First biopsy- age 34 and scared

hi Yenna21

I’m sorry you are here, but you are definitely doing the right thing by getting a biopsy. Most biopsies are benign, so keep that in mind. My worst days were right around the biopsy time and it was very intense and scary indeed for me. I was definitely terrified and had all kinds of things going through my mind. Hang in there, hoping you get good results.

Yenna, sorry that you are going through this. The first health scare is always scary. I was lucky - in a very weird way - in that I had my first breast biopsy at 16, and at that age I was too unaware to really worry about it. I've had lots more biopsies since then. Although I have been diagnosed with breast cancer (that was my 5th biopsy), I can vouch that most biopsies are benign.

So here's the good news, relatively speaking, of course. BIRADs 4A means that the Radiologist assesses a 10% or less risk of cancer. Since you were offered the opportunity to do 'watchful waiting', I'd guess that the Radiologist actually thinks the risk is lower than that - usually 'watchful waiting' is the next step when the rating is a BIRADs 3, which is a 2% or less risk of cancer.

Then there is the type of biopsy. Other than a fine needle aspiration, ultrasound-guide core needle biopsies are the easiest. All the types of biopsies (except the FNA) use the same needle, but with an ultrasound-guided biopsy, you get to lie comfortably on your back (or angled onto your side). Just be prepared for the noise - the needle sounds like a loud staple gun.

Do you have a copy of mammogram and ultrasound reports? At your age, and since you can feel a lump, my guess is that you have either a complicated cyst (a fluid filled cyst with some solid particles) or a fibroadenoma. At your age, those are a much more common cause for breast lumps than breast cancer. Both are harmless and benign - well, there is a very small risk with the complicated cyst, but less than the 2% since they are usually rated as BIRADs 3 (I've had some of those that have been watched and never turned out to be anything to worry about).

Good luck with the biopsy. And let us know how it goes.

I am definitely not brave, and had many tears for. Few days! I think though, you just face what you need to do and adapt. Information is very helpful, the unknown is scary.

When I had my ultrasound and mammogram, everyone was very serious and their faces told me everything and the radiologist said something about even if it is cancer, it’s small. I was also birads 4a. A small % do turn out to be cancer... but the very fact it’s 4a usually means early stage as the tissue is not very different to normal tissue.

I was anxious for the biopsy and it was weird and unpleasant but not painful. It’s just strange to have medical stuff done. The assistant held my hand and the radiologist explained everything well before hand and during what he was doing. The whole biopsy took maybe 15 mins... and the appointment was about an hour... with getting changed, waiting ect. I was sent home with a little ice pack whcih I popped in the freezer when it was warm and used it the rest of the day.

Good with everything!

Glad the biopsy went well. Hoping for the same with the results!

Great news! Congrats!