Bi-RADS 3

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Mary1977
Mary1977 Member Posts: 40
edited June 2020 in Not Diagnosed But Worried

hi so I had a mammogram which showed posterior nodular density with central lucency in left breast . The advised ultrasound which showed nothing at all. They have classed it as. Bi-RADS 3, and to follow up in 6 months . I’m confused so is there something there or not and is 6 months too long to wait? I’m a worrier by nature so it’s going to be a long 6 months !!

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  • Ingerp
    Ingerp Member Posts: 2,624
    edited June 2020

    BI-RADS 3 has less than a 2% probability of being malignant. Recommended follow-up is unilateral mammo after six months and bilateral after 12 months.

  • Beesie
    Beesie Member Posts: 12,240
    edited June 2020

    As Ingerp said, with a BIRADs3, the Radiologist has assessed that the risk that this is malignant is less than 2%.

    The reason a 6 month follow-up is suggested is because what the imaging showed is most likely to be nothing, and because even if you are very unlucky and fall into the 2%, there is little risk to wait. Most breast cancers are slow growing and have been in the breast for 3-5 years, some as long as 10 years, before they become large enough to be detected. In that context, 6 months isn't a concern.

    The way to get through the 6 months is to decide in your mind that this is nothing, and to consider the 6 month follow-up as being when this will be confirmed. I've had lots of 6 month follow-ups over the years and that's how I've always thought about it. None of mine ever turned out to be anything, and I've always been grateful that I avoided an unnecessary biopsy, which comes with a lot more stress. I've had enough biopsies over the years that I trust that the Radiologist knows when waiting is okay (a BIRADs 3) and when a biopsy is necessary (a BIRADs 4).

  • Mary1977
    Mary1977 Member Posts: 40
    edited June 2020

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