BI-RADS 5, waiting for core biopsy results

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ltrinidad
ltrinidad Member Posts: 45
edited March 2021 in Waiting for Test Results

I am so glad to have found this site. I went for my first mammogram ever (at age 47!) two weeks ago. I cannot believe I was about to skip it. I have perimenopausal symptoms (terrible hot flashes) and havent had my period since January. The mass is 1 cm and, apparently, no lymph nodes involved. The radiologist said it does not look good and most likely will have to be removed no matter what the biopsy results say. Results should come in next week. I have been depressed, angry, resigned, tired, you name it. The wait is killing me and the weekend just started. I have accepted that it will most likely be cancer. The worse time of the day is late at night and early morning, upon waking. To think that two weeks ago I was preparing to move with my husband to a new house... Now I do not know what to do anymore. Thank you all for being out there.

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  • Redkitty815
    Redkitty815 Member Posts: 44
    edited March 2021

    I am so very sorry that you find yourself here. I was diagnosed after my first mammogram (at 43) and I just want to tell you that this part is the hardest. A Birads 5 classification does mean it is highly likely to be cancer, but not always. If it does come back as cancer, you will have to buckle up and go through a period where everything seems to be happening super fast and not fast enough (genetic testing, pathology, staging, treatment planning). It feels terrifying and out of control, but it gets much easier when there is a plan in place. In the meantime, take control of what you can-exercise and get outside-and don’t stop your life for this. Move into the new house. Hopefully, even if the biopsy news is bad, it is only a chapter in a very long life story.

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  • ltrinidad
    ltrinidad Member Posts: 45
    edited March 2021

    Dear Redkitty815,

    I needed to hear this from someone who has been there, if you know what I mean. I wish there were zoom meetings with other breast cancer patients/survivors to talk to and share. But this is the closest thing so far to that. I will keep you posted.



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  • OnTarget
    OnTarget Member Posts: 447
    edited March 2021

    I'm sorry you are here! I had Birads 5 after my first ever mammogram. I'm actually celebrating my two year anniversary of my diagnosis!

    My radiologist told me to "expect it to be cancer" on biopsy, so I left that ultrasound appointment knowing what was coming.

    Then I freaked out in the car and wondered if I'd just imagined she'd said that!

    If you are super lucky, you'll get the news that it isn't cancer.

    If not, know that it will be OK. Diagnosis, waiting, stressing, waiting, waiting...that was the hardest part. I was so happy to get my bilateral mastectomy (BMX)! I hated waiting and wanted action. I'm 2 years out from Diagnosis, and I feel great! I'm happy, busy, and love life.

    The grieving process is normal, and you'll go through all sorts of emotions.

    If you are diagnosed, your surgeon will set you up with a nurse navigator to answer questions, and they can set you up with others to talk to. My hospital has support groups that are active. There are also good Facebook groups where you can connect with others.

    If none of that works for you, if you put out a thread asking if people would be willing to Zoom with you, I'm sure you'd get a number of volunteers.

    I'd volunteer, but I am crazy busy, and can't provide the level of support you'd probably need. You will have constant thoughts, questions, etc, and you deserve to have someone who can answer you promptly!

    If you don't find someone, feel free to PM me, and we can chat.

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  • ltrinidad
    ltrinidad Member Posts: 45
    edited March 2021

    Dear OnTarget, thank you for your words. My friends and family keep repeating everything will be OK, but it is hard to believe them because they have not gone through this. It feels so different coming from someone who has. I am preparing for the worse, I do not expect to be so lucky to be in that 5% of false positives. I guess I got lucky enough to catch it at 1cm. My worse fear is leaving my son an orphan, even though he is 21, his father was always out of the picture and I dread leaving him alone... I hope to sleep tonight.

    I will take up on your offer if I cannot find anyone to talk to. I am here to talk to anyone who needs it as well. I already signed up for the Tuesday zoom meeting. It feels less lonely since I discovered this site this morning. I could tell my husband was annoyed at some point by my panic attacks. I dont blame him, he is trying his best.

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  • ltrinidad
    ltrinidad Member Posts: 45
    edited March 2021

    I should have posted my preliminary results, see below:


    Impression

    OVERALL IMPRESSION:

    The irregular mass in the right breast at 1:00 is highly suspicious for malignancy, for which ultrasound-guided core biopsy is recommended.

    Biopsy of the right breast(s) is recommended. A letter will be sent to the patient to return for a biopsy.

    The findings and recommendations were discussed with the patient.

    BI-RADS 5: HIGHLY SUGGESTIVE OF MALIGNANCY

    Narrative

    MAMMO TOMOSYNTHESIS CALLBACK FROM SCREENING RIGHT, US BREAST

    Clinical Breast Exam: Patient does report clinical breast exam in the last year.

    Clinical Indication: Abnormal Findings on Mammogram.

    Compared to: 03/15/2021

    MAMMOGRAM:

    Tomosynthesis and 2D imaging of the breast(s) were performed. Current study was also evaluated with a computer aided detection (CAD) system.

    Breast Density: Heterogeneously dense, which may obscure small masses.

    There is a persistent architectural distortion in the right breast at 11:00 middle depth. No other significant masses, calcifications, or other findings are seen in the right breast.

    US BREAST LIMITED RIGHT

    Color flow, Gray scale and real-time ultrasound of the right breast was performed and targeted to the area(s) of interest.

    There is a 1.0 x 0.9 x 0.6 cm irregular mass in the right breast at 11:00 4 cm from the nipple, which correlates with the area of architectural distortion on mammography. There is no right axillary adenopathy.

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

    Hi ltrinidad! You've received great feedback and support so far. I ditto not changing any of your life plans for now. If indeed you're diagnosed then maybe you'll want to find a different balance during treatment though I'd suggest after you have a plan.... Yes too on hurry up and wait and then things move so fast and it feels like all at once then more waiting... it's a head trip for sure... From what you posted the radiologist sounds pretty serious about it being malignant. I"m sooooo glad you reached out and will be doing the zoom meeting as well!

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  • ltrinidad
    ltrinidad Member Posts: 45
    edited March 2021

    Hi LivinLife, thank you for the support. I am looking forward to the zoom meeting, cannot wait.

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

    Whatever happens there is a couple of pieces of good news in that report - 1. only one suspicious spot in the breast and 2. they didn't see any suspicious lymph nodes. So good mitigating factors if it is in fact stupid old cancer.

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  • ltrinidad
    ltrinidad Member Posts: 45
    edited March 2021

    Thank you so much for saying that, 2019whatayear. You know it means the world in such difficult times.

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  • Humblepeace
    Humblepeace Member Posts: 118
    edited March 2021

    Hi Itrinidad,

    I’m hoping you have not been too stressed today. Did you get sleep last night?

    I wanted to say that you are supported here. The members here are a tremendous wealth of knowledge and experience. I generally have not had one treatment issue or side effect that someone hasn’t either experienced or knew where to get into. You are greatly covered here.


    Humblepeace

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  • ltrinidad
    ltrinidad Member Posts: 45
    edited March 2021

    Dear Humblepeace,

    Yes, I slept at intervals. Thank you so much for asking. I felt strangely calm most of the day. I was also prescribed lorazepam to sleep tonight and the doctor doubled the dose of Prozac, which I was already taking for anxiety and depression. I feel very supported here and look forward to the zoom meeting tomorrow.

    I hope everyone in this forum gets a good night sleep. The wait continues tomorrow...




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