Question about after treatment

rosierosie

Hi I just curious, I had a lumpectomy last year I had non invasive DCIS, I had radiation and take tamoxifen. I had a mammogram and ultrasound in Jan, everything came back good I went to the surgeon this Thursday and he said every year he wants me to go for a MRI, I was grade 0 low nuclear He said this is how he works. every 6 mth alternates with mammo, ultrasound and MRI . I guess I am nervous because if all my test came back good why do I have to go for MRI or he just a good doctor and being preventive. any imput I would appreciate. It is normal to have all these test thank you

MinusTwo

rosie - you should say 'thanks' that your doc is willing to do scans. Even though BC can come back at any time. most docs are resistant to doing scans. You are lucky yours will. I had to fight for tests even after a recurrence.

rosierosie

Thank you I am just nervous about the MRI I know he a good surgeon I just dont understand why some doctors require it and some dont, I sticking to what he says to do. thanks for answering

ElaineTherese

rosierosie,

Are you a younger breast cancer patient? If so, you might have dense breasts, and your surgeon might consider a periodic MRI to be a good way to monitor you. MRIs aren't fun, but if they make you anxious, you can always ask for some anti-anxiety medication like Ativan or Xanax.

Gardennerd

Rosie - each test sees differently. For example, I had several mammo's and US's. The mammo detected my cancer. The US was rather questionable to identify. Just prior to surgery the surgeon ordered a MRI. The MRI detected a second lesion that the mammo and US did not initially locate. And to confuse things, the US on a second look, still was rather undefinable. They did locate on mamm eventually. Because all three were not in agreement, another biopsy was ordered, which thank goodness was found to be benign. But from my experience what one test sees the other may not . . .or not as easily. Consider all testing a good thing. You want catch things early.

rosierosie

I am going to be 67 its going to a year that I had a lumpectomy he said he saw nothing suspicious but this is how his treatment plan is. I always have dense breast I just nervous because I thought if the sonogram and mammogram were fine thats all i Need. I had low grade non invasive DCIS I just wonder why some doctors do all three tests and some dont. thank you

Annette47

A friend who was recently diagnosed was told by her doctor that MRI is becoming the new standard for follow-up screening, but not all doctors (including mine) are following it yet. The idea is that in the future more and more will. I don’t know how true that is, but thought I would pass along what her doctor told her as it is relevant to your question.

Even though you are 67, because as you say you have always had dense breasts, that might be why he’s recommending an MRI for you. Mammograms can’t always visualize what’s going on in dense breasts very well - MRI’s can “see” better. Mammogram had no problem picking up my teeny-tiny cancer, so I don’t think they saw any need for MRI’s in my case, but my breasts have never been unusually dense even though I am pre-menopausal.

LAstar

It's wonderful to have a baseline MRI in case anything pops up later. You have a thorough doctor - let this put your mind at ease. I've had to ask for MRI in the past. t that the MRI is any fun! Bring relaxing music if you can.

MTwoman

rosie, I actually had 2 areas of dcis that never showed up on my original diagnostic mammo + us. they were found when I went in for an mri prior to starting rads. I agree with the ladies above, feel good that your doc is on top of monitoring!

rosierosie

I got my results back today everything is fine thank you all for your input, so this is what my surgeon wants mammo, ultrasond and mri alternating every 6 mths. I am so happy everything is good thank you again I definitely have piece of mind now I had all three test .

MinusTwo

rosie - congrats on your good news. Glad you have side-stepped BC.