Birads 4B - a glimpse of hope
Hello all..I hope this will give hope to people who seeks “answers” to alleviate their anxiety. Each individual conditions may vary and may not give us the answer we seek but knowing that you are not alone on this trying times will help a lot in geting you by while waiting for that final verdict.
40 yr old, mother of 3, and been a silent reader of this wonderful site since last Dec2022. My uncontrollable goggling brought me to this site when my anxiety was through the roof after I received a diagnosis to do a biopsy after my intended first screening mammo turns into a diagnostic one..This post is to give a ray of hope to those who received Birads 4B result.
Dec 9 - did my diag mammo ( + ultrasound ) for a pain I felt in my left breast that I am 100% sure not connected with my pms. No palpable lump ( so I thought ). The pain will start in the inner upper quadrant of my left breast and will stay for about a minute. Finally noticed the pain difference last Oct22 and decided to consult our family doctor about it.
Dec 16 - Result came out. Birads 4B : intermediate degree of suspicion ( 10% - 50%
- Mammo - 19mm, irregular and indistinct mass located at the 9:00 o’clock position. Mass density is equal to the volume of the breast tissue ( don't know what it means, really). Breast density C ( heterogeneously dense)
- Targeted Ultrasound - mass found to be 23mm length x 9mm height and 17mm width , 9:00 o’clock left breast, center of the mass lies at the lower third of the breast tissue, irregular and indistinct margin, heterogeneous and acoustic shadowing present. It lies parallel to the skin surface.
February 14 - finally had my breast biopsy ( yup, waited that long to get my biopsy scheduled. Not by choice though). Stereotactic with 5 samples taken. Minimal bleeding.
February 20 - family doctor finally called, Result is Fibroadenoma ( benign )
- Complete Surgical Pathology Report - sections show cores of benign breast tissue with portions of a fibroepithelial lesion. Border well circumscribed. Stromal component shows no increase cellularity, mitotic rate, or atypia. Epithelial component is benign.
Thank you BCO and all the members who unselfishly shares their experiences here in the forum. Reading through those gives me hope and comfort while battling my anxiety.
God bless you all😘
Comments
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Welcome, clarkelecor! We are very happy for you and glad everything was benign. Also, we want to say a and huge THANK YOU for sharing your story and remind us all that it's not always cancer.
If there's anything you need help with, please feel free to contact us. We're always here.
Best wishes,
From the Mods
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I too have found this forum in my endless Google searching to calm the anxiousness. I found a small, hard lump in my right breast about 2wks ago. I made an appt with my GYN (very fortunate they were quick to get me in) and after confirming said lump he referred me to get a diagnostic mammogram with ultrasound. I had that done last week and the radiologist stated more then likely fibroadenoma but recommends biopsy either now or in 6mos. Naturally I choose the now, which brings me to today.
I had my biopsy and am currently waiting on results (downfall of Friday means waiting till Monday). Still have fingers crossed 🤞 all is good but I found your story to be hopeful. The radiologist that did my biopsy today said I have VERY dense breast tissue and had to change catheter size to even reach the mass due to the difficulty getting it thru the tissue. They took 4 samples and now we wait...
Thank you again for sharing your experience and wishing you the best of health for many years to come 🙂
Alicia
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Hello all,
I am joining from Belgium so not native English, sorry for writing mistakes. I had a screening mammo on 28th of april. On the 3D mammo they noticed an area of 9mm lobulated look. It had nice Borders and soft tissue . It looked like a cyste. The ultra sound however showed no liquid. Had another mammo - more in layers yesterday as well as an ultrasound and core biopsie.
They told me it looked like a fybro adenome but I am 47 years old. My birads score was 4b on the first mammo .I am know waiting for results and really scared . Is It possible It might be a fibroadenome?
Rusti 🙏
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Welcome, Rusti. We're so sorry you find yourself here with this worry, we know how scary this can be. It's most certainly possible! While a BIRADS score of 4 can be a cause for concern and requires additional diagnostic testing, it is not always indicative of a malignancy. The waiting can be so hard, and we know it's almost impossible not to worry, however. Please do keep us posted on what you find out.
The Mods
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Hello,
unfortunately it was not a fibroadenoma but:Rather well differenciated idc with associated grade 1 dcis. The other markers still to follow.
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I'm sorry to hear that rusti.
The beginning is really hard and scary. There is a lot of great support here.
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Thanks Salamandra. Today I have an appointment in the breast clinique.
I am scared as hell and not being very positive… I find it So difficultI got also other markers in the meantime . ER and PR +. HER-
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May I make a suggestion? I've been a member for almost 5 years, and I've noticed that it's best if members who offer explanations of diagnoses, or suggestions for treatment, fill in their own diagnosis and/or provide their medical education and experience. It's hard to know who to listen to if that information isn't provided. Thanks!
P.S. Or you may have my problem of the diagnostic information not showing when it should.
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Hi Rusti,
I think it's hard to feel optimistic when you also feel like just lost the dice roll (the malignant finding). But just like every coin toss gives 50% odds, there are still lots of chances for your luck to get better.
How did your breast clinic appointment go?
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Hi @rusti,
We are sorry to hear that it turned out as DCIS rather than a fibroadenoma. The first few months into diagnosis can be immensely overwhelming and scary. You certainly have our support here on BCO. Something that a number of members have benefited from is joining our weekly virtual meet-ups over Zoom. The discussion forums are fantastic, but sometimes having that live exchange with others going through a similar experience can be especially helpful in the beginning when it is all so new. For early stage breast cancer, we meet on Tuesdays at 1pm EST and Thursdays at 6pm EST (for those that are unable to get on during regular working hours). You can register for them here:
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I'm sorry I wasn't able to get back to you last night. I think since you have never been a breast cancer patient, and you are not an oncologist nor a breast surgeon, you should contact the Mods to get clearance to participate on these boards as a medical professional. They could verify your credentials and any relevant experience, and then, if they choose, could introduce you to this forum as a resident medical voice. These threads are for breast cancer patients to speak to each other, but there have been a few rare exceptions for participation from someone in the medical field. (Those who have not been diagnosed have usually stayed in the "undiagnosed" section of the site, so the people actually going through surgery and treatment and beyond can communicate with each other without distraction.) But in the case of medical professionals' participation, we knew exactly who we were talking to, and what area of advice they could address. There was a radiologist, who confined hinself to his own thread, who was wonderfully helpful in interpreting reports. It's possible that there are legal issues involved with a physician's participation, and it is up to the Mods to determine if that is a factor in your continued participation. Thank you!
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I have been told by the oncologist all looks—- well how to say good. It is small (7-9mm) not agressive … and the ER and PR + are good things. I would not need a bonescan according to the protocol in Belgium as it is well differentieted IDC. Tuesday I have however liver echo and lung x ray. And all I can think of -of course is I will get bad news. I never ever could have imagined before all this what all of you and other patients had to go through. A lot of respect . Because oh I am not doing well in this waiting.
Thanks everyone for the support.1 -
Alicebastable, I was just hoping to provide some information and comfort to Rusti. However, you are right. I deleted my post since Rusti should have read the two medical literature I quoted. Thank you for your input.
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Perhaps you are not aware, since you are new here and NOT a breast cancer patient, but every other member of this discussion forum has breast cancer, a breast surgeon, an oncologist, and other specialists specific to our diagnoses and necessary treatments. It is unconscionable and unprofessional for a physician to offer suggestions without being asked and that may be contrary to the patient's own doctor's advice. Editing your posts looks like you are trying to cover your tracks.
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That is encouraging news. It is very hard to have a realistic risk assessment - humans are not great at it. However you are feeling is how you are feeling, but for what it's worth, basically all of us will say that the beginning is the hardest. As more information comes in and more plans are made and steps are taken, the terror of uncertainty does abate.
Under 1cm and hormone positive has a LOT of potential/probability for more good news. Hang in there!
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The tests were done today and no mets were found. I am so thankfull. However chance was small it is a relief to have it confirmed. This platform helped me through the waiting time.
The lumpectomy is planned for 12/06. Radiaton and tamoxifen to follow . Chemo is depending on chirgury and sentinel and nodes. Probably not according to oncologist🙏.
Greetz from Belgium. 🌝
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Thanks for the update rusti - so far so good!
I remember my first radiation oncology appointment. The doctor seemed distracted and bored and it was both a little rude and kind of reassuring. My cancer was terrifying to me, but for him it was about as routine and non-alarming as it gets.
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Exactly . That is the feeling I got as well. That I should be happy … and you know it is actually how I start to feel. Lucky it was catched on time. But in the end it is still C. But ready to face it .
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@salamandra I saw you also got tamoxifen . I was wondering why some woman are brought into meno and others not. I did not think about asking it when I saw my oncologist . Do you have any idea ? I am 47 years . Most of the people in my surounding got femara.
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I think that they recommend OS+AI for higher risk young women. Because I was almost 40 and had a small tumor with no lymph node involvement and low oncotype, I was treated as lower risk.
But I have heard of some docs wanting all women to go on OS+AI. There are studies showing that it is more effective for higher risk women, but I think those studies are a bit limited. Then docs weigh the qol and other side effects of OS+AI as well, which tend to be worse for younger women.
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I had my lumpectomy on monday . Home since yesterday . I thought I would have less side effects but feel tired and especially were the sentinel was removed it is inconvenient . I guess all normal but as I only had to stay 1 night I excpected to be more fit. Waiting and stressed for furthet pathology now as well ….
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Aww Rusti! It is still surgery and our bodies don't like being cut open. Sometimes the sedation drugs can have ongoing effects as well. I was really tired for a few days after my procedure.
Rest up and go easy on yourself: sleep as much as you can and try to distract yourself when not sleeping (tetris and tetris-like games can be great for this, but really whatever floats your boat). I hope your pathology and oncotype info comes in soon!
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I got some great news . Nothing found on the sentinel .
next step radiotherapy .
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I am today 2 weeks post chirgury. My breast is still swollen and where the tumor is removed it feels really hard .
Last week I had a check for the healing and all was fine . Tomorrow another appointment . I am gonna ask for sure. Any of you had the same ? I have to say beforehand I was more occupied with getting it out and not really focused on the healing .0 -
just wanted to say that reading this “Glimpse of Hope” post really gave me hope in my darkest days when I was awaiting a BIRADS 4 biopsy and its results.
my story is very similar to OP, pain on left breast for a year, I had a mammo and US on March 11 and found a 1.3 cm oval hypoechoic mass with posterior shadowing.
the whole thing took 3 weeks, the findings, the biopsy and the results. Those 3 weeks were hell. I cried most days thinking about my children. March 20 I went in for the biopsy. March 27 I got BENIGN results, it was a fibroadenoma. Don’t lose hope ladies ❤️ and pray 🙏🏼.0 -
@deadlynightshade, thanks for updating us! We're so glad to hear about the benign results. This is encouraging and, as you said, gives those who are waiting hope. Our best wishes for continued good health!
Sincerely,
The Mods
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