BI-RADS Explained

I believe that my doctor said that I have a BI-RADS score of 3 based on my MRI in December. But keep seeing that BI-RADS are based on mammogram imaging. Is that true? My next recommended step is ultra sound

I also have family history of Breast cancer in my family which is why I've been having MRI imaging

Thank yo

Peacelady

All breast imaging studies use Birads.

This may have been answered somewhere, but as I'm awaiting more testing and my appointment with the breast surgeon in 3 days I'm coming up with more questions. How do the radiologists determine the BIRADS score? Is there a point assigned for each finding and then the points are totaled to come up with the score of 0-6? I'm wondering, on a “suspicious" mammogram/ ultrasound study, what differentiates a score of 5 from 4? Thank you.

Thank you Beesie those are very helpful.

Thank you thisiknow. I had read that post but I only saw that the numbers correlated with the potential risk for malignancy. I was trying to determine what went into the assignment of the score. For example, my scans were given a BIRADS 5 and I was just wanting to know what distinguishes a 5 from a 4 on a scan. I understand they give the potential risk of malignancy at >95%. The articles that Beesie posted were very helpful. I don’t mean to waste anyone’s time, just trying to educate myself.

Hi Summerkeenan

I too was a birads5...was told 2 days later it was defintely cancer, then took about 2 weeks for pathology. I found out at that appointment that it was hormone postive and because of size, 21mm, I could have surgery next. Usually chemo first for larger tumours and inflammatory breast cancer. They removed lymphnodes during surgery. After that full pathology, I was told needed chemo and radiation.

It's a very confusing time, and life seems to stand still while waiting. But for most of us, once you have more answers and treatment is put in place, things start to settle a bit.

Hi summerkeenan,

After my biopsy came back malignant (also after a birads 5), I was able to send it to the cancer center near me that I wanted to be treated at. They only take confirmed cancer patients. They called me after they received it and set me up with an appointment with a surgical oncologist. Like krystinem, the size and hormones of my cancer meant surgery first. The surgical oncology appointment was the thing that finally let me start breathing again. My understanding coming away from it was that this was a diagnosis that would turn my life upside down but only for a time, and that I had a very good chance at a normal lifespan (as a teenager, I had watched my mother die of breast cancer - I was very scared).

Still, there was a lot more waiting. Waiting for the surgical pathology, waiting for the oncotype, waiting to see my side effects from radiation and hormone treatment, etc. I would say that each stage of waiting was easier than the previous one. For me, the hardest time was between diagnosis and the first surgical oncology appointment (to be fair, I had no idea what my birads 5 meant and didn't get worried until the night before biopsy - for that one particular moment, ignorance was indeed bliss!)

For now, probably you should figure out where you'd wanted to be treated in the event it is confirmed to be cancer, and what you have to do to set up your initial appointment there (not all centers will make you wait for the diagnosis). Everything else is mental/emotional/psychological at this point. Get your coping mechanisms ready, your mental health/emotional support on deck, and settle in the ride!

Good luck! And remember that high likelihood of malignancy does NOT mean a higher stage or more dangerous form of cancer.