Birads 4B after BC

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Citrinetiff
Citrinetiff Member Posts: 88
edited February 2020 in Not Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastases but Concerned

Hi,

Can someone chime in and walk me off the ledge? I was dx'd 4 years about with IDC Stage 1 ER- PR+ HER2- Grade 3. I had surgery AC + T and radiation. I have had clear mammos until yesterday when I went in for my routine mammo and they saw a new "something" on my left breast (my cancer was on the right). U/S confirmed the lesion, the radiologist was hoping it was a simple or complex cyst so tried aspirating it. That didn't work, so they did biopsy (12 or 20 gauge?). The birads came back as 4B.

What are the chances of this being a recurrence or a new cancer? Has anyone gone through this and it was not cancer? I cannot imagine putting my daughters through this again.

Any comments welcome.

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Comments

  • ctmbsikia
    ctmbsikia Member Posts: 1,095
    edited February 2020

    Hi So sorry you're back here. The Birads 4B would be the score of your mammogram and that means "4B: Finding with an moderate likelihood of being cancer (more than 10% but no more than 50%)" You should be getting a call if they did a biopsy yesterday as well. That goes out to the lab and I hope you get the results soon. If it is a cancer it would be considered a new cancer since it occurred in your other breast. (I think that's right, anyway)

    Wishing you good luck, please let us know how you make out.

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  • Laurencl
    Laurencl Member Posts: 237
    edited February 2020

    Have the very same thing going on! 5 months since mastectomy. 6 months sine chemo. Going to my surgeon today, I assume for a biopsy. Yes, this is horrible

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  • vlnrph
    vlnrph Member Posts: 1,632
    edited February 2020

    It's possible that bilateral BC could be an indication of an inherited mutation.

    Even with no known family history, it might be good to request a referral to a genetic counselor sometime soon in order to consider testing, the results of which may help determine treatment.

    On the other hand, perhaps it is a benign lesion and there will be nothing to worry about!

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  • MountainMia
    MountainMia Member Posts: 1,307
    edited February 2020

    Citrinetiff, I'm sorry you're doing this!! I am, too. Tomorrow I have a follow-up US (after whole-breast AVBS ultrasound last Friday) and they scheduled a slot to do biopsy. I got the report on the AVBS, and the description of my mass is bad. Of course they'll need to actually do biopsy to tell what it is. They gave it a BIRADS score of 0, incomplete.

    Here's hoping we both get good information and good news before the weekend!!

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  • Citrinetiff
    Citrinetiff Member Posts: 88
    edited February 2020

    ctmbsikia thank you for your kind words. I have been googling (I know I shouldn't) and I think you are correct that if it is in the other breast, it is probably a new cancer.

    Laurencl I am so sorry you are going through this. Please let us know how everything goes. I am sending positive thoughts for a good result.

    vlnrph I hope it is a benign lesion! I agree with you that I should ask for a genetic mutation. This is especially true since I have 2 adult daughters. They are already at a higher risk because of me. Thank you for the suggestion.

    MountainMia what is going on!? I thought I would have some respite from the fear of a new cancer! What is AVBS? I will be sending you positive thoughts and hoping for a good result. Please keep us posted.

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  • MountainMia
    MountainMia Member Posts: 1,307
    edited February 2020

    ABVS is Automated Breast Volume Scanner. It's a whole breast ultrasound that is partially automated. Once the tech places it, it runs its own scan. The idea is to get better quality and less tech-dependent imaging, to make the quality of interpretation more consistent and better. I think they ran 3 scans on each breast, with me lying on my back. My breasts are heterogeneously dense, so I pushed for another imaging besides mammogram. And it's good I did, as the mammo didn't show anything on this, and it's not palpable.

    I hope you get your biopsy results soon. Please let us know.

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  • KBeee
    KBeee Member Posts: 5,109
    edited February 2020

    Hoping the results come back benign. How scary for you. If you were not tested for any genetic mutations, request it, regardless of the outcome of this, so you know if you are at increased risk. Do keep us posted.

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  • Citrinetiff
    Citrinetiff Member Posts: 88
    edited February 2020

    MountainMia thank you for the info.

    KBeee I see that you had cancer twice in the same breast two years apart! How awful for you. Are you okay now? I really hope you are. Did you have genetic testing?

    I am debating having a double mastectomy even if this new "thing" is benign. Am I crazy?


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  • KBeee
    KBeee Member Posts: 5,109
    edited February 2020

    I am doing well now, though I live for today and actively check off bucket list items. I am happy to keep adding to and checking off more items for the next 50 years, but I don't want to put off things I really want to do. I am still working as a firefighter/paramedic, but considering retiring in the next year or 2 because I'm getting a bit old for it. I recently helped out for a week on a presidential campaign and as much as I hate politics, when I find someone I like, I think I've found something I can fill some time with doing behind the scenes work. It was fun and it was something new. I had genetic testing. I have a VUS in the CHEK2 gene. My mom has the same one and she had breast CA in 1992, and again in the contralateral breast in 2006. Her dad and grandpa both died of cancer, so I was not surprised with my diagnosis.

    You are not crazy at all. My mom wishes she could have had BMX in 1992, but it was not offered then.

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  • etnasgrl
    etnasgrl Member Posts: 650
    edited February 2020

    Just wanted to say that I am currently in the exact same position, so I understand all the fear and uncertainty that is swirling around in your head right now. (And my initial diagnosis was very close to yours as well. The only difference was mine was Grade 2.)
    I will be praying for benign results for us both. Hang in there!!!

    Hug


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  • Citrinetiff
    Citrinetiff Member Posts: 88
    edited February 2020

    KBeee Thank you for sharing your story, and thank you for the work you do. I should have the results next week, and then I'll decide what to do. I just hope it is benign.

    etnasgrl It's awful, isn't it? The waiting, the worrying? I will be hoping for both of us to have good results. Please let us know what the results are.

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  • etnasgrl
    etnasgrl Member Posts: 650
    edited February 2020

    Yes, it is awful!!! The waiting was always the worst part of this crap. Once you know, one way or the other, you can start to DO something. In the meantime, you are powerless and I don't know about you.....but my mind can go down some pretty dark paths.
    It is what it is though, so not much we can do but endure, right? lol!
    We've got this!

    ThumbsUp

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  • Laurencl
    Laurencl Member Posts: 237
    edited February 2020

    well mine came back ok. Normal breast changes. Good news. I am exhausted.

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  • KBeee
    KBeee Member Posts: 5,109
    edited February 2020

    Laurencl, Great news!!

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  • Mudstick
    Mudstick Member Posts: 100
    edited February 2020

    Wow - it looks like there are a boat-load of us waiting on biopsy results for possible recurrence right now!

    I'm currently waiting for results from an excisional biopsy done a week ago for 2 small masses along my mastectomy scar.....

    Citrinetiff, MountainMi, etnasgrl: I sending positive vibes to you all and hoping for benign results for everyone. Waiting is so horrible and hard to not let the dark thoughts take over. I agree - all we can do is wait, and endure. We can do this!!

    Laurencl: Great news - I'm so happy for you! Take it easy and recover from the exhaustion. What a roller-coaster....

    Hoping we all get our results soon :-)


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  • Citrinetiff
    Citrinetiff Member Posts: 88
    edited February 2020

    Laurenci, I am so happy for you! YAY.

    Mudstick, yes, it certainly seems like too many of us are waiting for results. I hate cancer!

    My doctor's assistant just texted me (after I texted her) that the results are in, "but not finalized". What does that mean??!!! I am at work right now, but I'll be calling my BS after my class.I am completely stressed out.

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  • Candilea
    Candilea Member Posts: 28
    edited February 2020

    Citrinetiff, I hope you get good news soon. Waiting is awful.

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  • Mudstick
    Mudstick Member Posts: 100
    edited February 2020

    Good luck Citrinetiff. Hopefully "not finalized" just means they haven't been reviewed by your doctor yet? Either way, sounds like you will know very soon. Hang in there - Fingers crossed that everything comes back boring and benign!!!

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  • Citrinetiff
    Citrinetiff Member Posts: 88
    edited February 2020

    mudstick, thank you! I am just waiting for my doctor to get back to me. Maybe he has to wait till the final report? Anyway, it shouldn't be much longer.

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  • etnasgrl
    etnasgrl Member Posts: 650
    edited February 2020

    Mudstick….thank you! Yep, still waiting! I had 2 biopsies.....the first came back benign, which is GREAT....but it's this second biopsy that I'm worried about. Hoping for the same results. We shall see.

    I hope you get benign results as well. Hang in there!

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  • Laurencl
    Laurencl Member Posts: 237
    edited February 2020

    The waiting is the most draining part! It all seems to take so long. Hoping for the best for everyone. We all deserve some peace

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  • Mudstick
    Mudstick Member Posts: 100
    edited February 2020

    Venting for a minute - I'm extremely irritated!!!

    My results for my mammogram and u/s on Jan 27th are now posted and the report is soooo scant (djmammo would be VERY disappointed!) and they do not reflect the conversation the Radiologist had with me AT ALL. She stated that the 2 masses "were probably benign" and she "recommended follow-up at 6 months". To which I raised my concerns and history and requested a biopsy. Here is what the report states:

    MAMMOGRAM:

    ACR A: The breast tissue is almost entirely fatty.

    2 faint tiny focal asymmetries in the area of concern in the upper outer right breast

    ULTRASOUND:

    Targeted sonographic evaluation was performed of the area of concern at 9:00 4 cm from nipple. There is a superficial hypoechoic parallel nodule measuring 3 x 3 mm. Chest 2 there is another 4.7 x 2.9 mm nodule. The appearance was discussed with the patient and her husband.

    IMPRESSION:

    1. Patient is concerned about the 2 palpable lesions

    2. Recommendation: Biopsy using ultrasound guidance for the larger deeper lesion

    BI-RADS 4A (Biopsy recommended: low suspicion for malignancy).

    At the end of the day, it doesn't change the fact that a biopsy has been performed and I'm waiting for the results now. However, I work in the medical field and it really upsets me that what she initially believed based on the imaging and her discussed with me is not what is now reflected in the medical record. It appears to me that she subjectively changed her initial medical opinion after our conversation, as opposed to evaluating the imaging and reporting her findings in an objective manner. GRRRR.


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  • Laurencl
    Laurencl Member Posts: 237
    edited February 2020

    Yes Mudslick...GRRR. I soooooo get it! The reports always look sooo much different then what the Dr. Says. I HATE reading them (and I can’t stop). And having a reasonable brain does not help...

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  • Mudstick
    Mudstick Member Posts: 100
    edited February 2020

    Thanks for understanding Laurencl!

    I get totally sucked into reading studies, researching peer reviewed journal papers and reading/re-reading my reports etc. to try and glean any information that I might be able to apply to my situation!!! It passes the time as I wait and wait and worry, if nothing else. Unfortunately, I think I become slightly obsessive :-)



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  • Laurencl
    Laurencl Member Posts: 237
    edited February 2020

    Right there with you Mudstick! I read myself into complete hysteria! Even on these boards. By the time I’m done even good news seems bad and everything I’m doing or have done seems wrong. My background is legal, but I’ve read medical reports for years (a little knowledge...a dangerous thing!) . I do think that trusting our care team is everything...but...Grrrr is right!

    Lauren

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  • Mudstick
    Mudstick Member Posts: 100
    edited February 2020

    Been thinking about you Citrinetiff - Any contact from your doctors about your biopsy?

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  • Citrinetiff
    Citrinetiff Member Posts: 88
    edited February 2020

    Mudstick, so sorry you are not getting the info you want.

    I got the results and it is benign! Woo hoo! Such a relief! I haven't gotten a copy of the biopsy report yet, but I am so relieved it isn't cancer!

    Thank you, everyone, for all your support!

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  • Laurencl
    Laurencl Member Posts: 237
    edited February 2020

    Great news Citrinetiff

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  • Mudstick
    Mudstick Member Posts: 100
    edited February 2020

    That is amazing new Citrenitiff!! I’m so relieved for you and happy to hear about your b9 result. Fingers crossed I get the same. Still in limbo....

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