Anyone have a negative mammogram followed by a positive MRI?

shabby6485

Hi guys, First I want to wish you all a great holiday and I pray we all have some peace of mind on Thanksgiving.

After my f/u 6 mos mammo ( had two lumpectomies for calcs which turned out b9 and alh), my surgeon recommended an MRI.

I got nervous and didn't quite hear what he was saying. I thought my mammo looked good and than he babbled about being high risk and having dense breasts. He said it wouldn't hurt to have the MRI.

I am an extremely anxious person and this just about ruined my holidays. I seriously obsess over health issues.  I am not quite sure what I am asking, but do you think that because my mammo looked good, the MRI should too? Has anyone here found cancer on MRI after  a good mammo?

Just preparing myself mentally, I guess. I really want to have a peaceful holiday and try not to ruminate.

God Bless 

gymgirl

I agree that the MRI is a good idea. Sometimes it can pick up things the mammogram doesn't see as it is a completely different type of test. That doesn't mean something else is there! Think how much better you will feel when the MRI shows nothing there too.

I had calcifications for 4 years in the left side. Then last year found a lump in the left side, but in a different place from the calcs. Mamo confirmed it, ultrasound and biopsy did too. Before doing the lumpectomy, the bc surgeon recommended MRI and it found another spot not visible on mamo or ultrasound. So yes, it is possible for different screening tests to have different results.

As scared as I was when that second spot was found by MRI, I am alive and well today because of that test. If only the first spot was seen, I would have had a lumpectomy and never known about the second one. I would still have bc and not even known it.

My recommendation? Schedule the test. Have a wonderful holiday. Trust your doctor. Take someone with you when you have the test to keep you calm. And write back with your results. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you that it comes back negative.

Springtime

Yes, if you have dense breasts, do the MRI.

I had a large tumor, and because of dense breasts, I had clean Mammograms FOR YEARS. They could hardly pick it up on ultrasound. Even diagnostic mammogram showed nothing. The MRI showed it all.

Dense tissue can hide things. The MRI is the best route to find out for sure.  Get this behind you. If it is nothing, you will KNOW FOR SURE it is nothing with the MRI. If it is something, you will find out early...   But let's hope it is nothing, and you will have the peace of mind to know FOR SURE it is nothing!!!   I have had three breast MRIs, they are not so bad...  bring ear plugs! They're loud!

Spring. 

otter

Yes, shabby, it can happen.  I know that's not what you wanted to hear; but the good news (and it's REALLY good news) is that your surgeon is urging you to have that MRI.  Some surgeons (mine, for example) do not believe MRI's should be used for screening of asymptomatic women, even if their breast tissue is dense.  I'm 5 years post-menopausal, but the tissue in my remaining, "good" breast is "dense enough that you could park a Mack truck in there and nobody would see it," in the words of the radiologist who read my mammo this past August.  Yet, my surgeon refuses to authorize an MRI to screen that breast.

As for your question:  I had a negative mammogram in 2005, and another one in 2006, and a third in January of this year.  That third one was a digital mammogram (latest bells and whistles), and the report said "BIRADS 2" because I had benign calcifications scattered throughout both breasts.

Fifteen minutes after that 3rd mammogram was finished, I was looking at an ultrasound monitor that showed the 1.8 cm lump I had been feeling for the previous 2 years.  A biopsy that day showed it was malignant.  A week later, I had a contrast breast MRI that also showed the suspicious lump.  With the MRI, the lump had all the characteristics of a malignant tumor (high vascularity, spiculated margins, etc.).  There was no doubt by then that I had BC.

So, yes, unfortunately, a negative mammogram isn't always the relief we'd like it to be.  Those of us with very dense breast tissue (like my remaining, "good" breast) have to be extra-vigilant.  Having regular screening and combining mammography with other imaging methods, like MRI, would be one way to do that.  An MRI will report lots of things that are not dangerous (false-positives) and sometimes can miss real malignancies, but they're much more sensitive than mammograms when examining dense breasts.

So, I agree with everything gymgirl and Spring have said.  Schedule that MRI, but sleep well knowing that your doctor is watching out for you.

otter 

conniehar

Yes - I had a clear mammogram and a clear ultrasound, but my dense breasts were hiding a 10 cm lump!  I could feel the lump though and that is why I had the MRI.  It's a good idea for you to have the MRI, but if you are not feeling anything, I see no reason why you should not have a negative MRI.  Remember that MRI's often have false positives as well, so try not to worry over the holidays!  Best of luck to you.

Deirdre1

Yes again - I'm sorry but yes I had a mammogram, ultrasound, and digital momogram, all clear the next week I had the scheduled MRI (due to strong family history) and there was the DCIS..  My breasts were not considered dense, the MRI is just better at picking things up but that also means if you get a ping on the MRI there is still a good chance it is nothing.  It is becoming "standard of care" for those who have strong family history, BRCA +, or history of other cysts, biopsy etc...  But I was told this is RARE - please keep that in mind and I hope you come out clean..  best!

crusader1

Shabby,

I had a positive mamogram with very small cancers spotted- in the millimeter size. The surgeon said they were totally curable. She sent me for an MRI just to be sure that nothing was hiding . Sure enough the MRI found another tumor much larger than the first ones. I am so happy I had the MRI.Otherwise I would have had breast cancer growing in the body. I do think any thorough surgeon does all these tests. As many women have said finding cancer early is just so important. Hope all goes well..

Caya

Shabby,

I too am a member of this club.  I had a clean mammo and U/S in July 2006, went in for a breast reduction in Oct. 2006 - my plastic surgeon found my 1.7 cm. lump.  The mammo had noted breast density.  Before I had the mastectomy my surgeon sent me for a breast MRI and another 1.0 cm. tumour was discovered. 

I actually was lucky - everything was found while I was at stage 1 - very treatable.  Of course I am hoping that your MRI will be clean too.

Please keep us posted.

shabby6485

Thank you ladies for all your stories!

Wow, I guess getting this MRI is a good idea although SCARY.  But, I guess what is the options? Better to know than not too.

 God Bless you all!!! 

Springtime

Shabby,

You got it. You are LUCKY the doctor wants to do the breast MRI. As odd as that sounds. Dense tissue hides cancer from traditional digital imagine (Mammo and US), AND is more prone to get cancer. 

I wish I had had your doctor!!!!  

Spring..

wishiwere

Well sort of here.  My mammo only saw one tumor at 1.7 they thought then.  The pre-op MRI showed the second primary in another quadrant that was 1+ cm.  So, yes.  In essence, the mammo failed to find the second primary and I nearly had a lump +rads, with the second waiting in line to grow up and be a problem!

Deirdre1

Spring - if your doc doesn't see the importants for you to have a MRI tell him/her that you want one that you have an understanding that it could be helpful in your situation.  This tends to place the control back in your hands and my exerience is that they usually will come around to your position - unless your position is off the wall and your is not!

Best

Springtime

All these years that I'd been getting mammograms and was told I had dense breasts, no one ever told me that dense breasts meant I was at high risk of getting breast cancer.

SAME HERE Praying4U!!! 15 years of clear mammograms with a note about dense tissue. I had a clear one in May 2008 and was diagnosed with IDC in July 2008, and it was a huge tumor - been there a Loooooooong time.  

ugh!

sbmolee

I had calcifications on Lside and clean mamo on Rside.  MRI revealed a LUMP the mamo missed all together - turned out to be b9 but I lost my "false" security on mamos.

Best Wishes

Anonymous

having dense breasts (as most young premenopausal women do)  gives you a slightly higher risk of bc, but does not make you "high risk". Some radiologists say it's like trying to see "a snowman in a snowstorm".

Ninja

Hi Shabby, 

Seems this is a big club! I had neg. mammo in July, felt a lump in Oct., 2 were seen on ultrasound and bx'd positive, so had a lumpectomy. But then MRI saw 3 MORE and a followup biopsy was also positive. So I had a mastectomy 1 week ago, and glad I did -- that's FIVE lesions in one breast, and had I not had the MRI, I would have been chasing those down the road as "recurrences" in the same breast. The good news? The other breast is completely clear. If your MRI is positive it can save your life by finding what a mammo missed --- if negative, you can breathe a BIG sigh of relief. Let us know how it turns out! 

Springtime

awb,

Actually besides the "polar bear in the snowstorm" thing, which makes it harder for mammograms and even ultrasoundto detect in dense breasts,  I've heard that dense breasts area actually more likely to get cancer in the first place. This was new news to me. I wish somebody had made that clear to me...  

Springtime

melanie100

This is a helpful thread. 

I'm high risk (aspirated cysts, fibroid cystits, very dense breasts, asymmetrical density, mother had breast cancer, I've never had a child.)  After reviewing my mammos last month, the radiologist mentioned MRI as a possibility.  When I asked my family practitioner about it, he said the problem was, there were so many false positives, which have to be followed up with biopsies, and since I"d just had the mammo and u/s he didn't think it was worth the psychological risk of the false positives.  He did refer me to an oncologist, with whom I meet next week, to talk about tamoxifen as a preventative measure.  Of course, since that round of mammos and u/s and aspiration last month (and thank you, so much, for helping me through that scary time), I've found a pea-sized lump on the outer upper quad of my left breast that doesn't feel like all my other lumps, so I'm going to ask about that, too. It may have been there before, but I was never really familiar with my lumpiness until going through all that last month.  Now I could draw you a map!  I am afraid to even feel my own breasts now...I feel like a hypochondriac or an alarmist.  

Question:  if the oncologist will not recommend an MRI, can I go back to the radiologist for the recommendation, for insurance purposes?  Who all can recommend one?

Thanks so much.

Melanie 

Ninja

Melanie, 

As a family physician myself (now one with a whole new appreciation of MRI thanks to a loooong chat with the radiologist who's head of our breast center) I can tell you that if your radiologist puts "MRI recommended in this high-risk patient" on your report, your FP will (should) sit up and take notice. Radiologists themselves can't order studies. Bet your oncologist will though. I'd ask him or her directly. My oncologist tells me that mammography is only 50% sensitive in dense breasts, but tumors light up like christmas lights on MRI. Viewing my own films prior to my mastectomy was quite the eye opener! 

good luck 

melanie100

Ninja,

Thanks for your answer.  I will definitely ask my oncologist about it and hopefully he will recommend.  Appointment is next week.

Melanie

Springtime

Melanie,

It is my understanding that th false positives of MRI's can be controlled if you have the MRI between days 5-15 of your cycle. Somehow, I heard, that this reduces the false positives do to hormones. 

I hope you are able to get the MRI and find out "fer sher" what's going on. It's really the only way to know with dense breast tissue.

Spring.

melanie100

Springtime,

thanks for the info.  OK, stupid question (I should know this, I've been having periods for 30 years now, ha ha)  does your cycle start on the first day of your period, or the first day after the end of your period, or what?

Thanks

M 

PSK07

first day of your period is first day of your cycle. 

NikiC

I have family history of bc, my mom and sister and so last year during my annual I told my gyno that I wanted an MRI along with the mammo and he said yea, good idea.  My mammo which I had first came back negative but the MRI showed something.  I then had a biopsy and found out I had atypia (pre-cancer).  Then I decided to get genetic testing since my sister carried an unknown variant on BRCA2, which turned out positive.  After receiving all of this, mom and sister having had cancer, breast cancer gene mutation and atypia I decided to have a profytactic bm 2 weeks ago. My pathology results from the surgery showed that I still had more atypia and this time in both breasts which didnt even show up on the MRI, only the one did so I feel like I really made the right decision for myself and now wont have to worry about screening, tamoxifen or ever having to go through chemo and all because I decided I wanted an MRI!

Annabella58

Hi there Shabby:

Yup, my mammo was clear, then the MRI found a hidden cancer, thankfully, in time to treat!

I don't want to scare you, as I am an anxious type as well, but this is the reason the BSs are reccomending MRIs....they are finding hidden stuff in cases that a mammo couldn't. 

Now, this is not to say that you'll have anything at all on your MRI....it's actually a peaceful, easy test, the dye they put into you does not hurt you at all, and it does not take much time.  It's just a put on a robe, lie on a table, relax while they take some photos, and go about your day, knowing that you have been monitored much more thoroughly than with a mammo.

You need both: mammos catch calcifications, MRIs catch hidden cancers.  Your BC is being a good dr. to reccomend both.  Everyone should have these....ACS reccomends both be done now on anyone who has an issue or a history.  You do with these little benign things they found, so it is just plain smart to get an MRI. (which will most likely be perfectly fine)

Go get it and don't worry.  I put mine off til the new year, so I could have a nice christmas! but if you are going to be too scared over it, go get 'er done!

Good luck and don't stress, sounds routine and a good, thorough dr.

xo

annie

Springtime

Melanie, Yes, what Pam said, as soon as you start your preiod, that is "day 1".

runalot08

For anyone curious or who does not already know my doctor said that the waiting till between day 7-15 thing is so that people who may have cyclic problems with their breasts get less false readings.  I think she said like cysts and other benign things. (Can not remember all of the things mentioned)  These can increase in size and (I guess change shape?) during certain parts of your cycle.  And yup as the girls above me said day one is the first day.

lookingforward4more

Get the MRI. I had digital mammos every six months that showed two foci of calcifications which I was assured was "benign". It wasn't. Stage 2b with two hot lymph nodes later I wish someone had sent me for an MRI. Get in front of it, I am hoping you get great news.

melanie100

Thanks again for all the helpful info, everyone.  It's very much appreciated. 

Misawa47

Hi, What great information you ladies are sharing. I am 47 years old with very dense breasts. I had a mammogram in Jul 08 with clustered microcalcfiations. I live in Northern Japan where they don't have knowledge/equipment to perform biopsy's; therefore, I had to fly to Atlanta GA for the stereotactic biopsy in Aug 08.They missed the area, so I had to have another biopsy done again on 21 Nov in Hawaii. I just found out 26 Nov that it was benign; however, I had 2 lumps on the right side (biopsy on left) that my doctor was concerned with. I don't do the monthly checks; however, I did discover the lumps in September and was very arlarmed at how big they were (didn't show on mammogram).

The biopsy doctor in Hawaii did an ultrasound on them but didn't see anything alarming so dismissed it. When I went for my biopsy results on 1 Dec (I thank God it turned out benign), the doctor examined me and felt the 2 lumps. I told him that the biopsy doctor did an ultrasound on 21 Nov but didn't see anything. This doctor was not convinced, especially since my mother and older sister both had ovarian cancer. He ordered an MRI and I had that done on both breasts on 1 Dec. I am waiting for the results on that. I almost cancelled my MRI appt thinking that the mammogram or ultrasound didn't find anything so why bother. After reading this forum, I am so very glad I kept my appt for peace of mind if nothing else.

Does anyone know the standard time it takes to get results for an MRI?  I was hoping to find out that day; however, the MRI tech said a doctor has to review over 1000 pictures and would take about a week to review.

Deirdre1

Wow I am amazed at how many of us there are!!  And these are just a few of the many here who did respond there are probably others who had similiar experiences but either didn't see the thread or opted not to respond.. 

Misawa47 - it was about 3 days for my read, and of course the longer it takes to get the results back USUALLY means that they didn't find anything on the preliminary report.  It was explained to me that most films had a preliminary read within 24-48 hrs, a scan if you like, by a radiologist and then as time allows they go over each piece carefully..  mine must have been obvious to the radiologist at first glance to get it back so quickly.  I can't believe that they didn't do an MRI for you ESPECIALLY when you had traveled so far the FIRST time..  and I certainly hope your MRI is clean.. best