MRI today

pagzz

8 years ago I had lumpectomy for DCIS in my right breast followed by radiation. I was unable to stay on tamoxifen because it caused uterine bleeding. In August I noticed spontaneous discharge from nipple of left breast. the discharge is brown and contains blood. I was referred to breast surgeon. No masses show on mammogram and ultrasound.

I was sent for MRI but couldn't fit in the older MRI machine after the bed was raised to let my DD breasts hang. I finally got in at 2nd imaging place. I didn't care for this imaging place - mostly front desk problems - they told my Dr's staff that they had left me a phone message, when they hadn't, were supposed to schedule on Mon but actually scheduled me/ contacted me on Thurs after prodding again from Dr's staff. I went today and they lost my insurance card, insisting I hadn't given it to them, then found it. They didn't tell me until I was leaving that I had to pay $279. the technician seemed nice but she was very soft spoken and hard to understand.

I am probably more impatient than usual now - I have been worried since this journey began in early August and still no answers. I have copies of the MRI images and there are more areas lit up in the breast with the nipple discharge but I am uncertain about what they indicate.

My question - will the next step (unless all the areas on my left breast look innocent) automatically be a biopsy? since I have had cancer before could they diagnose just from the MRI? will they do MRI guided or try US guided even though nothing showed before on US? and finally if it is MRI guided is that different they the MRI I just had -- will I be able to go back to the nice staff at the first place with the small bore MRI ? (I fit in it but couldn't with the bed raised)

thanks,

Peggy

pagzz

update MRI showed two areas that are suspicious for DCIS and I will have a targeted US and biopsies on Fri. doctor has assured me that radiologist who did the report should be able to find the areas on the US. It is the same company I went to but a different location so I won't have the same front staff to deal with. I am very relieved that it looks like the worst scenario is DCIS. I spent all last weekend looking at my MRI images imagining it was more serious. I have had DCIS before and don't mean to minimize it but I am relieved.

Georgia1

Pagzz, I can only imagine how stressful this is for you. Fingers crossed that you get benign results from the biopsies.

pagzz

thank you Georgia. The radiologist said the results should be in by Weds. and she will call me which I found comforting as I expected that I would have to physically go into the surgeon's office for results.