MRI

Laurie_R

I am scheduled for a MRI on Tuesday morning and the closer it gets the more nervous I get. I feel silly for feeling like this but it is what it is.  This MRI is post treatment, can anyone tell me what all the will look at.  Will it just be the breast that remains or the whole  9 yards? Any insight would be helpful.

Thanks,

Laurie

dlb823

Hi,  Laurie ~ Unless you've been complaining of pain elsewhere or have other undiagnosed symptoms, it's probably just a breast MRI, which is typical followup with ILC, which often doesn't image on mammo or u/s.  I had one last year, which was 2 years out for me, and I think my B/S intends to do them every other year, alternating with mammo & u/s.  But if you're nervous, by all means call tomorrow morning to reconfirm what your BS has ordered.  And good luck!  It's such peace of mind to have these things done.    Deanna

mawhinney

I'm a veteran of MRIs.  They are not hard procedures at all & generally take 30-45 mins.. If you get nervous just focus on something you enjoy doing.  They will probably give you ear phones so you can listen to music.  The mri machine is very noisy as it clicks away taking pictures so the music helps. You will lay face down  on a moveable table. Your breasts will dangle thru 2 holes in the table.( I just know some man invented this procedure!)  The table will slide part way into the machine. You will be face down so you won't realize you are in the machine.  Some mris have a small mirror so you  can see the tech. In other machines there will be a pillow to rest your head on. The tech will talk to you throughout the procedure.  Usually the first part of the procedure imaging is done without any contrast dye.. During the 2nd phase a contrast through an IV in your arm goes through your body. Sometimes it feels slightly warm and other times I've felt nothing.  Take care!

mbspires

http://www.breastcancer.org/symptoms/testing/types/mri/how_performed.jsp

 great article on how breast MRI is done..I had one done and to me it was less painful then the mammogram!