First mammo since diagnosis

Kimber

Hi everybody,

I go in next Wed the 27th for my mammo.  I am starting to stress.  I spent an oblivious food and drink filled summer on the beach and now I am back to reality.   Anyway, I was just hoping I could get my LCIS sisters to send out some good thoughts and prayers for a clean mammo.  I am going to ask my surgeon for an MRI - we have new insurance and it will be a year in Nov since my last one.   His office called yesterday and he wants to see me after my mammo.  I am concerned that the mammo won't pick up anything....

Thanks to all!

Kimber 

leaf

As we know, stress is so hard to deal with - at least for me. 

Keeping my fingers, legs, arms, and eyes crossed for a totally BORING outcome.

Let us know how it goes, OK? 

Mykidsmom

Here's sending good vibes your way. And I hope they approve the MRI as well. Best wishes. - Jean

Kimber

Thanks leaf and Jean!  I will keep you posted.  I hate the stress of this monitoring.

Anonymous

Kimber---I'm right there with ya! my mammo is Sept. 18th and I've already been thinking  about it way more than I should.  (but less than I used to, so I guess I'm getting used to this). Ya know, it took me nearly 3 years to get my oncologist to agree to MRIs--he was very concerned about the high rate of false positives and the resulting biopsies and anxiety that goes along with all that. But I was willing to deal with that possibility and I let him know I felt it was very important since I have a combined high risk from LCIS and family history (mom had ILC) and I wanted to be proactive; now  he seems very adamant that I continue with the MRIs. (acts like it was his idea instead of mine!!!!  (lol)  I haven't had any problem with the insurance covering the MRIs, but they recently said they will not approve payment for genetic testing for me since I "don't fit the ACS criteria". I alternate my mammos and MRIs every 6 months and I'm seen by my oncologist every 6 months on the opposite scedule, so I'm "seen" by some method every 3 months which goes a long way for peace of mind. Praying for good results for both of us--let me know how it goes.

Anne

Kimber

Hi everybody,

My mammogram today was clear!  So I am good for another 3 months, I guess, when I have an MRI.  I am considering another opinion, however, and I am still not convinced I don't want PBM's.  The stress of the monitoring sucks!  I thought I could handle it, but my very nervous stomach and overactive mind tell me differently! 

Thanks for the good thoughts, and leaf, I hope your eyes didn't stay that way!!  (crossed)

Kimber 

Anonymous

Kimber---that's wonderful news!  Is there anyway they can spread your tests out so you're on a 6 month alternating schedule?   While the worry never goes completely away, it does get a little easier with the passage of time.... How are you doing with the tamoxifen?

Anne

Kimber

Hi Anne,

I am doing OK on the tamoxifen.  My tests are supposed to be every 6 months, but I am going to request an MRI soon since I have new insurance and it will actually be a year in Nov since my last MRI.  I don't know if my surgeon will go for it. I have so many doctors in different places, I feel like I need to get to a all-in-one breast center.  I am going to look into it. It might ease my mind somehow!

Thanks for checking in with me!

Kimber 

JenB

Great news Kimber,

I think I am going to hate the monitoring as well. May I ask how one convinces an oncologist that a yearly MRI is order. Mine is only reccommending a yearly mammogram. I am not too comfortable with that. It seems to me that so many invasive lobular cancers are missed on mammograms (like my aunt).

Jen 

Anonymous

Jen---It took me nearly 3 years to convince my oncologist to order an MRI--he was against them initially due to the high rate of false positives and the resulting biopsies and anxiety that goes along with them. I don't know if he had a change in his actual medical beliefs (he may have over time since the ACS has changed their recommendations for MRIs), or if I just wore him down over time bringing up the subject!!!! But now that I've been having them for the past 2 years (alternating with mammos every 6 months and take tamoxifen--high risk from combination of LCIS and family history), he is glad and sometimes acts like it was his idea!!! (LOL).  The ACS doesn't recommend them specifically for LCIS, but they do recommend them for women with a lifetime risk of over 20 to 25% and I'm way above that. Sit down and talk with your oncologist about your risk and your feelings regarding MRI. I told him I would rather have them and deal with the possible false positives than miss something. (Actually I have had some "spots" they were watching, but since f/u mammos and US  were clear, biopsies were not needed.

Anne