Bi-RADS 3
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 !!
Comments
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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.
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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).
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thank you
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