MRI results

Fearless1956

I was diagnosed with DCIS last Friday and had MRI this past Tuesday.  I got the MRI results today from my breast surgeon.  There are 2 more suspicious areas of concern, one additional area in the left breast (where I have the DCIS) and the other area is in the right breast in similiar area as DCIS in my left breast.  The newly found area in the left breast is in the upper inner quadrant (my DCIS is behind the nipple) and involves "the 10 o'clock to 2 o'clock radiant and involves the anterior, middle and posterior depth of the left breast."  Just that description sounds bad to me.  Part of the description also says "non-mass-like enhancement" and I'm not really sure what that could mean (?).  In the right breast, the suspicious area is at 12 o'clock and is described similarly as what is seen in the left   My breast surgeon told me up-front that the MRI is a very sensitive test and that 80% of findings are false positives.  I'm TRYING to hold on to that statistic but feeling that my chances dropped even more since I have 2 more suspicious areas instead of just 1.  I'm now scheduled for MRI guided biopsies on Monday the 26th at 7am.  

I'm curious to know how others managed receiving MRI results that showed other possible areas, experience with the MRI guided biopsy (more painful than stereotactic?) and if there truly are alot of false positives.  I do want to know if there's any other cancer there before moving ahead with treatment, but this waiting game to find out is already raising my anxiety level in a major way.  I'm trying to keep busy (and even came on to work today but not getting much accomplished) but it's difficult because my mind keeps wondering to all the "what-ifs" over and over.   I'm very scared.............and so down.  The DCIS diagnosis had sunk in and I was ready to move on with planning lumpectomy.  Now, I feel like I'm back at square one with waiting again.  And feeling more anxious than I did while waiting on the previous biopsy results.  My emotions are all over the place.

SummerAngel

After I was diagnosed with IDC in my left breast they sent me for an MRI of both. I found the result online before anyone called to give me the results, and both breasts were decribed as having "numerous diffuse foci of enhancement, many of which show type 2 enhancement curves" (not good). The result also showed my right-side main tumor, described like this: "There is a lobulated and somewhat ill-defined, oval, enhancing mass measuring 1.1 x .7 x .7cm. This shows a type 2 enhancement curve." After my mastectomies my left breast had no other cancer, so the areas of concern were false positives. The right side turned out differently, though, as you can see from my signature. I wasn't exactly thrilled with seeing these results online before anyone bothered to call me, and then I needed a biopsy (core needle biopsy) of the right side mass. Once that was done the tumor board said that if I opted out of mastectomies I would need all of the other areas of concern biopsied, and everyone on the board recommended mastectomies because radiation is contraindicated for me. It's absolutely possible that all of the areas of concern on your MRI are false positives. Try not to worry too much!

Fearless1956

Well, tomorrow I find out the results from the two MRI biopsies I had done on Monday.  I will say that the discomfort I had after these biopsies was much greater than after my stereotactic biopsy.  I hadn't expected that.  I'm extremely bruised on the right breast and even have a lack of total sensation right outside the nipple. 

My surgeon has told me to quit reading so much (I'm a nurse but still don't know alot about this disease), but part of my reading is to be able to be prepared for the worst case scenario of the results.  Anything back from that is a win.  Plus, it helps me to gain a little more "control" of myself when I have no control over this cancer.  Based on what I've been reading (when comparing what my MRI results documented), segmental distribution and clumped areas are more indicative of cancer being present.  So, I'm preparing to hear tomorrow that I have additional cancer in these other two areas (already have DCIS in left breast behind the nipple).  I'm hoping for false positives (80% are from what I've been told and read), but still expecting the worse.  Anyone else have a false-positive before when you were expecting to hear "more cancer"?

wendymk2016

Fearless1956.

I am having the very similar situation as you. I had a DCIS grade 3 on my left breast, and Dr asked to do MRI scan before we finalize the treatment plan. Now the MRI returns two suspicious enhancements both on my left breast. Right side is fine. They suggests to do MRI guided biopsy if US can not detect these areas. Yesterday I went to do US, and it can not find anything. So I had to go back to try the MRI biopsy next week.

I am going to see my Dr today and if i told her that i prefer to do MX for my DCIS, I am not sure if the MRI biopsy is still needed or not.