BC found only on MRI not mammo or US

Nik_webb

long story but just over a month ago I had rapid significant breast changes. Mammogram and ultrasound were both clear so I went to a breast surgeon who seemed experienced and said he is sure it’s fine and just some kind of hormonal change. My gp hadn’t already given me a breast mri referral but surgeon said it’s a wasted of time and money. MRI needs to be done with in a certain timeframe during my menstrual cycle, that time is now. THE changes are still present, 2 significant dimples and a thickened area of ski along with several lymphnosde feeling lumps and a couple if smaller harder lumps. Should I go ahead with the mri it costs $60

djmammo

Nik_webb

$60.00 for an MRI is quite a bargain. Where is this offered at such a price?

Nik_webb

$600 sorry

djmammo

Nik_webb

Is that in the U.S. or elsewhere?

cost: https://www.healthcarebluebook.com/page_ProcedureDetails.aspx?cftId=415&directsearch=true

MBPooch

If it will give you piece of mind I say get it done. My DCIS wasn't found on mammogram or ultrasound, MRI was the only thing that detected it.

Nik_webb

in aus

Nik_webb

In Australia

Nik_webb

May I ask what it was that prompted you to go ahead with the MRI when the other 2 scans were clea

djmammo

MBPooch

I am curious, if you know, what was the grade of the DCIS that was found on the biopsy that followed the MRI?

======

DCIS is not visible on a mammogram until it calcifies. It is also not routinely seen on US, though occasionally it is and the findings are extremely subtle, plus you would have to know exactly where to look to find it in the breast which is difficult if its not calcified. Grade I and Grade II DCIS are not considered a threat and when these are found on biopsy it is occasionally considered "overdiagnosis" as they may never progress to invasive disease. Grade III is more of a concern and is usually initially identified by the thin branching calcifications it produces seen on mammography.

Denise-G

I just paid $3,000 for a breast MRI - good luck!

MBPooch

Nik_webb

I had a small area of flakiness on the left nipple that wouldn't go away. Showed it to my Gyn at my annual appt, she thought it was eczema. Had the mammogram done last August as part of my yearly visit, that was negative . When the flaky nipple was not clearing up with over the counter creams I went to a Derm. Tried prescription creams to no avail. Finally in Oct we did the punch biopsy that confirmed Pagets. Had the MRI after the Paget diagnosis that saw a highlighted area under the nipple that they believed to be DCIS. The MRI also showed another area of concern in the same breast as well as something on the right side. It was after the MRI that I had the ultrasound but the tech said he would have never found the DCIS without the MRI. To be fair it was very small. I also had implants so not sure if that made it more challenging but I would have thought would have made it easier. The other two areas were thankfully benign fibroadenomas but it was a very clear decision for me at that point to move forward with the BMX. I just didn't want to risk something else being there.

djmammo

Hello! My pathology of the DCIS after mastectomy was grade 3.

Nik_webb

Thanks for all your replies.

I decided to go ahead and have the MRI done on Friday, now the long wait for results. I am so hopeful that they’ll be able to tell me what the changes are, fingers crossed it is a confirmation of my breast surgeons hunch that it’s just a really obscure presentation of hormonal fiberous changes in reaction to my finishing breast feeding... but I still find it concerning that all the changes are only in one breast - zero changes in the other breast. Fingers crossed that the super sensitivity of the mri plays in my favour and they are able to find the lumps (that are clearly palpable) and have some idea of what they ar