mamogram birad 4a

[mcrpsl]

Hi.  I am 41 yo.  Just had my first mammogram and sonogram and the result on the left breast came out as birad 4a. clustered round, oval and amorphous microcalcifications are seen at the posterior upoer outer quadrant (left), some in linear formation.  axillary areas and overlying skin are unremarkable.  I am very scared.  I was told to get 2nd opinion but the breast specialist will be available next week.  I am very scared.  

[ddm967]

Hi,

I'm 41 too.  I am in a similar situation.  I had a diagnostic mammogram done 6/5 followed by ultrasound of an area on the right breast that I had complained about (slight pain).  Ultrasound just showed a simple cyst and it was labeled BIRAD 3--followup in 6 months just to be sure.  Well I've got a family history of BC (mother at age 38) so I asked my doctor for an MRI.  Insurance agreed to it because they considered me to be at high risk.  I got the MRI done on 6/19.  I got a call from the Dr's nurse on 6/23 saying the MRI picked up what they would call a complex cyst most likely on my left breast at 10:00.  They wanted me to do an ultrasound of it on the left breast.  

So on 6/29 I went for the ultrasound.  The radiologist came out to talk with me outside of the waiting room area.  He told me that he thought it was fibrocystic changes in the breast but there was an area he couldn't see very well from the images.  He said there were many cysts in that general area and that he'd like for me to get a biopsy under ultrasound just to be sure.  He rated my ultrasound scan a BIRAD 4 too.  No (a) or (b) next to it just a BIRAD 4...suspicious and warrants further investigation.  Scared me to death!  

So on Tuesday 6/30 I did have the biopsy under ultrasound and the radiologist doing the procedure echoed what the other radiologist said that she thought "we were dealing with fibrocystic changes in the breast", but biopsy will tell us for sure.  I even asked her to be perfectly honest with me--not candy coat it.  She told me again that she honestly believes it to be fibrocystic changes.  The Technician working with her that day assisting her even said that she feels it's that too and that she knows that the Dr would probably NOT tell me that if she didn't have a feeling that it was indeed fibrocystic changes.  I felt better about it but hope not to get too confident that it's nothing when I know it can be something.  

The true test will be the results I get today.  I have to go today at 12 noon for my results.  I'm so nervous and scared and emotional all at the same time.  I want so badly to hear good news as does everyone when they get results back.  They do say on everything that I've read online that 80% of BIRAD 4's are benign and only 20% might be malignant.  I'm just hoping I'm in the 80% group but it could be just as easily that I fall in the 20% too.  I'm trying to hold it together, but it's hard--I'm so nervous.  I couldn't sleep a wink last night hardly for thinking about it.  It's scary I know.  Hopefully I'll know if a few hours.  I feel scared mostly because my mother had BC and the dr's at first told my mother that they didn't think it was anything because she was so young, they were wrong--it was cancer (early stages) but she had a lump she felt too.  I can't feel a lump...my Dr who did a breast exam on me in May didn't feel anything either.  My mammogram didn't see any abnormality in my left or right breast only the MRI showed an enhanced area of the left breast--the right breast had no problems.  They say those MRI's are sensitive and lead to alot of unnecessary BIOPSY procedures (like me hopefully).  I sure do hope that's my situation.  I only got the MRI because of the Christina Applegate cancer situation.  That's how she found her's--thru MRI.  So I figured it would be a good idea for me to have one too.  So I try to tell myself either way--if it's bad news today then hopefully I have found it early & I can get treated to survive.  If it's good news then I know the dr's were right in telling me that MRI's are very sensitive.  Oh well...but that's my story.  It's very scary and to be honest I don't know enough about mammograms or ultrasounds or MRI's to be expert enough at giving advice to you, but I can relate to how you're feeling right now.  It's scary and people who blog on this site can offer their thoughts, opinions and support.  So you did the right thing by posting your question here.  Someone who's more knowledgeable than me will be able to write you back and offer some help.  I just wanted to let you know that you are NOT alone...there's quite a few of us going thru similar situations & we can support each other.  I'll try to drop you a line after I hear from my results today.  Hang in there--think positive and don't fret until you have some concrete evidence to make you feel otherwise.  It's hard--because I haven't done so well at not worrying--that's all I've done since the ultrasound last Friday.  The worrying will either end for me today or it will be just the beginning.  

[ddm967]

Hi,

Just wanted to let you know that I got my results today and it turns out that it's benign--fibrocystic changes in the breast and that it wouldn't turn into cancer either.  I couldn't help put let out a wealth of emotion when the radiologist told me that it was okay.  I couldn't stop crying really.  My husband & I were so relieved.  It's like I'd won the lottery.  I'm going to look at life differently now I think, every moment is a gift--truly.

Please try to stay positive & stay on top of all this--I know you will judging from your posts.  Please continue to post on this website so we'll know how you're doing.  I'll come back to read entries.  I am thinking positive thoughts for you in hopes that this turns out to be okay.  Definitely stay on top of it and make sure you get everything you need.  I don't regret the MRI even though it was probably very sensitive and picked up cysts that obviously were okay...just fibro changes going on.  I'm still glad I did it even with the pain of the biopsy--now I KNOW I'm okay for sure.  And I will continue to take extreme care in the future to make sure everything is checked out backwards and forwards too.  I look forward to hearing from you on the website.  I'll send a prayer your way.  Take care and have a good 4th holiday.

-Donna

[mcrpsl]

Hi.  Thank you for sharing your experience and I am happy that your biopsy came out negative  :). Please continue praying for me, really appreciate it.

You mentioned that you had slight pain on your right breast. In my case, I don't feel anything at all.  Even my OB did a physical exam on my breast but found no lump or anything.  

I will email you once I hear from the breast specialist on Thursday.  I am also planning to have a second mammogram to make sure.  I read that there are rules to be followed i.e. don't use deodorant, powder, etc., mammo should be taken on the 10th-15th days after the onset of the menstrual period.  I don't know if this is true.  I would appreciate if you can share with me the preparation done prior to your mammo.

Thanks,
mcrpsl

[ddm967]

Hi,

Yes I did have some pain in my right breast.  It always seems to hurt me more than the left one did--at bedtime when sleeping on my side, etc.  So when I went for my diagnostic routine mammogram, I mentioned that my right side would hurt me alot.  They decided to do an ultrasound of the area that was hurting me just to see if they could see anything--mammogram didn't spot anything serious.  The result of that ultrasound was probably simple cyst--BIRAD 3 (check back in 6 months just to keep an eye on it).  

Being that I am over-obsessive about breast related stuff due to my mother's experience at 38 years old, I asked my Dr. about getting an MRI.  She advised against it since it's sensitve and sometimes picks up "stuff" that's not a concern.  Well my sister who's 35 had one earlier this year (we go to the same Dr.) & I wanted one too.  In the end the Dr. agreed to see if insurance would cover it.  They did.  So I had it done on 6/19.  The MRI came out fine for the RIGHT breast which was the one that I felt pain in often.  It was the LEFT breast that came back as having a suspicious area of enhancement.  I wasn't feeling any pain in my left breast at all.  

That led to the further ultrasound and to the biopsy of the left breast.  It turned out to be what the Dr's first thought--fibrocystic changes in the breast.  It was an emotional whirlwind for me.  My Dr. didn't find a lump on me either.  The mammogram didn't find any abnomality either.  It was only the MRI which led to all this.  I was warned that it might and I'm living proof that it's overly sensitive.

As far as preparing for the mammogram:  Yes, you do take off deodorant, wear slacks so you can remove your top easily & you're not naked from the waist down, ha,ha.  You'd be surprised how many women come in for mammograms wearing dresses.  :-) That's about it though.  

Just curious, have you typed in any of the words on your mammogram/sonogram write up to see what the words mean?  I know I did that.  Did they provide you with any measurements?  I know they noted that the area they saw in my left breast on the MRI and ultrasound was 1.9 X 1.1 X 1.8 cm.  All I know it that an area that is longer than it is taller is a good thing.  Horizontal lesions are better than vertical lesions.  Vertical would have a greater chance of being malignant.  I am not knowledgeable of microcalcifications.  I understand that they show up on mammograms though.  I am assuming that's why they gave you a BIRAD 4 because they can't see clearly enough or feel that you should take further evaluation of that area.  I think it's a good thing that you are going to see a specialist (breast).  I know I'd be doing that same thing too if I'd gotten another BIRAD 4 suspicious report from my biopsy yesterday.  I'd already discussed with my husband about having it removed regardless of the biopsy result but I guess I'll hold off on that for now until I have my next mammogram and ultrasound in January.

When do you see the breast specialist?  Remember that BIRAD 4's have an 80% chance of being benign.  A good website that I looked at alot lately was the John Hopkins Breast Cancer forum/message board.  My husband found the website for me and it's helpful...Dr's answer questions on this website.  I learned alot.  I personally think that if you can't even feel a lump then whatever it is & I do hope it's nothing to be concerned about--but if you can't feel anything then it isn't large.  I was told my area of concern was very tiny.  So if it had to have turned out to be "something" then it probably would be treatable since it was caught EARLY.  That's the key I believe.  So if you can't feel it then that's probably a good sign.  

As far as the pain goes, I don't think that would be a factor really.  My mother's lump didn't hurt her.  She found it herself.  The Dr's back in the 80's wanted to just dismiss it as nothing serious...my mother pressed them about it.  I am sooooo glad she did--she's still here with me today at 62.  She might not have been if she'd have listed to some "know it all" dr's back in the early 80's.  The Dr's told her back then that cancer usually doesn't hurt--the silent killer so to speak.  I've heard that too.  I wasn't experiencing any pain in my left breast but that's the one that got attention on the MRI--so go figure.  

I wish I was a walking book of information so I could help you.  I do like to try to help others--that's just my nature.  I volunteered at my local hospital in the cancer center for 1 & 1/2 years.  I enjoyed helping people there but it was an emotional drain on me.  I got depressed as I watched some folks come and go.  When this one lady came in to the center with her 2 little girls and husband for her treatment--it almost killed me.  I saw on her paper work that she had my same exact birthday 11/9/1967.  I was just torn up about it.  How could I be okay just going about my merry life and here's a woman my same age fighting for her life with 2 small daughters counting one her.  Unfortunately the woman did die not long after that day, but she had a different type of cancer--it wasn't breast.  I rarely had women in the cancer center as patients who had breast cancer --it was other cancers like leukemia, lung, liver, kidney, Hodgkins disease, etc.  Rarely breast.  I had to quit volunteering.  I started donating blood platelets instead at the hospital's blood center.  Cancer patients need alot of platelets to try to stay healthy and fight off the cancer.  So I am still trying to do my part to help people when I can.

Definitely, stay in touch and let me know what your breast specialist says.  I look at it this way:  I may have squeeked by this time with a benign diagnosis but that may not be the case the next go round so I am always wanting to learn more and what better way than sharing experiences with other women.  I am sending good thoughts your way and pray that this turns out to be nothing for you. :-)

Donna    

[mcrpsl]

Hi.  Just came from the breast specialist today.  She showed me the microcalcification found on the mammography film.  The ultrasound shows nothing.  According to her, there is a 30-40% chance that it is malignant but the chance of it having benign is still greater (60%).  If indeed it is malignant, the worst case is it is of Type 0.  

She is scheduling me for needle wire localization and I am praying that it will come out negative.  

There are also two solid mass and a cyst but the doctor said there is no need to operate on those as the characteristics are benign.  Unless, there will be noticeable growth next year when I get another mammogram.

I checked the john hopkins website and there are so many articles and discussions about breast abnormalities.  

I really appreciate your responses.  It's like talking to a sister (that I don't have).  I will stay touch.  Take care always.

God Bless.  :)

[beacon800]

Hi,  I am in your same shoes.  I am 47 and they just found the amorphous micro calcs in my left breast.  I am going to have my biopsy on 7/22.  Naturally I am concerned and really hoping that it is benign.  

I hope yours comes out ok and I really understand what you are going through and how scary it is.  There are many conditions that are not cancer that can create micro calcifications, so I hope we are both ok!!!

Good luck!

[mcrpsl]

Hi.  I will include you in my prayers.  I will undergo lumpectomy instead of simple biopsy, under an oncologist surgeon.  If the microcalcification is malignant, he will also perform an axillary node staging.  I am praying that my case is benign.  

God bless.  :)

[beacon800]

I just had the stereotactic biopsy today.  It was not too painful and went faster than i expected.  So now we wait for the result.  I pray you get a good result in your exisional biopsy.  You are lucky in a way to have it all done at one time.  

I hope everything goes well for both of us.

[ddm967]

Hi,

I have been in the process of trying to move into a new house and it's been nothing but non-stop chaos for me dealing with that.  I haven't had a chance to get online to check to messages, etc.  

I read the last message you sent.  How are you doing?  Any new updates? How did the needle wire localization go for you?

Yes, it does help to chat with folks on this website--it helped me alot when I was going thru my ultrasound, MRI, biopsy, etc.  I can't thank everyone enough for all of their comments and prayers.  Drop me a line when you have a chance and let me know how you're doing?  I will try to check my messages more often than I've been doing for the last couple weeks.  

ttylater,
Donna  

[mcrpsl]

Finally, I will undergo lumpectomy on Monday (Aug 3).  Basically, everything will happen on one single operation (biopsy, lumpectory or mastectomy, and testing of axillary node).  I am praying that the initial biopsy will be benign so the operation ends there right away. I will be confined starting on Sunday and will stay in the hospital until Wednesday.  The doctor is one of the known oncologist surgeon here.  

Hi beacon800.  How was the result of your biopsy?  I hope you're doing ok.

Hi ddm967.  Thank you for your message.  I will post a comment as soon as I am out of the hospital.  

Take care always and God bless :)

[mcrpsl]

Hi.  How's the result of your biopsy?  I had lumpectomy on Monday and the oncologist surgeon and the lab said it is fibrosystic -- benign.  I will get the histopathology report on Thursday.  I would like to thank you for your prayers and well wishes.  Truly, I am blessed.

God bless :)

[mcrpsl]

Hi.  I have good news to you.  I had my lumpectomy last Monday and the oncologist surgeon and the lab said it is benign (fibrocystic, 98% sure).  The formal report will come out on Thursday.  The needle localization took longer than I thought because of the location of the microcalcification -- it is at the end, near the armpit already.  The doctor did a wonderful job -- very compassionate.  She almost did a free hand but luckily, they were able to do it with the aid of the machine as well.  :)

Thank you so much for the prayers, for replying to my messages and for comforting me.  Truly, I am blessed.  

I hope you're doing ok and have settled and in your new home.  Take care and God bless.  :)

[AmyMarie71]

I hope you are doing well....I was interested in how you got into the Johns Hopkins website because I tried and and I cannot find the correct link.  There are so many.  Could you possilby post the website for us?

God Bless    :)

[mcrpsl]

Hi.  I am doing well now.  Got the report and it is benign (thank God).  Here's the site that I visited (then I clicked on the "ask the expert" to search for anything that may be similar to my case)

www.hopkinsbreastcenter.org

Hope you find the site helpful.  Take care.  :)