Better to do it or not?

Hi

I am scheduled for a core needle biopsy next week.  I am nursing.  My ob/gyn recommended thatI see a breast surgeon first b/c the lump is probably nothing.  In my ultrasound they said it is probable fibrodenoma but a biopsy is needed and they also ranked it as Birad 4 What does that mean?  Should I go ahead and do this or not.

[CCF-RN,MSN-rf]

Dear cally44:  A BIRAD category 4 means that this is a suspicious abnormality. Most category 4 abnormalities are benign but may require biopsy since this category can be malignant in 25-50% of cases.  Without examination and review of the ultrasound, we cannot speculate on what this might be.  The breast surgeon may be able to shed some light on this for you and help you make your decision.

[Avidhiker]

A BIRAD 4 rating means the radiologist cannot distinguish whether the area in question is benign or malignant, so a biopsy is recommended.

PLEASE DO YOURSELF A FAVOR AND GO FOR THE BIOPSY. Mine was a 4 rating also which turned out to be early stage breast cancer.  BETTER TO BE SAFE THAN SORRY. BREAST CANCER DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE.  GO FOR IT.  IF IT IS CANCER, THE SOONER YOU GET IT, THE BETTER.  Good luck!

[suzi-q]

I agree with avid hiker...SAFE THAN SORRY!  And when it is benign (chances are it will be) you can put your mind at ease.  The best to you!!!  GET IT DONE!!!

[Montana girl 06]

Had to move to a new thread since the other closed. I'm so happy for both of you with your benign results. And, by posting your results, you're bringing encouragement to all those who are still waiting for their results.

[cally44]

So how was the procedure...do they dye the needle?  Or do they just numb that region?  So was your's fibrodenomas?  THey don't have to be removed right if it is not bothersome?

[ConnecticutGal]

To:  Vermont Girl, Montana Girl, Laure, Bunny and Arcmurd-Donna

I apologize for hijacking this thread.  It looks like the "Calcifications and Lumps Benign Condition" thread reached its max and I wanted to get back to everyone to let them know the outcome of my 11/16 trip to New York City for a followup ultrasound and mammogram.  I am fine.  The dense mass they found on my left breast, was just that -- dense tissue.  

I can't tell you how my life has changed since this experience.  As I left the doctor's office and stood outside on the sidewalk, I just cried as my husband held me.  To see the women in the waiting room who were going through chemo and lost their hair and thinking to myself these women are survivors and my hearts go out to them.

Bunny and Arcmurd-Donna: I am so happy to hear you are both are okay!

I wanted to thank Vermont Girl, Laure, Bunny, Montana Girl and  Archmund for their support and your prayers and I will keep you all in my thoughts!

[laure113]

Wow, such great news! It is a life-changing event. I'm very happy for you. Thanks for letting us know.

[Bunny711]

Hi Cally44:

I had a excusional biopsy, my surgeon requested the needle without the dye, for whatever reason, which I believe made it harder to find, thats why they had to keep taking the films.  but he is the surgeon.  They removed the whole cluster and marginal, which is great, in case it may show signs of magligancy, they would go straight to radio.

But all turned out well.

I'M SO HAPPY FOR EVERYONE..............THIS EXPERIENCE TOO HAS CHANGED MY LIFE.

[Bunny711]

Thank you, and you are so right, it does bring encourgment to so many women....like I said we are Strong, Beautiful Human beings...special.....is what we are, and tough cookies!!!!!

[Bunny711]

As Laure113 said WONDERFUL NEWS.......god bless........

I know how you feel about seeing the other woman.......may god give them the strength, as I believe he does...............

KEEP THE FAITH EVERYONE!!!

[Bunny711]

Hi There:

Hope you are having a GREAT day, its beautiful out!!!!

PS..Keep Smiling

[vermontgirlII]

That is GREAT news!!  Wow.  Sometimes we don't realize what we take for granted, and an experience like this is a wake up call, no matter what the test results are.  You know, we can just get caught up in everyday petty stuff, when most of it really doesn't matter..
I'm so happy for you and for everyone else whose tests came out neg.

Diane

[laure113]

I'm trying to keep my spirits up. All the great results. Hope mine is the same.

[Bunny711]

Yours will be the same.............I know it, I can promise that whatever may happen will still to o.k..........that I assure you.!!!

KEEP YOUR SPIRITS UP, it important!!!  Just relax and enjoy.

[Bunny711]

I CANNOT AGREE WITH YOU MORE.....when they say "don't sweat the small stuff", ITS SO TRUE, after getting some serious wake up calls...........its seems as if "all happens for a reason, a good reason in the end".

[Bunny711]

Hey:

Laure113 and I were asking for you, we were wondering how you were doing.  O.k. so your close to knowing.

Thank you, and I will keep praying.......it will be all good!!!!!

[sue-aloo]

I couldn't find you guys for a while, as a matter of fact, I e-mailed you privately but you must have deleted it not knowing my e-mail name!  I haven't had any phone calls yet, so I guess that is good news so far.  If it was anything terrible, they would have called, don't you think?  When I had the calcs last time I got the letter in the mail a week later saying "suspicious" but it ended up being benign.  So I am hoping that the worst case senerio will be just that....but hopefully and God willing, it will say all is clear.  Please keep me in your prayers..I sure do need them.  It is so hard trying not think about it constantly!  Once again, I AM SOOOO HAPPY FOR YOU! We do lose sight of the important things and this is definitely a wake up call.  I guess there is a plan for everything that God puts us through.

[Montana girl 06]

Hooray for benign. I'm so happy for you too.

I'm still praying for the rest of you. Hang in there.

[fizzixgal]

Wonderful news bunny711!! I'm so happy for you.

Cally44, do I read correctly that your gyn recommended NOT jumping at the biopsy but to see a breast surgeon first because you might not need the biopsy after all? I would probably see the surgeon as waiting a few weeks (to reschedule the biopsy if needed) would probably make no difference... but fwiw, unless the surgeon felt it was definitely benign, I would go for the biopsy anyway rather than live with the (yes, very small) chance that it might be an aggressive cancer. As avidhiker said, better safe than sorry.

[ARCMURD]

Congratulations on your results.  A scare like this does change you.  I think we all have something  to be thankful for this year.


Take care,
Donna

[Bunny711]

Thank you...............you all changed me in much better ways..

god bless.

[DonnaRee]

Hi, I noticed that the nurse that responds to these posts always says that a Birad 4 mammo reading has a 25-50% chance of being cancer, so I posed the following question to the Johns Hopkins Breast Center and here was the result:

Q:  
A nurse who responds to questions at the Cleveland Clinic's MedHelp forum tells posters that if they have a Birad 4 mammogram for microcalcifications, the chances of it being cancer are 25-50%. Is that correct? I thought it was only 20%? I just think that they are needlessly alarming people if that information is incorrect.
  
A:  
20%....

I mean no disrespect to the nurse who responds here, but I just thought that you women out there who get that response should know that it's only 20%, not 25-50%, that's a huge disparity.

[boninclyde]

We have had this discussion here before. I don't know if they changes nurses/doctors here but the one that used to post would not use %'s. My doctor would not use %'s. They can be vary misleading. I wish they would not do it.
How are you doing? Glad to see you posted here gain.

[DonnaRee]

Yes we have bonninclyde and I respectfully say to you that Lillie is a nurse that answers posts at the Johns Hopkins Breast Cancer forum and also is a medical advisor on the breastcancer.org website. She has had breast cancer herself and uses that 20% as a guideline consistently. I'm not saying that it's set in stone, just a guideline. I understand that when you have been diagnosed with breast cancer, percentages don't mean a thing. My point here was to let women know who get that that 25-50% answer from the nurse here, that they should not automatically freak out and think their chances go up to 50%. You may want to try logging on there, as I really feel she is excellent at answering all types of questions, even more thoroughly than they do here. Here's the link: http://www.hopkinsbreastcenter.org/services/ask_expert/index.asp

[boninclyde]

I think your post is good onfo. I myself can't comment on percentages. Just that my doctors want use them at all. Again thanks for the info. I go to breastcancer.org all the time.

[Montana girl 06]

When I saw the differing percentages I wondered if Birad 4 calcifications run a lower risk of cancer than other Birad 4 biopsies. In other words, is it possible that Birad 4 biopsies for calcifications have a 20% risk of cancer while overall Birad 4 biopsies (for masses and calcs) run a 25-50% risk. I noticed the nurse NEVER mentions calcifications when she uses the 25-50% cancer risk. I appreciate the clarification.

[DonnaRee]

Montanagirl - Yes, I think that's exactly what that means, Birad 4 ratings for calcifications mean the risk for it being cancer would be 20%. Again, I know that if you've been diagnosed percentages mean zilch, but if you're someone like me and see that 50% without having done much research beforehand, it can freak you out. Just trying to help women who need some hope in a frightening situation. I really recommend that women check out the Johns Hopkins website, in addition to this one. They don't have the support group factor(which is very important) but Lillie is excellent at answering all types of BC and breast-related questions.