Digital Mammography/GMA

Anonymous

Today, on GMA, they did a segment on mammography, ultra sound, digital mammography and mri's.

Robin, apparently, had no sign of cancer on her mammo but it was clear as day on the u/s.

They showed the difference btw a mammo and a digital mammo.  Really picks up small calcifications.

MRIs tend to show too many false positives but  who cares? I say. They say too many unnecessary biopsies. For me, I'd rather be too sure than unsure.

They were also talking about how if they can't find a cure for cancer right now, at least they can detect it earlier.

Marissa Weiss was also featured on the segment.   

ravdeb

My onc spoke to a radiologist on the phone while I sat there in the office and the radiologist said there is little difference between the digital mammogram and the regular film mammogram.

I've read that for dense breasts and other high risk characteristics, breast MRI is the best, despite the false positives. I'm prepared to have false positives and biopsies if that's what it takes to be sure I'm clean.

Am now fighting for the breast MRI and at my next appt with my onc, she will refer me for a digital mammogram instead of film mammogram. However, my health fund is not happy about giving this to me. It's going to be one big fight with them!

Anonymous

Hey Rockmom...I saw that too and was especially intrigued with the work being done with the thermographic-type technique...it looks very promising. I also remember when Robin announced her dx on GMA that she also mentioned her cancer was picked up by US when the mammo didn't visualize it and advised women with dense breasts to always ask for an ultrasound if they find a lump. As for MRI, my onc is now prescribing one for me yearly, along with the mammogram every 6 months and US if indicated. She cited the newest ACS recommendations, although in reading this article, they don't seem to consider those of us who have already had BC (DCIS &/or IDC) to be at 'high enough risk.' WHAT??! How whack is that???!

http://caonline.amcancersoc.org/cgi/content/full/57/2/75

~Marin

Fitztwins

My mammo showed calcifications, dense breasts. The u/s.. cancer.

Anonymous

Well, as far as I can tell Duke (or my onc) isn't planning on an MRI for me.  I have a dense breast (notice I said "as").  I also know that MRIs do not always pick up bc.  I had an MRI after neoadjuvant chemo.  It was known before chemo that there was two cancers in different a different quadrant of the breast.  It did not pick up the 1 cm tumor.  I didn't want to do extra biopsies so I told them to do a mast.  Yep, it was there.

I can't trust any of the dx tools we have. 

Shirley

Brendatrue

I am trying to decide about having another breast MRI. When I was diagnosed with my second breast ca last year, my mammo was fine. Because I could detect a change that no one else could detect, I pushed for a breast MRI, and the cancer was detected. This year I have felt more subtle changes. Digital mammo was normal; U/S yielded a 2mm "something" that was aspirated at the time of U/S and found to be nonmalignant. My surgeon said he doesn't think a MRI is needed; the onc says that it's up to me; my insurance will likely fight it because of the mammo and U/S results. (I had a really rough time with the insurance co last year, and I think they finally paid for the MRI in large part because it led to the ca diagnosis.) I am willing to pay out of pocket if needed, but I also don't want to subject my body to any unnecessary MRI. Like Shirley, I just don't trust the available diagnostic tools, and my radiologist reminded me how inexact the science of diagnostic radiology is for breast cancer.

Sometimes I think an MRI is necessary because I want more peace of mind, sometimes I think I should let it go and follow up in 6months. The doubting and second guessing are crazy-making.  I decided to take a week or two off from active decision making, but I promised myself I won't make a decision by just avoiding the decision. After cancer dilemmas never seem to end!

Brenda 

Anonymous

Brenda....what will getting an MRI subject your body to? I know that they use contrast for a breast MRI, but there's no radiation, so it should be relatively safe/innocuous, right? I say get the MRI if it gives you peace of mind. After what we've been through, it makes no sense to spend even one extra moment of our lives than we need to thinking about and worrying about cancer!

~Marin

ravdeb

The MRI is the safest scan available. The contrast they use is safe and it's extremely rare for anyone to get any kind of side effect (allergic reaction) to it. It's not the same as the iodine they use in a CT contrast (where I have to take a steroid beforehand because of my asthma).

If your insurance will pay for the MRI..go for it!

phoenix9873

Hum, Guess my doctors are more on the ball than I suspected. lol I had a digital mammo and u/s done last week. It came back clean for both, thank God..I had it done early by one month because my rad doc thought he felt something in my breast. The one that already had bc before. No one has ever suggested an mri for me, I have had numerous cat scans, once a month there for a while, because the bc had spread to my lungs. I guess I don't need a mri because my breast are really clear. When they they are cancer free that is. Who know with some of these doctors. I had my surgeon tell me today that I should be all better because I was finished with all my treatments, I think my chemo doc thinks the same but my rad doc says that for every month of treatment I had it takes three months to recover, which sucks but I feel better than I did last month. Plus I have my ever loving family who think that they are being helpful to point out I need to exercise because I have gained weight. So I am obviously lazy and eating to much. Have I said no it's because I am not recovered or all better and taking med's that tend to cause weight gain, no...They are well meaning but til you been there and bought the ugly pink t-shirt, you are really clueless about cancer. Well that's my two cent and my rant for the day, sorry for getting a little of topic there.

Brendatrue

I should have been clearer when I talked about my concerns related to the MRI. I have a metal implant above my left knee and I had strange sensations and subsequent (temporary) problems with that knee after an MRI (not of the leg, either). I was told that some people have such problems in similar situations; who knows--maybe it was a coincidence. Anyway, I am having difficult knee and other joint pain with the Arimidex, and I am apprehensive about a recurrent 'strange' experience that might make matters worse. (I can assure you that I am not a hypochondriac; however, I do have a complex medical history and a propensity for having odd things happen in response to meds, tests, surgeries, etc.)

Having said all that, I should add that I am leaning more toward getting the MRI and trying to find the energy to gear up for yet another battle with my insurance company. I appreciate your comments and your support!

Brenda