u/Juliagoolia96

My radiologist rated me as a 5. Extremely dense breasts, 2nd degree family history, previous benign biopsy 2 years ago. I’m 30 years old.
I googled BIRAD 5 and saw 95% chance of cancer
My breast surgeon ordered a biopsy. He said he didn’t believe it was cancer and told me not to stress. I didn’t really believe him. Both as a defense mechanism and also because sometimes men can be dismissive like that.
He said whatever the diagnosis is he wants to do a lumpectomy anyway.
They rushed my test and I was in biopsy in less than a week. Doc did an ultrasound guided one, wasn’t thrilled with the clip placement, and ran a mammogram guided biopsy as well. He was happy with the placement. He told me he was surprised by my BIRAD 5 rating as well.
Results came super fast via portal today:

Final Diagnosis
A. Left breast core needle biopsy (ultrasound-guided), 1:00, 5 cm from nipple:
- Sclerosing adenosis (florid) with associated microcalcifications.
- Benign ductal & apocrine cysts.
- No duct cell atypia or evidence of malignancy.

B. Left breast stereotactic core needle biopsy:
- Flat Epithelial Atypia, with associated microcalcifications, involving a single terminal duct lobular unit.
-Sclerosing adenosis (florid) with associated microcalcifications.
- Columnar cell change with associated microcalcifications.

So we have some FEA which will be addressed in my lumpectomy which apparently has a 2%-5% chance of malignancy during excisional biopsy. I also have double the odds of developing breast cancer in my lifetime. Regardless, I’m so very relieved. But I’m also really angry.

Why the heck did they give me a BIRADS-5?

They don’t know I’m diagnosed with OCD so this felt like a literal death sentence for the past 10 days. This was torturous. I wanted to believe my doctors who were doubtful of the rating but I didn’t find anything on the internet about people having their radiologists overreact. Like I’m truly furious they gave me a 95% chance of cancer when my breast doctor saw it as more like 10%.

Thankfully the doctor performing the biopsies was super thorough and kind. The cancer center made exceptions for me to be scheduled so soon. This whole thing could have been a longer, much more torturous time. I’m truly grateful to not have cancer but now I’m just upset they freaked me out so much. Hopefully no one relates to this but I wanted this to be here for the next woman who has conflicting opinions scaring the nips off of her!

I’m a 30 y/o female mother of 3. I had a tumor biopsies 2 years ago and was told it was benign and would shrink. It recently felt larger and painful so I went for a mammogram and ultrasound and the results are scary. Reading highly suspicious of malignancy is terrifying. Is it really a 95% chance? I’m really scared.

Left breast:
No skin thickening or suspicious micro-calcifications.  

1. Corresponds to the palpable concern, in the anterior-mid, upper-outer region, there is a large spiculated isodense mass, best appreciated on Tomo-synthesis MLO view slice #23 and CC view slice #29. This is located at approximately 2-3 cm from the nipple. This mass is estimated at < 4 cm (spiculations included). No benign appearing axillary lymph node with fatty hilum are noted.
2. There is a ribbon biopsy marker clip, in the middle, central-outer region consistent with prior benign biopsy.

 
 
LEFT BREAST SONOGRAM:
** **
Sonographic evaluation of left breast was obtained utilizing a high frequency, linear array transducer with grayscale evaluation.  

1. Corresponds to the palpable concern, at 1:00, 5 cm from nipple, there is a heterogeneous mass-like structure with internal cystic change, estimated at 1.6 x 0.7 x 15 cm. The measurement is slightly underestimated since PICC lesion cannot be appreciated sonographically. No suspicious left axillary adenopathy.

 
A few tiny, mammographically occult, benign cysts are noted in the vicinity.
 
2. Corresponds to the previous biopsied mass (fibroadenoma) at 3:00, 2 cm from nipple, ultrasound demonstrates an avascular homogeneous hypoechoic mass with lobulated margins, now measures 6 x 3.5 x 8.1 mm. It measures 5.8 x 2.2 x 9.7 mm on July 1, 2024 ultrasound.

Left breast:
The palpable, spiculated mass is highly suggestive of malignancy. No left axillary adenopathy. Pathologic confirmation / biopsy and surgical consultation are recommended.