. The particular snippet they took for the core biopsy was worse than the rest on one of the three factors. So don't look at the staging/grading as set in stone.

    Best of luck!

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  • keepthefaith611
    keepthefaith611 Member Posts: 131
    edited October 2016

    Thanks Toad, reassuring! And educational!

    AnxiousRN, I did a separate post in deference to JXMom's news. Thought it the right thing to do. It was a B9 and I am happy for me but not happy for others and think the entire matter sucks eggs for those stuck in the waiting game.

    All the best,

    KTF611

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