Bi-Rads Question

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goldie63
goldie63 Member Posts: 117
edited December 2016 in Not Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastases but Concerned

Does anyone know if it's usual to get a bi-rads classification from the locating mammograms or subsequent clip-tracing mammogram with a stereotactic breast biopsy?  I had the biopsy on Oct 6th and at the beginning of my appointment was told to see my doctor for the results in 2 weeks, and then at the end of the biopsy was told to see my doctor for the results in 5 days / 1 week.  So I stressed for the entire week because it's never good in my experience to be called in for appointments or have appointments moved sooner.  Then at the doctor's appointment they told me they had no info, it takes 4 -6 weeks to get the pathology results!  I was not too impressed at all.  What my doctor had (Physician's Assistant actually) was a copy of what was done during the procedure.  So he went through that and it says at the end

IMPRESSION:

Stereotactic biopsy of left breast calcifications, clip placement and post biopsy mammogram.

BI-RADS 4a. 

An addendum will be issued as soon as the pathology report is available.

I know that bi-rads 4a is the best level of suspicion you can have, because it's like 2-10% probability of malignancy.  That's great, and my stress is basically down to close to nothing.  I just have a wee little wondering though about why they said first to go see my doctor for results in 2 weeks, and then changed it to 1 week, (and there was also the mammogram lady at the end saying something like 'try not to worry, you'll get through it'), when the pathology results are going to take 4 -6 weeks!  Which is crazy itself, just as an aside.  Then I started wondering if the bi-rads 4a thing came from either the first mammogram, or the follow up spot compression mammogram, and not from the mammograms at the biopsy.  So now I am wondering if you get a bi-rads classification from the biopsy mammograms.  It does seem to be that I did because it's written down after the Impression heading, but I thought I'd check in with you ladies and see if anyone has any experience with this.  In any case I'm not going to stress about it anymore I'm just going to wait for the pathology report.  Once I get that I'm going to talk to the hospital about how they communicate to patients too!

Thanks

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

    I don't remember the report from my stereotactic biopsy having an independent Birads rating. Since they are using imaging for location purposes and not films Iwouldn't think anyone is reading it to write up a rating. As far as I know the post-biopsy one wasn't rated and was just to verify the marker was in place.

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  • KBeee
    KBeee Member Posts: 5,109
    edited October 2016

    My birads was from my mammogram and ultrasound both times. The usual standards for biopsied are results within 2 working days. I would call and ask why the delay? That's an unacceptable amount of time

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  • goldie63
    goldie63 Member Posts: 117
    edited October 2016

    thank you Melissa, that's what I think even though that's not what it seems to say. Either way I'll sure beglad to get the final result.

    Thanks kbeee for the input. I was thinking earlier tonight that I never waited 4-6 weeks for any results when I had bc 20 years ago. That's a good idea to phone and check and I'm going to do that.

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  • KBeee
    KBeee Member Posts: 5,109
    edited October 2016

    The squeaky wheel gets the grease. It is hard, but sometimes you have to be the squeaky wheel. I have learned the hard way how important it is to speak up and advocate for myself

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  • goldie63
    goldie63 Member Posts: 117
    edited October 2016

    update - we have 'breast patient navigators' at our hospital and they are awesome. I spoke to one of them this morning and she told me it's never 4-6 wks (that's an issue to take up with my gp's office). She said it shows as pending in her computer, so they don't have the results yet. It takes 2 weeks in the hospital lab, occasionally a couple days less, occasionally a few days more if they have to send it to Toronto for some reason. Then the radiologist takes acouple days to write their addendum then it's auto faxed to my doctor. So 2 weeks and a couple days, not 4-6 wks. I can check with her when results are in and out to my doctor and then I'm just going to my doctors walk in clinic For results. Also, bi-rads 4a was reason for biopsy, not classification out of biopsy. At least I don't have to wait 4-6 wks I guess. Thank you both again.

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  • KBeee
    KBeee Member Posts: 5,109
    edited October 2016

    Good news. Keep us posted, and try your best to stay distracted....which I know is pretty much impossible.

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  • goldie63
    goldie63 Member Posts: 117
    edited October 2016

    My doctor just phoned me - benign!!!!! Yay!

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  • Smurfette26
    Smurfette26 Member Posts: 730
    edited October 2016

    That's wonderful news. Congrats.

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  • Beatmon
    Beatmon Member Posts: 1,562
    edited October 2016

    Hooray

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  • KBeee
    KBeee Member Posts: 5,109
    edited October 2016

    Great news!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  • goldie63
    goldie63 Member Posts: 117
    edited October 2016

    doctors office phoned 4:30 yesterday to come in 9:15 this morning. celebrating too soon I guess. Final pathology report says seems to be benign, pathology findings are discordant with radiology findings, considering patient's history and pleomorphism of micro calcifications suspicious for a sinister lesion. (Really - it says 'sinister'!!!). Surgical excision is recommended. So now I have to wait to hear from surgeon's office. I guess it's better to get them all out anyway but crappers.

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  • KBeee
    KBeee Member Posts: 5,109
    edited October 2016

    Blaaah. Sorry to hear that; it does sound like they're being cautious, and that is a good thing. Keep us posted.

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  • goldie63
    goldie63 Member Posts: 117
    edited November 2016

    finally got in to see surgeon today. he also agrees with excisional biopsy. Dec 9th probable date, possibly dec 2nd. Hopefully it's not cancer again but if it is I've already decided on bilateral mastectomy as next step. I've been so stressed this last while and knowing too that my perhaps 'entitlement'to stress is way less than so many others. It is what it is though and I'm definitely glad to have the next step (almost) in place.

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  • KBeee
    KBeee Member Posts: 5,109
    edited November 2016

    Keep us posted.

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  • goldie63
    goldie63 Member Posts: 117
    edited November 2016

    Well surgeon didn't even send booking yet so excisional biopsy can't be dec 9th. Pushed back to dec 16th. To be confirmed tomorrow. My annual mammogram was aug 25th with a phone call re follow ups on that a week later. What an incredibly long wait to get to a resolution I'm a bit upset now

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  • KBeee
    KBeee Member Posts: 5,109
    edited November 2016

    How frustrating. That wait is inexcusable

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  • goldie63
    goldie63 Member Posts: 117
    edited December 2016

    Thanks KBeee. Inexcusable is right. Booked now for Dec 16th for sure thankfully anyway

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  • goldie63
    goldie63 Member Posts: 117
    edited December 2016

    I had excisional biopsy in day surgery yesterday. Wire localization was challenging for me, just about passed out several times. They were so nice with cold cloths on my forehead and neck. I haven't had that waves-rolling-over-me sensation too many times and it was not pleasant! Surgery was fine though. Surgeon came to talk to me and said it went well and everything looked good. So now I'm feeling more optimistic about the results! That will take 2 wks. Too long but with all the waiting so far at least this waiting can't be extended or at least not more than a couple days for the holidays. This part is nearly over and hopefully there's is no Part 2!

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  • vlnrph
    vlnrph Member Posts: 1,632
    edited December 2016

    Wow, what an ordeal! You deserve to hear good news as soon as possible

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  • goldie63
    goldie63 Member Posts: 117
    edited December 2016

    Thanks vlnrph, I hope I do get good news!!

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  • KBeee
    KBeee Member Posts: 5,109
    edited December 2016

    Hoping for good results. Keep us posted

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  • goldie63
    goldie63 Member Posts: 117
    edited December 2016

    Well my doctor's office phoned today and she wants to see me Thursday morning. I'm pretty sure I can guess why unfortunately. Surgeon's office is closed over the holidays so I was going to phone doctor tomorrow anyway. Will post once I know for sure. On a much happier note we got our new puppy today, Mylo. He's a sweet and beautiful boy, totally fallen in loveimage

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  • LisaAlissa
    LisaAlissa Member Posts: 1,092
    edited December 2016

    Goldie, don't give up hope!

    My surgeon made a practice of only giving out biopsy or post-surgical path reports in her office. No matter what the results were. The navigator I worked with said that was one of the things that she made sure patients knew. They didn't want anyone trying to "read anything into" those appointments.

    Hoping for the best!

    LisaAlissa

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  • goldie63
    goldie63 Member Posts: 117
    edited December 2016

    Thanks LisaAlissa, I will be overjoyed if I get good news! At least the waiting is almost done. And the new puppy is my excuse for being up in the middle of the night tonight, not being worried!

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  • KBeee
    KBeee Member Posts: 5,109
    edited December 2016

    Keep us posted. Hoping for good news.

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  • goldie63
    goldie63 Member Posts: 117
    edited December 2016

    Well unfortunately yes again. I expected it after everything in the last 4 months but I can't believe it anyway. It's 20 years later. DCIS this time, no evidence of invasive malignancy so I'm really glad about that. I have a few questions but I don't have the energy to put that together right now so will post in another forum later on. I appreciate all the information and support here. Thank you

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  • KBeee
    KBeee Member Posts: 5,109
    edited December 2016

    Sorry the beast is back. Hoping you have a plan in place soon

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