Recalled for MRI of breast after mammo....

nixic

Hi guys I have not been around too much of late just been getting through the last few years and trying to be an optimist!!

Anyway long story short, I went for my yearly mammo on Monday, the first since having had my portacath removed from the chest in the area of the one remaining real boob.
The radiologist has recalled me to have a MRI done of the breast as they need to get a good baseline from where the port had been as it had obscured a good view on previous mammos.
Obviously I am sweating buckets and tearing out my hair with fear that they have found the dreaded "C" again. I have had 2 mammos since having been diagnosed 4 years ago and they have never recalled me before, but then i did have the port in that time so maybe thats why.

Has anyone been recalled after having thier port taken out? I have called the hospital but Mrs evasive on the phone just said as I was young and had dense breasts blah blah, heard all this the 1st time round and we all know what happened that time, stage 3 and all that jazz!

Anyway before I start planning the next funeral hymn can someone let me know if they have been recalled and what happened?
Love to all of you

Nikki xxx

KariLynn

Nikki,

I've not been recalled (port is still there) but that does sound reasonable. I'm sure there's some scarring internally and they need to map that out.

Take deep breaths!
Hugs,
Kari

wallan

Hugs my dear. Consider it a blessing that they are giving you a MRI. If you have dense breasts, this is supposed to be the best way to get a clear picture. I doubt if there is anything scary to worry about.
But, I definitely can relate to your angst. But don't start the funeral hymn yet. You will be around for a long, long time yet.

HUGS
Wendy A

Valsul

Hi Nikki,

Yes you're going to be okay. And Mrs evasive on the phone is really named Mrs I have no idea so I have to be evasive even though this is going to keep her awake nights worrying. We call it "jobsworth" over here in the UK - as in "It's more than my job's worth to tell you that."

Hugs for you and keep you in my thoughts to stop you worrying. Fists up - but it might be wise to keep them in your pocket around Mrs evasive.

Catherine

I was recalled after my mammogram a year ago and it turned out to be nothing. I will keep my fingers crossed as it sure gives us a scare to be called back!

Catherine

juli0212

My best to you Nikki--am very glad you get MRI's of the breast, as I do, being young as well and having small, but dense breasts, mammos don't always pick up tumors. GLAD you're getting another MRI, please let us know how it turns out, and TRY (easy to say) not to worry, you don't know if there's anything TO worry about, right?? Go with the flow for now--take deep breaths, you've gone thru so much already, no need to stress yourself again. I still have my port in (how long can we have these in anyway, does anybody know? It's been a year next month for me, but I have troubles getting bloods taken, and with the port-a-cath it's SOOOO much easier, I'd keep it forever if I could!)....good luck Nikki---please do keep us posted.
~juli~

Fitztwins

I had my port on the mast side. This year we are going to do a MRI. Think of it as a better picture. That is all.

I was wondering where you where!!! We missed you.

Janis

LisaAlissa

Quote:

---

I still have my port in (how long can we have these in anyway, does anybody know? It's been a year next month for me, but I have troubles getting bloods taken, and with the port-a-cath it's SOOOO much easier, I'd keep it forever if I could!)

---

A friend who talked to me about her experiences after I was diagnosed said she still had hers, and her insurance company still paid for the periodic flushes. I'm not sure how long, but I know we're talking years...

HTH,

LisaAlissa

Member_of_the_Club

At least here in the US there are new guidelines encouraging the use of MRIs for patients who have had bc as a routine screening. I know that even before these new guidelines I noticed greater use of MRIs since even when I was diagnosed almost three years ago. So that may be a part of what is going on. By virtue of the fact that you have had bc you are at higher risk and should be getting an MRI regardless.

BethNY

Nikki I don't know about the port and the mammo stuff, but I just wanted to say it's damn good to see you girl!!!
I hope beyond this little blip on the radar, life is treating you well these days.
miss you from across the pond!
b

tjm

I know exactly how you feel.. I don't post much anymore but I had to respond to you. I was called back just last month for an MRI and then ultrasound. I thought it was all starting over. I got the same thing about stage 3 lets be sure.
But...everything was fine. They said a lymph node had showed up but did not show up on the ultrasound.
I feel positive I know what happened and it may be similar to yours. I had fallen the night before the MRI and cut myself right above my remaining breast. it was bruised and sore. I think this made the node swell. The ultrasound 1 week later was fine. The nurse said that couldn't have been it...but at this point I always feel like I know more about it than they do. It surprises me how little some of them actually understand about all this. Please let us know, but I feel like your will be like mine was.
Good Luck.
tracy

maryannecb

Good to see you again Nixxic.

I just had my MRI last week. I was glad as my BC was missed on mammo and US. MRI is very sensitive. Just to warn you...they see a lot of stuff that may turn out to be ok. This test is very sensitive, it sees a lot.

You have to stay still for about 30 minutes on your belly with your arms above your head. It is a long time. This was my third MRI and this time I wizened up and took Ativan to relax.

Fists up!

jo50

Nikki - been thinking about you - any word on the MRI???? Hope they can get this resolved for you soon. All the best, Jo

Hattie

thoroughness is good for us. I bet all is well. My MRI had some interesting spots, my expert doc said "It wasn't the breast pros reading it. The breast pros will say all is good", and they did. Sorry you have to wait and worry. I bet it is all good.
Take care,
--Hattie

hulatalulala

LisaAlissa, regarding how long a port-a-cath can stay in:  I had one placed in 1999 because of poor venous access -- not for chemo.  In January of this year, it shredded at the connection between the port & the tubing.  It functioned very well for those 8+ years until that fateful day.  It has been replaced with a port that will withstand high-pressure infusion like they use for CAT scans.  The brand I have is the Port-a-Cath II Power PAC from Smiths Medical.  There may be others available.  I have a low-profile port which is about the diameter of my thumb print.  I've used it for 2 CAT scans & it worked great.  For the first couple of months, it would not draw a blood return but it always flushed & ran fine.  The third month it drew & flushed perfectly.  Mine was the first to be placed in our area, but the surgeon who placed it is now placing ONLY these high-infusion tolerant ports.  Here's where you can get a little more info on it:  http://www.mtbeurope.info/news/2008/801024.htm