Waiting for Biopsy - BIRADS 4

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WorriedDad
WorriedDad Member Posts: 3
edited May 2017 in Waiting for Test Results

Good morning, my wife had a mammogram last Friday which indicated a BIRADS 4, 2.2 x 3.4 cm solid immovable mass, irregular border. She is 6 months pregnant and we are enormously stressed right now. She only felt the lump for the first time about a month or so ago. The doctor did say that it had characteristics of both cancer and non-cancer, so I'm not sure what to think.

Could a solid, immovable, irregular shaped tumor grow that fast? Is there a possibility it could be a benign condition?

She is 35, and as I mentioned pregnant entering the 3rd trimester. She has a biopsy scheduled for this coming Tuesday, and we are having a hard time sleeping or just about doing anything other than worry.

Any words of advice you have would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks


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  • MTwoman
    MTwoman Member Posts: 2,704
    edited April 2017

    WorriedDad,

    There are many things that can present as breast masses that are NOT breast cancer. In fact, without a specifying letter (like a, b or c), between 70-80% of BIRADS 4 biopsies are B9. Please, both you and your lovely wife should try to remain as calm as possible and practice relaxation together (listening to soothing music, warm bath, yoga, breathing, scented candles etc) as stress is not good for either of you or the baby. Distraction can also be helpful (binge watching Netflix, playing board games, long walks, spending time with people you care about) when trying to reduce anxiety. Hoping for B9 results for you and sending ((hugs))

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  • WorriedDad
    WorriedDad Member Posts: 3
    edited April 2017

    MTwoman, thank you for your response. We heeded your advice and tried putting this thing out of our minds last night. We did receive the mammo narrative though, and this is what it says:

    There is a lobulated mass in the anterior aspect of the left breast upper outer quadrant, approximately 3 cm from the nipple. It measures approximately 3 cm in the AP dimension, 3.2 cm transversely, and 2 cm in the crandiocaudal dimension. On tomographic imaging it's margins are mostly smooth and circumscribed although lobulated. There are no calcifications associated with the mass. No other breast abnormalities are demonstrated. No skin thickening or lymphadenopathy.

    This description is different from the sonogram description (completed before the mammo) which said the mass was "a solid, heterogeneous, irregular mass with lobular and somewhat angular margins and exhibits blood flow".. The sonogram description also said there is a good "transmission" through the mass.

    We will continue to try to put this out of our minds as I know it will be at least another 8 days before we know anything from the biopsy, which is scheduled Tuesday.

    Thanks again for the nice words!!

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  • MTwoman
    MTwoman Member Posts: 2,704
    edited April 2017

    WorriedDad, If DJMammo comes along, he can give you a much better understanding of these results (he's a board certified radiologist). I'll send him a note and see if he's around. But there do seem to be some words that sound more like benign characteristics, like mostly smooth margins and good transmission through the mass (it doesn't cast a shadow)

    So glad you were able to try and distract yourselves/each other so that Mommy and Baby can reduce their stress (as well as you). Keep each other close and try not to go too far down that "what if" path, it is just anxiety provoking.

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  • djmammo
    djmammo Member Posts: 2,939
    edited April 2017

    Dad

    A number of the descriptors in those reports could go either way. In my experience the majority of breast cancers will cause posterior acoustic shadowing, which is the opposite of "good through transmission". It seems to me a cancer of that size should be casting a serious shadow on ultrasound.

    Blood flow can be seen in both good and bad actors. We like smooth and circumscribed better than irregular and angular. There are good and bad lobulated masses. It can be confusing when the language used in one report differs from what is found in the other.

    Either way a biopsy is indicated so you are doing the right thing. I am assuming it will be done with ultrasound guidence. It should be very straight forward and easy to target in light of its description. Let us know how it goes.

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  • WorriedDad
    WorriedDad Member Posts: 3
    edited May 2017

    MTwoman, thank you for providing calming words. I know it helped us get through the past 10 days. I know that you probably already realize how much of an impact your calming words have on folks, but just in case you don't, they have an enormous impact.

    djmammo, thank you for your technical expertise. It's pretty awesome that nowadays we have the tools at our hands to get a professional opinion by simply posting online.

    We received the biopsy results, and the tumor is b9. The only worry that I have now is if the baby was exposed to any radiation from the mammogram. I've done a lot of reading, and it seems to me as though most of the studies indicate a very low fetal dose, maybe on par a cross-country flight.

    Again, thank you, and I wish the best for your future MTwoman.

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  • MTwoman
    MTwoman Member Posts: 2,704
    edited May 2017

    YAY!! Thanks so much for letting us know about your good results. Always wonderful to hear good news before the weekend. I hope you, your lovely wife and beautiful baby can relax and enjoy the rest of her pregnancy and birth. ((hugs)) to you all! and thanks for your kind words

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