Hypechoic - Biopsy > What questions to ask

The only reliable way to know about risk is the birads rating. If they had chosen to give it a 4a, 4b, or 4c, that might narrow it down. But really 4 just means they think it could be cancer and need to check to make sure. Most birad 4 is not cancer. If they think it is most likely cancer, and need the biopsy to confirm, they will give it birads 5.

This beginning time is so so so hard. Really, the odds of malignancy at this point don't matter. There's nothing you could do with that information and the whole point of the biopsy is to tell you for sure one way or the other. Our brains try to trick us that if we could just make a more accurate prediction, we would feel some greater sense of ease or preparedness. But it's a red herring. In this situation, pregaming is not useful.

Hoping you are among the majority of 4s that come back negative! But also sending good vibes that even if not, cancer discovered through regular screening is much more likely to be early stage and treatable, and chances are you'll still end up dying of something unrelated!

Chicagogirl,

I am sorry that you're going through this and remember that the initial period of uncertainty is very stressful. You seem to be worried about the timing of appointments. Please know that bc is not considered an emergency in the same sense as a heart attack or stroke. It is urgent and certainly you need to be moving forward in terms of tests, biopsies, tx plans etc. The reality is that breast cancer is relatively slow growing and has probably been growing in your body for quite a few years before it grew large enough to be detectable. Your timing so far seems perfectly reasonable. However I understand that emotionally you just want this thing out now! Again, something we have likely all experienced. Take this time to practice relaxation as this will serve you well as you go along. Take care

*I was recently chastised for saying that bc is not an emergency because my stats make it look as if I went from stage II to stage IV in just about 6 weeks. This is not the case but it is a very long story and the signature line has no room for a lengthy narrative!

tntsnd makes a good point. Timing of surgery or any other tx will be dependent on some choices you make. Particularly true if you choose reconstruction which then involves two surgeons. Also, switching doctors may delay things but I urge everyone to find doctors they feel comfortable with and have confidence in. Any delay caused by these things is likely to make no difference in terms of cancer growth. Take care

Thank you for this post. I myself am going for a biopsy today. Similar situation to the author of this thread. I keep trying to guess what the result will be which, of course, is a waste of time. Your response makes the most sense to me. What I will say is that one of the things that has created the most panic is the dynamics of the ultrasound team. I got this vibe that they think they know. It was kind of weird because I have had another abnormal US and had surgery, but I never got that weird vibe from the radiologist and her team. This situation really did cause me to panic.

Anyway, I go for the biopsy in about an hour. One more step to figuring out what this is.

Sending positive thoughts to all others who are waiting.

Hi all, I had a follow-up ultrasound and mamo on 11/9. My biopsy isn't until 11/26 and the waiting and worrying is unbearable. Everything I have read has been very concerning. Has anyone has similar findings and if so, what were your results?

BREAST ULTRASOUND: Targeted ultrasound of the left breast was performed at 3o'clock 8 cm from the nipple. There is a 0.6 x 0.7 x 0.6 cm round circumscribed hypoechoic mass with internal vascularity corresponding to the mammographic finding. Ultrasound-guided core biopsy is recommended.
RECOMMENDATION(S): Ultrasound-guided core biopsy of the left breast mass.
BI-RADS: 4B Suspicious - moderate suspicion for malignancy.