Interpreting Results
Hellooooo! My name is Jules, and I'm in the Waiting stages of this journey. Noticed a lump about 7-8 weeks ago, found by provider on exam for confirmation, and I've had my diagnostic mammo and ultrasound last week, biopsy scheduled for this coming Monday.
As someone who works in healthcare, I have - of course - tried to research what I was seeing and reading to give my brain all the possible options I could be faced with (I'm autistic, and it helps me deal) I try to stick to peer-reviewed studies where I can, but I feel like I need some real world help. My mammo was not helpful at all - the mass is located against the chest wall, and I have super dense breasts. The report on Ultrasound lists: a "hypoechoic mass or complicated cyst", indistinct margins (it's shaped like the loch ness monster - will upload a pic if allowed later), internal echogenic foci, combined shadowing and enhancement, irregular in shape, not avascular but no significant vascularity internally, intermediate softness on shear wave - ultimately this earned a BIRADS 4. I also have several cysts which are very straight forward on imaging, and probably what caused the initial discomfort leading me to the doctor in the first place
But all of the characteristics are contradictory, it is nowhere near a rounded shape, and not really pointing to anything specific. I understand that's why it got that BIRADS 4 score and the need for biopsy. However it's short circuiting my brain that I cannot narrow it down - I just don't want to be blindsided after biopsy. Any advice, anything at all would be appreciated <3
Comments
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Hi @itsthejuless, I’m sorry that you have to go through the stress of waiting for a biopsy. As far as breast cancer goes imaging can’t determine malignancy as opposed to imaging for ortho problems where damage to ligaments and bones can be seen. BIRADS4 has a chance of being benign 5% - 95% of the time so that score doesn’t tell you much. Posting the image won’t help since we’re not radiologists and even they can’t tell for sure which is why a biopsy has to be done. Most biopsies turn out to be benign so I hope yours is, too. All the best!
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hi,
I second Maggie’s post. Imaging is the beginning of the diagnostic process for bc. Regardless of which type of imaging is used, it generally determines if there is a need for a biopsy, not if you have bc or not. Your mammo was helpful as it pointed you in the direction of your next step. A mammo alone does not yield a cancer dx.
As to being blindsided, there is simply no way to reach any conclusions short of a biopsy. In a sense, we were all blindsided until biopsy results were available. Think about it, if there was a way not to be blindsided, then why would you need a biopsy?
We are not doctors, and not your doctor, so I think asking us to interpret imaging is far above our pay grade (I’m a retired teacher but having breast cancer does not make me a radiologist). I know you want answers but bc turns out to be far more complicated with many possible variations. The good news is that it is not an emergency, like a stroke or heart attack, so even if it seems as if the process is unfolding slowly, it should have no ill effect on your health, especially since there is a good chance the biopsy will yield benign results. Take care0 -
I guess my post was misinterpreted - I'm not asking anyone to analyze my imaging like a radiologist.
I already have a care team, so I'm really looking for peers to compare with. I was just hoping that there were other people here that were proactive with their care in the same way, and would be willing to discuss personal experiences. I am not a radiologist either, but I do work in healthcare and I frequently work with imaging. I think it's fascinating to study - and well & distracting while I wait for my next appointment
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It's a bit too early to be proactive before you have a diagnosis and at the very least hormonal markers. Really the whole thing is an excruciating waiting game as info trickles in. Even then there is still a lot more info coming, but at least you'll have a projected size and an idea of the hormones. I think the proactive element comes in a more practical way with researching the treatment modalities after you have more info on a diagnosis.
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