It sounds like you know this information, but I wanted to clarify for other women as well:
BI-RAD is an abbreviation for: Breast Imaging Reporting and Database System. The result you received from your mammogram, BI-RAD4, is based on a scale from 0-6.
Zero (0) means additional information is required; unknown.
One (1) indicates a negative; no abnormalities present
Two (2) indicates benign or non-cancerous finding
Three (3) indicates probably benign
Four (4) indicates "suspicious abnormality"; it could or may not be cancerous
Five (5) indicates "highly suspicious of malignancy" (cancer)
Six (6) indicates known or proven malignancy
It is extremely difficult to wait on test results, only to find there is an unknown or suspicious finding, and then we are required to wait longer to have additional testing done. I am sorry you are going through this right now; the waiting and wondering is often the most difficult part of the process.
Your assessment of a 4 means that it could be cancer, and it may not be cancer. The only way to know if it is or not is to do a follow-up biopsy.
There are no specific cases or circumstances that can tell you what the "suspicious abnormality" is, beyond what your personal risk factors are for breast cancer: Understanding Risk Factors.
Do you have many of these risk factors for breast cancer? Have you had a family history of breast cancer in your family, or benign abnormalities of breast tissue?
Many times, there are no symptoms that indicate if a lump or abnormality is benign or malignant. A biopsy or further testing will be your best indicator for a proper diagnosis. Have you been able to get one scheduled?
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It sounds like you know this information, but I wanted to clarify for other women as well:
BI-RAD is an abbreviation for: Breast Imaging Reporting and Database System. The result you received from your mammogram, BI-RAD4, is based on a scale from 0-6.
Zero (0) means additional information is required; unknown.
One (1) indicates a negative; no abnormalities present
Two (2) indicates benign or non-cancerous finding
Three (3) indicates probably benign
Four (4) indicates "suspicious abnormality"; it could or may not be cancerous
Five (5) indicates "highly suspicious of malignancy" (cancer)
Six (6) indicates known or proven malignancy
It is extremely difficult to wait on test results, only to find there is an unknown or suspicious finding, and then we are required to wait longer to have additional testing done. I am sorry you are going through this right now; the waiting and wondering is often the most difficult part of the process.
Your assessment of a 4 means that it could be cancer, and it may not be cancer. The only way to know if it is or not is to do a follow-up biopsy.
There are no specific cases or circumstances that can tell you what the "suspicious abnormality" is, beyond what your personal risk factors are for breast cancer: Understanding Risk Factors.
Do you have many of these risk factors for breast cancer? Have you had a family history of breast cancer in your family, or benign abnormalities of breast tissue?
Many times, there are no symptoms that indicate if a lump or abnormality is benign or malignant. A biopsy or further testing will be your best indicator for a proper diagnosis. Have you been able to get one scheduled?
Source:
November 23, 2010 - 1:20pmhttp://www.breastcancer.org/symptoms/testing/types/mammograms/results.jsp
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