I do believe that some/most know what they are looking at. When I was diagnosed I could see it in their face and I could hear it in their voice. My husband keep telling me to not jump to conclusions but I just picked up on certian vibes and I knew it was cancer.
I forgot to add that even though they know by looking I believe it would be unethical for them to say so without a biopsy.
I've had 3 biopsies rated Birad 4- all benign. Feedback I've gotten is that when they rate it Birad 4, they really don't know if it's benign or cancerous and that's why they recommend biopsy. When they rate it Birad 5 they're almost sure it's malignant.
I was a BiRad 4 and I agree with boniclyde. I knew it was serious but am not sure if it was tone of voice or look. I told my husband that I thought it was cancer from the moment I met with the radiologist for my compression and ultrasound. It just was different than either of the other 2 call backs I'd received in past years. I hope you are benign. God Bless.
Hi,
BIRAD means breast imaging reporting and data system- it is used by radiologists to classify breast lesions. Further management is then decided accordingly.
Category 0: Need Additional Imaging Evaluation
Category 1: Negative
Category 2: Benign Finding
Category 3: Probably Benign Finding; Short Interval Follow-Up Suggested
Category 4: Suspicious Abnormality; Biopsy Should Be Considered
Category 5: Highly Suggestive of Malignancy; Appropriate Action Should Be Taken
A BIRADS 4 means the lesion is suspicious in nature and a biopsy would be required for a confirmed diagnosis and to rule out a malignant lesion.
Do not worry and get the biopsy done and ask for a copy of the reports. Do let us know what your doctor advises.
Hope this helps.
Good luck.
I will be having a surgical biopsy next week and am very nervous. The surgeon will be removing tissue from 2 areas of microcalcifications rated birad 4. This is the first time I've ever been called back for a second mammogram, and I have had one annually for about 8 years. Is it normal to develop such noticible abnormalities in a year's time?