Triple Negative - Annual Breast MRI without Mammogram

lindarella

Just curious if anyone with triple negative breast cancer has had success persuading doctors or insurance companies to approve annual breast MRIs without a mammogram?  My insurance (Anthem Blue Cross) has denied a followup breast MRI without a mammogram first, and my doctor wants the mammogram too and is reluctant to appeal.  It's a sad state of affairs when a doctor advocates for the insurance company instead of the patient.  I was diagnosed with TNBC a year ago and had ultrasound and breast MRI before lumpectomy and sentinal node biopsy - PET/CT scans and bone scan after surgery (no metastasis): female, age 51, IDC, 2.5cm, Stage IIa, Grade 3, 0/6 nodes, ER-/PR+, HER2-.  I completed one round of A/C chemotherapy and 4 doses of radiation before abandoning treatment.  I see my oncologist every three months for an examination and bloodwork.  I've learned alot about myself and modern medicine in the process, and my decisions to do what is best for me do not always agree with the doctor's recommendation.  It's my understanding annual breast MRI's are considered medically necessary in high risk cases as outlined in Anthem's policy, but there is no mention of those who already have a history of triple negative breast cancer which is also high risk: http://www.anthem.com/medicalpolicies/policies/mp_pw_a053263.htm