Possible recurrence - appreciate insights
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
Comments
-
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?
-
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
-
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.
-
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....
-
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.
-
Thanks so much, LivinLife! You gave me good things to consider and I appreciate it enormously. Keep you posted! Love, Belle x
-
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.
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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.
-
Teddy, I'm so glad you had a caring nurse. I remember a nurse gently touching me before a procedure. It was so comforting.
-
So glad you had a caring and human experience!!! Try to enjoy your weekend!
-
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
-
That's great news! Congratulations!
See you in August, hopefully for good news again.
-
Thank you, Beesie! Very much appreciated 😇😇
-
Thank goodness, Teddy. What a relief.
-
I’m so glad to hear the news, Teddy. And I’m glad you found comfort here.
We’ll “see” you in August.
🤗
Cati
-
So happy to hear your good news Teddy! Enjoy your spring!
-
teddy, so happy to hear of the good results... happy spring
Categories
- All Categories
- 679 Advocacy and Fund-Raising
- 289 Advocacy
- 68 I've Donated to Breastcancer.org in honor of....
- Test
- 322 Walks, Runs and Fundraising Events for Breastcancer.org
- 5.6K Community Connections
- 282 Middle Age 40-60(ish) Years Old With Breast Cancer
- 53 Australians and New Zealanders Affected by Breast Cancer
- 208 Black Women or Men With Breast Cancer
- 684 Canadians Affected by Breast Cancer
- 1.5K Caring for Someone with Breast cancer
- 455 Caring for Someone with Stage IV or Mets
- 260 High Risk of Recurrence or Second Breast Cancer
- 22 International, Non-English Speakers With Breast Cancer
- 16 Latinas/Hispanics With Breast Cancer
- 189 LGBTQA+ With Breast Cancer
- 152 May Their Memory Live On
- 85 Member Matchup & Virtual Support Meetups
- 375 Members by Location
- 291 Older Than 60 Years Old With Breast Cancer
- 177 Singles With Breast Cancer
- 869 Young With Breast Cancer
- 50.4K Connecting With Others Who Have a Similar Diagnosis
- 204 Breast Cancer with Another Diagnosis or Comorbidity
- 4K DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma In Situ)
- 79 DCIS plus HER2-positive Microinvasion
- 529 Genetic Testing
- 2.2K HER2+ (Positive) Breast Cancer
- 1.5K IBC (Inflammatory Breast Cancer)
- 3.4K IDC (Invasive Ductal Carcinoma)
- 1.5K ILC (Invasive Lobular Carcinoma)
- 999 Just Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastasis
- 652 LCIS (Lobular Carcinoma In Situ)
- 193 Less Common Types of Breast Cancer
- 252 Male Breast Cancer
- 86 Mixed Type Breast Cancer
- 3.1K Not Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastases but Concerned
- 189 Palliative Therapy/Hospice Care
- 488 Second or Third Breast Cancer
- 1.2K Stage I Breast Cancer
- 313 Stage II Breast Cancer
- 3.8K Stage III Breast Cancer
- 2.5K Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
- 13.1K Day-to-Day Matters
- 132 All things COVID-19 or coronavirus
- 87 BCO Free-Cycle: Give or Trade Items Related to Breast Cancer
- 5.9K Clinical Trials, Research News, Podcasts, and Study Results
- 86 Coping with Holidays, Special Days and Anniversaries
- 828 Employment, Insurance, and Other Financial Issues
- 101 Family and Family Planning Matters
- Family Issues for Those Who Have Breast Cancer
- 26 Furry friends
- 1.8K Humor and Games
- 1.6K Mental Health: Because Cancer Doesn't Just Affect Your Breasts
- 706 Recipe Swap for Healthy Living
- 704 Recommend Your Resources
- 171 Sex & Relationship Matters
- 9 The Political Corner
- 874 Working on Your Fitness
- 4.5K Moving On & Finding Inspiration After Breast Cancer
- 394 Bonded by Breast Cancer
- 3.1K Life After Breast Cancer
- 806 Prayers and Spiritual Support
- 285 Who or What Inspires You?
- 28.7K Not Diagnosed But Concerned
- 1K Benign Breast Conditions
- 2.3K High Risk for Breast Cancer
- 18K Not Diagnosed But Worried
- 7.4K Waiting for Test Results
- 603 Site News and Announcements
- 560 Comments, Suggestions, Feature Requests
- 39 Mod Announcements, Breastcancer.org News, Blog Entries, Podcasts
- 4 Survey, Interview and Participant Requests: Need your Help!
- 61.9K Tests, Treatments & Side Effects
- 586 Alternative Medicine
- 255 Bone Health and Bone Loss
- 11.4K Breast Reconstruction
- 7.9K Chemotherapy - Before, During, and After
- 2.7K Complementary and Holistic Medicine and Treatment
- 775 Diagnosed and Waiting for Test Results
- 7.8K Hormonal Therapy - Before, During, and After
- 50 Immunotherapy - Before, During, and After
- 7.4K Just Diagnosed
- 1.4K Living Without Reconstruction After a Mastectomy
- 5.2K Lymphedema
- 3.6K Managing Side Effects of Breast Cancer and Its Treatment
- 591 Pain
- 3.9K Radiation Therapy - Before, During, and After
- 8.4K Surgery - Before, During, and After
- 109 Welcome to Breastcancer.org
- 98 Acknowledging and honoring our Community
- 11 Info & Resources for New Patients & Members From the Team