Mammogram
So my mammogram came back abnormal and I have a 3D scheduled along with an ultrasound on July 6th. Needless to say I am extremely anxious.
Here is what the 1st mammogram said: "4mm irregular, spiculated, and isodense mass in right breast." I know that none of the above language is good.
I am assuming it is cancer. Is there any reason why I should not assume that?
Thank you.
Comments
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Yes, there is reason you shouldn’t assume that! The imaging you received was a screening tool, not a diagnostic tool. What you know right now is that there is an area of concern and the radiologists description of it. Further imaging will help paint a clearer picture of the situation and you may be referred for a biopsy. Even if you are referred for a biopsy the majority of those come back negative for bc. I can’t remember the exact statistic but it was about 80%. Now, I am making no predictions as to what this mass is and neither should you until ALL diagnostic tests have been completed. It is very hard and your worry is very normal but work with what you know to be fact now and don’t project. I have seen so many women spend weeks making themselves sick with worry, convinced they have bc (some think they are stage IV) and creating incredible amounts of stress for themselves based on what they don’t know yet. Yes, some will be dx’ed with breast cancer but the vast majority won’t. None of us have crystal balls. Try to stay in the present. Take care.
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It's too soon to tell, but if it's any comfort, 4mm is very, very small for a cancer.
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Do you have a birads score? If the score is 5, then it's fair to assume that it's cancer and start arranging for an oncology appointment. It could still come back benign, but that would be a nice surprise. 5 means the doctor suspects cancer but needs to be confirmed with biopsy.
If it's 4, then it's fair to assume that it's benign, but there's a chance it could come back malignant, and be a not nice surprise. 4 means the doc suspects benign, but needs a biopsy to rule out cancer.
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Welcome Slw! I lost count of the number of callbacks I had the last 14 years.... then 3 stereotactic biopsies on top of those.... only one came back positive and thankfully that was for DCIS vs. invasive cancer..... The waiting is hard though let this play out to see what is really going on. If it is cancer then you CAN do this and we will be here to help. As exbmxgrl stated it is about 80% of callbacks that come back benign. If you move onto biopsy about 80% of those come back benign..... Her'es hoping you're in this percentage!!!
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Please try not to draw any conclusions yet. I have dense breasts and eventually all my mammos are 3D because of it. I've had ultrasounds, a cyst drained (left) and biopsy (right). All benign. The waiting and not knowing is the worst! If you're like me you've probably googled everything you can find, and some of it is scary. I'm going in for an u/s tomorrow and until then I'm trying my darnest not to think the worst. Best of luck to you.
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Sal, I think her birads score is a zero since she's going for further imaging. Agree with everyone here, too soon too worry, but we all know how hard that is. Best wishes to you on the additional tests.
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Thank you everyone for your replies. It has helped to read them.
I have a birad of 0 and another mammogram as well as an ultrasound scheduled for July 6th.
It seems so far away and I just keep running the words --- irregular, spiculated, and isodense -- in my head. Cant seem to get rid of them. It is probably faulty thinking but those three words (in my head) do not leave room for anything but cancer. They just seem so in my face cancerous.
Already so weary and it is just beginning.
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“Already so weary and it is just beginning“
I know this is worrying but I can’t say enough about how you are creating more stress and anxiety over things you don’t yet know. Are you in the medical field? If you are then perhaps you do have greater insight into your imaging than most of us, if not you are choosing to self diagnose. Again, I can’t tell you what’s going on and I never recommend self diagnosis but the overwhelming number of folks who have call backs, additional imaging, and even biopsies end up not having cancer. Why shouldn’t you be one of them?
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