Possible recurrence - appreciate insights

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Teddy88
Teddy88 Member Posts: 102
edited March 2021 in Not Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastases but Concerned

Hi All -

I had tubular BC - small / 5mm - in 2014 and was treated with lumpectomy and radiation. Just went for an MRI today (this breast is active - and I have been biopsied FOUR times since initial diagnosis and all have been post-surgical or radiation changes and fat necrosis.) So my doctor does an MRI in Feb and mammo / ultrasound in August each year since its a peppy breast!

The report has come back with the below information. My surgeon is in surgery, and my ob/gyn offline in a snow storm here in the Northeast. If anyone has thoughts as to what this may mean as my heart beats out of my chest, once again, I would be so happy to hear from you. Also - what is a Birads 4 minus a letter mean, exactly? Thanks so much for listening! Love, Belle xo

IMPRESSION:

Right 12:00, 0.6 cm focal nonmass enhancement is suspicious for malignancy. As this is unlikely to be seen on MRI directed ultrasound, an MRI-guided biopsy is recommended.

Biopsy of the right breast is recommended.

BI-RADS 4: SUSPICIOUS

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  • moth
    moth Member Posts: 4,800
    edited February 2021

    BIRADS 4 is a more generic designation when a biopsy is recommended. According to a Cdn site explaining breast radiographic imaging "the positive predictive value of BIRADS 4 breast abnormalities on a mammogram is between 23% and 34%." So up to 77% turn out benign. https://breast-cancer.ca/4biads5/

    Looks like you're back on the biopsy train again. It's good that you're being followed closely! It's better to know, kwim?

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  • Teddy88
    Teddy88 Member Posts: 102
    edited February 2021

    Thanks so much, Moth! You are totally right, and I appreciate your taking the time to reply. It's much. much better to know. Love, Belle xo

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  • Rebalilly
    Rebalilly Member Posts: 17
    edited February 2021

    Most of my yearly mammograms ended with Birads4 and led to ultrasounds and were always benign. My last one was labeled Birads1 and I insisted on an ultrasound and it was cancer. I do not put much into the labeling of the Birads.

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  • LivinLife
    LivinLife Member Posts: 1,332
    edited February 2021

    Sorry you find yourself here Teddy! Birads 4 runs the full gamut... the letter beside the Birads 4 would have helped determine percentage of risk even if that is an expert estimate... estimate not being the best word to use... I've had several call backs (Birads 4) with biopsies in my time... All on the right breast came back benign... The left came back DCIS this past August.... The vast majority of callbacks and biopsies though come back benign.

    I had a large area of non mass enhancement when undergoing MRI for the DCIS... that area ended up being (upon surgery pathology) a lot of benign and precancerous stuff. The latter would have led to biopsy after biopsy over time had I not had a BMX. Sounds like you've already been through the frequent callbacks for biopsies so this could be what has been going on for you. Biopsies get such small, tiny really, areas so it's hard to say what else is there (non-mass enhancement). My MRI could not tell what the non-mass enhancement was made up of - it took surgery to tell. Your upcoming biopsy will help tell your story. Please keep us posted on developments....

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  • Teddy88
    Teddy88 Member Posts: 102
    edited February 2021

    Thanks Rebalilly! Good on you for advocating for yourself, and hope you are feeling well. Good lesson for all of us to advocate and speak up. Thanks again.

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  • Teddy88
    Teddy88 Member Posts: 102
    edited February 2021

    Thanks so much, LivinLife! You gave me good things to consider and I appreciate it enormously. Keep you posted! Love, Belle x

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  • ctmbsikia
    ctmbsikia Member Posts: 1,095
    edited February 2021

    I had 1 Birad 4 (no letter) last year. It was, as you, post surgerical changes and fat necrosis. So, a 4 is essentially ruling out it's not cancer. Good luck with biopsy. You've had many, it's so frustrating, yet when it's all good news, you're still waiting for something to go wrong. That's how I feel. I just scored a 3-again on last mammo and MRI. Going for a mammo in April, and depending on that score, my BS gave me the option to just take it out. I very well may.

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  • Teddy88
    Teddy88 Member Posts: 102
    edited February 2021

    Hi Ctmbsikia -

    Thanks for your reply - I can tell you know exactly how I feel. Even when the news is good, you wait for the other shoe to drop. Would you mind letting me know how you make out in April? I will be following, and hope that it's good news - whatever way you define it for you :) Great to meet you. Love, Belle xx

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  • Sunshine99
    Sunshine99 Member Posts: 1,680
    edited February 2021

    Teddy88, just wanted to chime in here. These are scary times - there is always that "what if?" thought that lurks in the back of our minds. I love how we can share our experiences and validate each other here on this site. None of that "Oh, don't worry. I'm sure it's nothing and you'll be fine!" (Really??? Are you a MD? Did you read my scans?)

    Do keep us posted. I'm going to add this to my "Favorites" so that I can follow your progress.

    All the very best to you!

    Carol

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  • Teddy88
    Teddy88 Member Posts: 102
    edited February 2021

    Thanks so much, Carol! You totally get it, and you are right - this is a great place to be understood. Thanks for following, and I will be sure to post as I wind my way through :) Love, Belle x

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  • Teddy88
    Teddy88 Member Posts: 102
    edited February 2021

    Hi Everyone: Quick update. I had the MRI-guided biopsy (plus the related mammo to make sure clips were placed correctly.) I will know next week what is going on - but wanted to share this note you will understand. One of the nurses in the room came and patted my back while the doctor was doing the actual biopsy. After going in and out of the machine - it was really nice to have someone acknowledge that this is not a whole lot of fun (even with an ativan!) and be so warm and human to me. I loved her for it!

    Have a great, long weekend, do something sweet for yourself on Valentine's Day, and I will be back next week.

    Love,

    Belle xoxoxo

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  • AliceBastable
    AliceBastable Member Posts: 3,461
    edited February 2021

    Teddy88, when I was getting hooked up in the OR for a surgery and feeling a bit overwhelmed (it was the first time I hadn't been knocked out before they started all that), one of the nurses who I thought had seemed so grim and businesslike finished what he was doing, then came to the other side and just held my hand until I went under. It was SO comforting.

    Best of luck on your results.

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  • Sunshine99
    Sunshine99 Member Posts: 1,680
    edited February 2021

    Teddy, I'm so glad you had a caring nurse. I remember a nurse gently touching me before a procedure. It was so comforting.

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  • LivinLife
    LivinLife Member Posts: 1,332
    edited February 2021

    So glad you had a caring and human experience!!! Try to enjoy your weekend!

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  • Teddy88
    Teddy88 Member Posts: 102
    edited February 2021

    Hi Everyone - I just heard back from the doctor and its another case of fat necrosis. The anxiety is offset only by your kindness, understanding and good words of advice - especially when I find it hard to talk to well-meaning family and friends who haven’t been through it and have no idea what it feels like to cope with the situation. We will be doing an MRI in August, so I will bend your ears again. Much love, and thanks a million times over, Belle xxoo

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  • Beesie
    Beesie Member Posts: 12,240
    edited February 2021

    That's great news! Congratulations!

    See you in August, hopefully for good news again.



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  • Teddy88
    Teddy88 Member Posts: 102
    edited February 2021

    Thank you, Beesie! Very much appreciated 😇😇

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  • grainne
    grainne Member Posts: 245
    edited February 2021

    Thank goodness, Teddy. What a relief.

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  • Sunshine99
    Sunshine99 Member Posts: 1,680
    edited February 2021

    I’m so glad to hear the news, Teddy. And I’m glad you found comfort here.

    We’ll “see” you in August.

    🤗

    Cati

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  • 2019whatayear
    2019whatayear Member Posts: 767
    edited February 2021

    So happy to hear your good news Teddy! Enjoy your spring!

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  • Nutfarmer
    Nutfarmer Member Posts: 22
    edited March 2021

    teddy, so happy to hear of the good results... happy spring

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