Please help, ladies; what do you think?

percy4

Well.  I was lucky.  Low and medium DCIS, with the absolutely lowest grade microinvasion one can have.  Lumpectomy, radiation to be sure, and that's it.  My recurrence chance was not high enough for me to go the hormone way.  I would be fine with this, and have moved on, but for this.  I got a letter(mandated by law) informing me that I have dense breasts and up to 50% of BCs will not be seen on mammo.  The spirit of the law, of course, was that that would lead to more tests, but no.  As they don't HAVE to do other tests, they won't.   I really have moved on but now I am up for my 6-mo. screening, and they think it will just be a mammo.  I am going in with my letter saying mammo is not great for me, and ask for yearly US, as well.  Sure; I'd like MRIs, but am not even thinking about that.  I have real-life issues (work, money, etc), and all the fight thas gone out of me.  Yes; if every woman who has a minor BC and had the dense-beast letter wanted a US, they'd be doing that a lot .  Too bad.  I can't afford it, outside; my premiums are too high already.  I have really put this beind me, but now that it's coming up, I can't, knowing I should have better testing.  Just venting.  My HMO is the finest in CA.  My MO (and anyone in that group she would refer me to) is a robot, saying she's followng the guidlines (which haven't been updated in 14 years).  As I said, I can go on but not without the proper tests, especially after getting the informing letter that mammo may not show much in my case.  I need you all, right now.  If only commisseration.  If I have to make this my Life's work, how can I go on to my Life?   I'm very strong, and very practical. Just give me the right tests, and I will deal with the emotional stuff. xx

samrodun

Hi Percy, How long ago were you diagnosed, and was it "DCIS with microinvasion", what stage? Insurances differ greatly. A friend of mine was denied coverage of a test (nothing to do with BC) until her doctor put in writing that it was highly recommended/prescribed...then was approved.  Worth a try to get your doctor or oncologist to ask your insurance for an ultrasound or MRI. I'm wanting to have an ultrasound on my side where I had a mastectomy back in February because I am having occasional pain sensations right in the area where I had the DCIS with microinvasion...and I'm supposedly past the healing stage. I don't  think my insurance will cover an ultrasound so soon, but I see my oncologist this coming Friday and will be asking about it. I've "moved on" also but occasionally I remember and worry some that I was told that the reason hormone therapy (Femara) was recommended is not only because I was ER+/PR+, but the term "microinvasion" means the cancer could have already spread through the tiny blood vessels in breast tissue even before I had the mastectomy. I was DCIS with microinvasion, Stage 1A, no lymph node involvement upon surgery. 

Let me know if you manage to get an ultrasound or MRI approved, ok?

God Bless...Sam