BIRADS 4 ultrasound, Biopsy scheduled next week, 30yrs old

Ciarratron · June 2020

Hello everyone,

Just another friendly anxiety-ridden first time poster here, looking for some support - apologies for adding another one!

I'm a 30 year old with VERY minimal family history (my great aunt had breast cancer, and also a distant cousin) and a mostly clean bill of health - until now.

Found a mass in my left breast about a month ago. I was in the middle of figuring out moving specifics (my roommate impulsively decided to move out of state, giving me 3 weeks' notice), so I figured I'd wait and get it checked out after I got settled. I kept it to myself.

I moved in to my new place last Monday. Boyfriend found the lump last Wednesday. Went to urgent care (I'm one of those uninsured people, but not for long), and was told it was "probably benign" by the doc who checked me out. We ordered an ultrasound anyway on Friday (the 19th).

Ultrasound results were BIRADS 4. Indistinct lobulated (Not specified if they’re macro or micro) oval, 2cm x 1.4 cm, with calcifications (Once again not specified if they’re micro or macro). None of that sounds awesome at all, except the lymph nodes were clear on the ultrasound. Biopsy is scheduled for June 30, so ten days after the ultrasound. I’m nervous it’s spread since then, and I can feel swelling in my Right armpit lymph node (why now?!).

It's...a lot to process. I'm expecting malignancy, of course. All the signs point to cancer. I should have gotten it checked right away, but I stupidly decided that moving was the priority. 30 year olds, jeez. Am I right?

Oof. There is so much information in this community, and I thank you all so much. The strength in this forum is admirable, and if this turns into something bad, I'm staying here and holding onto that strength.

For now though...man. Paralyzed with anxiety. I’m not ready for this. I want to make sure I do the right thing, with follow up appointments, MRI’s, and the like. If this IS bad, I want to increase my chances of survival as proactively as I can.

I needed to vent - the friends I’ve told are amazing, but haven’t gone through it, and I hope they never have to.

BCat40 · June 2020

Sorry for the stressful situation you find yourself in. Just wanted to say that cancer spreading to a lymph node to the point that you'd be able to feel it would take a lot longer than a few weeks.

I also found this post from a radiologist stating that a lobulated mass tends to be benign.

https://www.medhelp.org/posts/Breast-Cancer/lobular-lump/show/1859009

Mine was a "spiculated" mass found on ultrasound--BIRADS 5 and yes it was cancer. Yours sounds much less concerning.

Ciarratron · June 2020

Thank you - I really appreciate the response.

The ultrasound results were pretty vague, but also kind of definitive at the same time? The “indistinct” margins scare me, as well as the calcifications. The doctor who called me with the results (who was NOT an oncologist) said that the findings were “indicative of breast cancer”, so I’ve been spinning out for 10 days now.

I hope the swollen lymph nodes are due to allergies or the extreme stress I’ve been feeling, or maybe they’re doing their job and actually fighting something off and it’s a coincidence.

I’m so sorry you’re having to go through this in the middle of this pandemic, and all of the ladies here who are doing the same. I’m in awe.

LiveLoveLaugh2020 · June 2020

Ciarra I hope you get benign results. Wishing you the best. Vent all you need. Xo

Ciarratron · June 2020

LiveLoveLaugh2020, thank you!

I'm lucky to have a really, REALLY supportive partner, great friends, a job that allows me to afford care and treatment (should I need it), and a wonderful place to call home.

I'm not a very spiritual person, but...if cancer is written into my story, everything in it lead up to those wonderful things, and there are (and have been, in my life so far!) heck of a lot worse places I could be to tackle it in.

Biopsy is in 2 days - Hoping for quick results.

wrenn · June 2020

I understand anxiety. It's scary to not have answers. My lump was found June 15th. It was very aggressive and was still the same size Aug. 16th. Not that that will ease your fears but hoping for benign results for you.

Ciarratron · June 2020

Biopsy done this morning, mostly painless. I'm actually liking the after pain, weirdly - I like knowing the tumor was assaulted. And it was fascinating to watch it on the ultrasound screen, too. At least there's that?

The doctor who performed the procedure said it “bothered her" when I asked if it could still be benign, ordered a post-biopsy mammogram, AND said they'd be calling me with the results hopefully by Thursday. I'm guessing none of that is good.

I just found out this morning that someone I've known for several years was diagnosed with Stage IV metastatic breast cancer at 29. Sort of harrowing to see right before getting a biopsy.

I'm not expecting a good outcome here. Do you ladies have any ways to prepare yourself for the big news? And what to do afterwards in order to keep yourself from completely losing your s-h*-t?

quinnie · June 2020

Ciarra, I am so sorry you are going through this. THere is nothing to describe the feeling of waiting for the phone call. And being so young I would think makes it worse. Not that I was old, LOL, but my first cancer was diagnosed at 51 and second at 64. I had great outcomes from both so am very fortunate. I had 2 cousins diagnosed around the age of 30 and are 10 and 15 out and are doing fine. So my best advise is find someway to distract yourself which is easier said than done. I do remember after I got the call that I wasn;t that upset. Almost relieved it was over and could start my journey to beat the cancer. Good Luck to you and hope for the best outcome. BYW: the radialogist was certain I didn't have cancer the second time but until you get the pathology there is really no way to know.

Mangosan99 · June 2020

Ciarra, I'm in a somewhat similar place--had an abnormal mammogram on June 4th and have been plodding along each step including having my biopsy today as well. My doctor's office is taking an extended weekend for the holiday so will get results in person next Tuesday.

I was a wreck of anxiety until I hit a wall three days after my first BS appointment. At that appointment last week, I learned my biopsy would not be for another week with results still another week later. A few days later, I was tired of being scared and decided to begin moving on. I figured that if the results were unfavorable, this is going to be a really long road of waiting and I could not put my life on hold for that.

Now, I spend about 30 minutes a couple times each day allowing myself to think about it and research all of the questions that have popped into my head (which is how I found this site) and the rest of the day try to avoid it.

I do have to say I'm 51 so I think age helps a bit; the 30 year old version of myself would not have handled this nearly as well. But, it is great to hear your partner is really supportive and are in an optimal place to take on this challenge.

Let's hope for the best, whatever path that takes! And, hoping quick results for you.

LiveLoveLaugh2020 · July 2020

You’re welcome. Glad it was painless. I had mine same day right after the mammo due to insurance reasons and thankfully had no time to think about it. It was a bit painful and I was sore for a couple of weeks after but I guess it was good that it was done on the spot so I didn’t have time to google and drive myself crazy.

The radiologist told me he was pretty sure as well that mine was nothing and would be benign with maybe atypical at the worst so like quinnie says there’s no definite way to know until pathology is back. So don’t think negatively just yet.

There really is no way to prepare yourself. Just try to keep busy and active to keep yourself distracted. (Much easier said than done).

Sorry to hear about your friend and sending you and mango positive thoughts and vibes! Praying for benign results.

Ciarratron · July 2020

Quinnie, LiveLoveLaugh, thank you so much for your words! It’s been a rough day (I think I cried at my boyfriend abouuuuuut...13 times? Possibly 14 - he’d know better than I would!), but I’m hoping for a better day tomorrow. I think I’ll feel better once I get results, regardless of what they are.

And Mangosan, I’m so sorry to hear you’re dealing with a similar thing...you gave excellent advice on managing the anxiety and the waiting. Please keep me updated. We’re going to be ok.

Also, this post-biopsy swelling is NO JOKE. I think my left ta-ta went up like a cup size. I’m barely an a-cup, so it’s hilariously noticeable. I’ve largely ignored my breasts for most of my life, so having this much focus on just ONE of them right now is bizarre.

BIRADS 4 ultrasound, Biopsy scheduled next week, 30yrs old

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