Suspicious ultrasound and BIRAD 4

[Shelbyjosh]

I am 34.  I had mammo and ultrasound on 10/1.  Mammo came back negative but u/s was abnormal.  Report is as follows:  1.6 cm mass in rt breast at 7:00 in posterior depth is a complex cyst or intracystic lesion and is suspicious for malignancy.  Needle loc and surgical bx are recommended.  Also BIRAD4. Bx is scheduled for this Monday.  What are the chances that this is just a cyst?  Does this sound like it really could be something?  No hx of breast ca in family.  Mom is stage IV, low grade NHL patient.  Both maternal grandparents died of ca.  Any insight would be appreciated.  Thank you!

[littlecyn]

A related discussion, Suspicious area right breast was started.

[Shelbyjosh]

I survived the biopsy today.  I am a little sore right now, but not enough to need meds.  Maybe in a little while before I go to bed.  I go see the surgeon on Thursday for path report.  I have chosen to go alone and several people cannot understand this.  They tell me I need another pair of ears, etc.  I feel I need to accept whatever he tells me in my own way.  This mass was not painful and did not change with my cycles.  Hopefully I get a good report Thursday.

[CCF-RN,MSN-rf]

Dear shelbyjosh:  It is never easy to guess at whether or not something is malignant or benign.  At best, the ultrasound suggests that it is suspicious enough to investigate further.  Only a biopsy will tell for sure.  Hopefully, the biopsy will be negative.

[surgeon]

there is, of course, no way to be certain except with the biopsy. In my opinion, ultrasound is much less reliable than mammogram in diagnosing cancer. Anything that has fluid in it, even when "complex," has a much lower likelihood of being cancer than something that's totally solid. So there's a good chance it'll be ok. But without question, you need to proceed with the biopsy.