Pregnant and BIRADS 4
Hi everyone,
I’m new here, 34yo and 6 months pregnant with my first. I just had a core needle biopsy on Tuesday after ultrasound found an irregular lump in my breast and the radiologist marked it BIRADS 4. The lump is described as a “hypoechoic nodule seen with mild irregularity with a hyperechoic rim. This measures 1.6 x 0.7 x 0.7 cm.” Now I’m waiting on results.
Between being pregnant and this, I have been seeing so many different doctors and they all keep making comments almost like they’re assuming I do have cancer. It’s unnerving. One midwife said to me “wow, but you’re so young!”
It’s pretty scary to be going through this while pregnant. I am wondering if anybody else has any similar experiences while pregnant and/or can shed any light on the report. I googled hypoechoic/hyperechoic but couldn’t really make sense of what I was reading and whether the description of the lump was worrying.
Any COVID-friendly suggestions for getting my mind off it while I wait for the results would also be welcomed! I live in a state in the US that’s really struggling with a high number of COVID cases, so I can’t go out and meet up with friends and distract myself.
Also, one last question, the core needle biopsy site is still pretty tender, so I’m still trying to limit movement. It’s been three days. Is this normal?
Thanks for any guidance, advice, words of wisdom or encouragement! 
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Hi Honeydew22, and welcome to Breastcancer.org!
We're so very sorry for the worries that bring you here, but we're really glad you've found us. You're sure to find great support here while you await results. And congrats on the little one on the way!
Others will surely be by soon to weigh in with their experiences and advice, but in the meantime, we hope you'll keep yourself busy with getting lost in a book, perhaps focusing on a puzzle, zooming with friends, or online-shopping for or decorating your nursery!
Please keep us posted with your biopsy results -- we're sending good thoughts your way! Let us know if you need anything at all.
--The Mods
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Hi Honeydew! I really feel for you - has to be additionally worrisome going through all this while pregnant! I cannot speak directly to that though hope someone or others who experienced that will come along and comment. Keep in mind most BIRADS 4 come back benign - 80+% of them. I hear your concern as some of your medical providers are making comments. As far as your discomfort from the biopsy - are you using ice? I'm wondering if that might help? It does not sounds like you're seeing anything concerning at the biopsy site?
As far as distractions to cope... check out some of the cat and dog forums, humor and games on this site... Zoom time with family or friends? computer or other games, including solitaire, puzzle books, reading, music, writing letters, comedies or other light shows on t.v...... off the top of my head.... YouTube, CALM or headspace apps for meditation, mindfulness, guided imagery....
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Honeydew! I’m so hoping that you get a great report!!! I was 9 months pregnant with our 4th when I started bleeding from my right nipple - different scenario than you, so don’t let my situation make you more nervous!! That baby is also just turned 18 and I had 17 fantastic healthy, cancer free years! Anyway...
My needle biopsy spot was tender and bruised several days so think you’re experiencing a normal thing. I even called to make sure it was okay I was still sore and bruised and they said yes, common!
I hope someone with more knowledge than I can help you with your report!
All the best!!
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Hi Honeydew22,
Wow, what shitty timing for this! I had lumps -- extremely dramatic, in fact -- appear during my pregnancies (age 33 and 35), requiring urgent ultrasounds. It was most nerve-wracking the first time around and more expected the second. Those did not lead to biopsies, but more recent findings required that (core needle and surgical biopsies, now age 50). And so far everything has turned out to be benign. And, strangely, the core needle biopsy caused more / weirder local trauma than the surgical one. So, yeah, 3 days of soreness sounds well within the range of "normal" to me!
Remember BIRADS 4 is a broad category: it means they think the chance of cancer is 2% or more. So the level of suspicion can potentially be very low, but they follow up just to be sure.
I've worried a LOT lately (and in the past) and my only advice is this: if I get some bad news next week, will I wish I had worried more and made the last few weeks or months even more miserable? NO. It's always good to be realistic and appreciate today, but try not to borrow trouble (this is also advice I try to give to myself!).
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Thanks so much for the warm welcome, everyone! And for the suggestions for keeping my mind off things. I will definitely try some of them.
Thank you, too, for all the responses about your biopsy experiences. Sounds like I’m having a more or less normal experience. The biopsied breast is still giving me trouble today. It’s alternating between stinging, soreness and itching (the entire breast, not just at the biopsied site). Both breasts have been a bit itchy and red throughout my pregnancy, but the biopsied breast seems to have developed a scaly rash on the underside the last day or so. Has anybody else experienced a reaction like that after biopsy? I am not seeing anything concerning at the actual biopsy site, no redness, swelling, so I’m not too worried about infection. It’s the weekend, but I’ll give the doctor who performed the biopsy a call on Monday if things haven’t cleared up.
It’s been such a bumpy pregnancy so far. My husband and I got the news a couple of months ago that we were both carriers of a rare genetic disease with a life expectancy of 20-30yrs and told our little one had a 1 in 4 chance of getting the disease. We went through a whole host of tests and spent over a month wondering if our baby was going to have the disease. It was harrowing and the most difficult month of my life. We got the all-clear literally the day my OBGYN sent me for an ultrasound...so we didn’t have long to feel happy and relieved before this next hurdle.
I am trying not to be too worried, I know the odds are in my favor that it’s benign. Hopefully I will get the results on Monday, Tuesday at the latest. I have a follow up with the breast specialist oncologist on Tuesday.
This seems like a really great community. It’s very hard, I think, for people who aren’t going through it to understand, so I can see how this community would be aninvaluable source of support and information. Thank you all for your kindness. I am hoping for the best for you all.
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Honeydew - I don't have anything to add from a medical perspective, but did want to send good wishes your way. Keep us advised of the results. (((Hugs)))
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Just want to reinforce you checking things out with a doc if the biopsy site remains aggravated in the ways you describe. Also, soooo happy for you that you got the all clear regarding the genetic disease with your child!!! Such good news for you and your husband at this point in your pregnancy.... Hope it's 2 for 2 on good news for you in the near future....
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Thank you Livinlife! Things improved with the biopsy site, it's mostly healed up now. Just a bit of discomfort.
I have a follow up appointment with the breast specialist oncology doctor this afternoon, so I should be getting my results. Fingers crossed! 🥺
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Glad you're in better shape healing wise! Let us know how the appointment and results go....
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Got my results! It’s a fibroadenoma. The oncologist said nothing to worry about, but I need to come back in 6 months for another ultrasound to check it. I got a copy of the report and it says pathology results indicate the specimen is benign/borderline high risk. Doc didn’t say anything about the “borderline high risk”, just said it was benign, so I’m a little confused!
I am just so thankful I don’t have to do anything right now while I am pregnant. If it turns out I have to do something in 6 months when they check it again at least I won’t have the added complication of being pregnant and can go ahead with whatever they recommend immediately.
Thank you all for your kindness and support during this! Just going to spend some time enjoying the last few months of my pregnancy. What a ride!
Sending well wishes and hoping for good news for you all. :
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Honeydew, that's great news.
Just guessing here, but it could be that the specimen is considered benign/borderline high risk because the appearance on imaging isn't 100% consistent with a fibroadenoma - normally the borders of a fibroadenoma are smooth whereas yours has that mild irregularity in the rim. That can happen with a fibroadenoma but it is not as common. So the ultrasound is 6 months will be used to establish stability, as a way to confirm that the biopsy result is correct and this really is a fibroadenoma. Because biopsies only pull up a small sample of tissue, it's actually pretty common to have a 6-month imaging follow-up for exactly this reason.
Enjoy the rest of your pregnancy, and come back in 6 months to let us know how the followup goes!
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So happy for you Honeydew! I certainly hope the 6 month follow-up proves good news too! I imagine such a relief now as you move thru the next three months of your pregnancy! I wish you well in the next three months and delivery as well! As Beesie said let us know how things go....
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Excellent news! Glad you can cross this off your list and go back to your regularly scheduled pregnancy.
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I'm 36 and 29w pregnant and going for a biopsy this Thursday and your results are just making me sigh of relief!
I know the nightmare of hearing the big C especially while pregnant ( with our 1st child on top of everything).
I've had red and hot to the touch breasts for 2 months now, already had an US + mammogram but because I have "peau d'orange" skin on my breasts, they want to rule IBC out with the guided biopsy ( I also have had breast implants for 14 years) .
How did you get a biopsy initially ? Was it because you felt the lump?
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Hooray for your good news!
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Best to you Pamplemousse! Let us know how your biopsy goes, and the of course results when you get those...
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Pamplemousse, I’m sorry for the delayed reply!
Ugh, it’s such a nightmare to be going through while you’re pregnant. I’m so sorry! I am also pregnant with my first and it’s been a crazy, wild ride. Even outside of a cancer scare there’s just so much to learn and think about, but then the stress of this on top of it. I am wishing you all the best for a smooth biopsy, recovery and then some reassuring results.
In answer to your questions, I had been a little worried about my left breast for a while, because I had noticed a change in the look of my nipple (this was a month or so before I was pregnant, so nothing to do with pregnancy breast changes). I mentioned it to the midwife at my first prenatal appointment and she said to just “keep an eye on it”, but she didn’t do a breast exam or anything.
I couldn’t feel a distinct lump that was concerning, but I have fibrocystic breasts and the left breast felt lumpier than usual and was far more tender and painful from the pregnancy hormone changes than the right breast. It also felt funny, sort of uncomfortable, when I would lay on my side at night. So I mentioned it again, this time to the actual OBGYN, at a prenatal appointment. She did a breast exam, sent me for an ultrasound and they found the lump and sent me for a biopsy.
This forum gave me hope and courage, so I hope it helps you too as you wait for the biopsy and the results.Thank you everyone for the well wishes and Beesie, thank you for the information! I will definitely pop back in when I have my follow up ultrasound in 6 months and let you all know how it goes.
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Thank you for your answer! I'm so happy for you, you're going to be able to relax and enjoy the rest of your pregnancy to the fullest.
My symptoms only started mid-pregnancy, 2 months ago, breasts doubled size and became red, hot and thick skin ( and still are, which is sometimes a huge pain in the a**) .
It took me so long to find this community ( maybe because I didn't even consider breast cancer as a possibility for weeks) but it's been very helpful reading all your testimonies, I don't feel alone anymore.
Tomorrow is my biopsy. I've had one week to go through all the emotions. I am now at peace. I keep a positive mindset for the sake of my baby girl.
I just can't wait to have answers ( and really hoping for happy ones!)
I know that many of my symptoms are textbook symptoms for IBC but I'm still hopeful that it is not as I have read similar experiences here of pregnant women and it ended up not being that.
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