BIRADS CATEGORY 5

[PAULINE221]

IF THEY RATED ME A 5 ON THE BIRADS SCALE AFTER MY ULTRASOUND WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?


This discussion is related to birad rating system.

[PAULINE221]

My only concern is that I have had Melanoma.  I was told it was stage 2 and no treatment was given except taking it off.  It was on my scapula on my back on the left side.  My ultrasound was to be on 1 mass in my left breast and now after the ultrasound they say there is 3 masses.  I had a needle biopsy on the one my doctor felt yesterday and a core biopsy on the other 2 tomorrow.  I am afraid of the Melanoma aspect of it.  If it is melanoma spread, i am afraid i might be in trouble.  If it's cancer but not Melanoma related I know it has been caught early.  I will keep you informed.

[Cheerpul]

Almost a year ago, my mammogram came back with a BIRADS score of 5 and clustered microcalcifications.  I had a biopsy.  It turned out that I had extensive DCIS (pre-cancerous cells) of a high grade comedo-type.  I opted for a mastectomy and after it we found out that I also had a very small tumor of cancer.  It turned out to have a gene that makes cancer aggressive (Her2) and so I followed up with chemo, a gene-blocking drug and hormonal therapy.  I was so lucky that we found it right away and treated it before it grew and spread.

You may well not have the same results as I did.  The important thing that a 5 score tells you is to follow up with a biopsy and find out what is going on.  When you know, then you make a treatment plan and do it.  Go step-by-step and don't let the "what-ifs" fill you with worry.  Focus on what you know is true and what the next test will tell you.  When you get a better picture of your situation, you can be more comfortable about making decisions about treatment and followup care.  It could be nothing, could be a benign condition, or it could be cancer.  Most of us here have been through cancer diagnosis and treatment.  We are here to rejoice with you when you get good news and offer our support and share stories to help you through whatever you experience is.  You are not alone.  I am thinking of you.

[bluebutterfly2222]

Unfortunately, a BI-RADS 5 means that the radiologist sees signs or clues that that are highly suspicious for  cancer:

"Category 5 -- Malignant
There are masses with an appearance of cancer. A biopsy is recommended to make an accurate diagnosis. "

However, the true nature of the lesion can only be known from the report of a patholgist following a biopsy or excision. (Case in point: We recently had a thread by a woman who has a  BI-RADS 5 that eventually turned out to be benign.)

My advice would be to "Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst."

Best wishes...