Did you have any scans when you were diagnosed?

Anonymous

Did you have any scans when you were diagnosed?

kec1972

I'm just curious what others have had. When I was first diagnosed via ultrasound/biopsy, my surgeon ordered a breast MRI but no other body scans(bone scan, etc) were ordered to check for any spread. Wondering if anyone else had any type of scan after being diagnosed as Stage one?

edj3

I had an MRI with and w/o contrast. Then I had a chest x-ray (my request) because the MRI showed a small pleural effusion.

Edited to add that the MRI was after a mammogram, ultrasound, and US core needle biopsy which is when the cancer was officially dx'd.

kec1972

edj3, was that a breast MRI?

SimoneRC

3D Mammogram, Ultrasound, Ultrasound Core Biopsy, MRI of breasts with and without contrast. Had Bilateral Mastectomy with Sentinel Node Biopsy. Clean margins, no lymphovascular invasion, clear node. No further imaging as all was clear.

Betrayal

I had a repeat 3-D mammogram, an ultrasound and then a core needle biopsy performed using ultrasound for a mass that was not palpable. I was not sent for a MRI and have very dense breasts. Bx showed IDC but initial lumpectomy showed IDC, DCIS and ILC with slim margins necessitating second lumpectomy. I always wonder if MRI had been ordered I might have just had one lumpectomy? Results of surgery were not aesthetically pleasing. So insist on all diagnostic procedures you can to obtain a diagnosis.

Veeder14

I had a breast MRI which showed the tumor, then an ultrasound and mammogram that didn’t show it. Then the MRI biopsy. I also had a whole body PET scan which was for melanoma follow up and it didn’t show the breast tumor and was clear for lymph nodes

edj3

kec1972, yes it was. That MRI confirmed the left breast (which didn't need confirmation actually) but also checked out the right breast. I have very dense breast tissue so I was glad to get the right breast checked.

Of course then LCIS showed up in the path report from the lumpectomy on my left breast and that stuff is hard to find and apparently doesn't show up on scans.

Edited to add that the mammogram this year was a 3D and the first time I'd opted for that.

Spoonie77

I had a baseline Mammo originally, called back for further imaging. Then 3D Mammogram, Ultrasound, Ultrasound Core Biopsy, Genetic Testing, MRI of breasts with/without contrast prior to surgery to be sure my other breast was indeed clear. Then had my LX with SLNB.

Due to my other chronic health conditions/bone joint pain, I asked for a Bone Scan which my first MO grudginly allowed. It revealed a healing broken rib (from RADs) and a benign tumor in my jaw that is now being followed yearly. I had asked for a PET scan, again given my complicated medical history, but was declined.

It's my understanding that PET scans are usually only ordered for Stage III and above, or when/if symptoms of METs present. IMO it doesn't make sense, however I've come to learn that like most things, cost controls the health world in most aspects.

Elephant

I too only had a biopsy and MRI. They also wanted me to do genetic testing. I was under the impression that PET scan are for higher grade cancers.

Ladyofthelake

After my initial diagnosis I had genetics testing and then a breast mri with and without contrast. This showed a questionable area in my sternum which need further evaluation, so then had a bone scan which came back all fine with the exception of a few areas of arthritis 😝. No other tests needed.

AliceBastable

I had the mammogram, then the ultrasound and biopsy on the same day about a week later, then an MRI with and w/out contrast the next week. The oncologist ordered a chest CT because I was still a smoker then and she wanted more detail than an x-ray would show. It showed a LOT, but nothing related to breast cancer. That was just a few days before surgery. I've had to have periodic scans for something else, and my oncologist is getting irritated that the other specialist expects her to order the scans, because, as she explained, she doesn't do CT scans unless there are symptoms to justify them. So I guess that's the basic protocol.

DogMomRunner

I had the screening mammogram, then diagnostic mammogram with ultrasound. After the biopsy (core), I got a breast MRI because the surgeon and MO couldn't agree which should take place first - chemo or lumpectomy. MRI gave a better idea of tumor size and lymph node involvement which was none.I also had to have an echocardiogram prior to starting the Herceptin. I will get one of those every 3 months.

Sjacobs146

All I had was mammogram, ultrasound, biopsy, no MRI. I had a CT scan as part of the prep for rads, my RO said that sometimes those scans turn up mets in the lungs and liver, but I was clear. I don't believe that they do any other types of scans unless there is reason to believe that you have mets. There are risks to these scans as well. False positives, exposure to radiation. I understand how you feel. I used to imagine that the cancer had spread everywhere and I wish we could go looking for it. PET scans only turn up tumors of a certain size. It's a bit sobering to think that you don't know if you have mets unless you have symptoms. My docs always ask if I have pain anywhere. Believe me, if I felt any weird pain, I'd be at the docs ASAP

SUPer52

My annual screening consisted of 3-D/tomosynthesis mammo and ultrasound. My suspicious areas did not show on the ultrasound since they were calcifications, but they were seen on the mammo, so at the same appointment the radiologist had magnified views with mammogram completed. After that, other than the additional mammograms that were taken to complete my core biopsy and the ultrasound to guide the needle to the location of the area for my lumpectomy, I had no other scans. I was not given an MRI or any other scans to look for more cancer. My surgeon knew how nervous I was about the possibility of lymph node involvement, so he did have me get an ultrasound of the axillary area to see if any nodes looked enlarged or abnormal, but I think he was just trying to ease my mind because I was having the sentinel node biopsy anyway at the same time as the lumpectomy. During my radiation setup appointment, my ct scan did show the hematoma that I knew I had, so before my boost at the end of radiation, they gave me another ct scan just to redo my markings since it started to go down during treatment.

I have my first mammogram since completing radiation next month, and I will also be getting an ultrasound as there is an area on the other side they believe is a complicated cyst and they want to follow up on it a little more frequently. Back in January when I was diagnosed, I was so anxious to get into surgery. I just wanted the cancer out and to know if it had spread to lymph nodes, but in hindsight, I realize I didn't need to be in such a rush and maybe I should have at least inquired about why they weren't recommending me for an MRI. The 3-D mammograms are supposed to be very sensitive, but when I meet with my breast surgeon after my imaging tests next month, I am going to inquire about receiving MRI's as part of my monitoring plan moving forward. I don't want tests that will give me false positives and cause anxiety, but I also want to know that my follow up care is as thorough as it can be. My cancer was also extremely posterior and very difficult to get into view on the mammogram. On my screening mammogram, one group of calcifications only showed on one view, and the radiologist had to get quite creative with how to position me in the mammogram machine in order to get a better view and to complete the biopsy.

Now with all of that being said, my sister, who sees exactly the same doctors I do, does receive an MRI every year as part of her continued follow ups, and I know she had one at the time of diagnosis as well. However, her tumor was larger than mine and was an easily palpable lump, and her initial biopsy showed it was also positive for Her2. Maybe because she was obviously more advanced at time of diagnosis than I was, MRI was more standard in her case that it would have been for my early stage calcifications.

Kec, I am glad you asked this question because I have just started wondering myself how the imaging tests that were ordered for me compared to others with early stage bc.

wallycat

Before dx, I went for mammogram (intuitive dreams that something wasn't right). That was normal so I went for ultrasound. Pretty much nothing there but I was not OK with that. Hospital had just gotten a new breast MRI machine, so they told me to do that. Yup, there it was. Went back for a biopsy with the ultrasound, but again, the ultrasound could not see anything, so back to MRI to do a needle guided biopsy. Yup. Cancer.

I did have genetic tests since I was 49 at dx. No BRCA mutations. I don't believe they checked for much more but I was in a fog...and that was nearly 13 years ago so not sure what the panel consisted of.

No scans to date since I have no boobs (bmx). I did participate in an ovarian cancer study so was going for CA-125 tests and ultrasound (which found an incidental polyp in my uterus--thanks tamoxifen..grrrr).

meeko1452

Other than breast imaging (mammo, US, and MRI), I have not had any scans. Actually, now that I think about it I don't even think I had any bloodwork done before my mastectomy.

ItsHandled444

I had baseline mammogram, called back for diagnostic mammogram and biopsy. No ultrasound or MRI. Went right to lumpectomy, reincision to get bigger margins and check lymph nodes. Always wonder why no ultrasound or MRI, guess they knew what it was but only diagnosed DCIS until lumpectomy which also showed IDC.

Catsme

The only scan I had post diagnosis and MX was a nuclear bone scan. This was 1 month after surgery and only ordered because of hip pain. All clear and the hip pain did go away.

I do get CBC and liver, kidney blood work every 6 months, but no scans unless I have symptoms.

Alexb31

i had the ultrasound and breast MRI. Then after chemo ended I demanded a CT scan to make sure there was no spread, I was way too worried about every ache and pain.

kec1972

Alexb, that’s what I want! I’m having all these pains that are so worrying to me. I want a CT scan to find out or ease my mind

OnTarget

I had ultrasound, breast MRI, bone scan, CT scan followed by a GI MRI.

I got the CT scan after the breast MRI saw something on my liver which ended up being benign.

mitziandbubba

I had basically every scan in the universe - MUGA, Bone, CT, two MRIs - but they thought my situation was far more advanced. Originally no one expected me to be Stage 1. I am guessing I'd have had almost none of these scans if they had suspected Stage 1 from the get go. Long story short, I am a very lucky woman.

april1964

no scans after the mammogram that indicated a problem... then surgery and radiation ... I get a yearly screening mammo and once every two year DEXA Scan...

FNPMom

hello all - I requested a diagnostic mammogram after a negative screening 7 months prior - after that they did an ultrasound, then ultrasound guided biopsy - saw the breast surgeon then the onc - had my port placed before the MRI - MRI confirmed the right breast CA and showed a spot on the left breast - another ultrasound that showed a reactive lymph node on the left - had needle biopsy on the left breast/left lymph node - all negative - PET scan was also negative except for the breast CA on the right breast - also had CT of abdomen for the DIEP flap

The PET scan was done prior to the neoadjuvant chemo - it helped deal with my fear of Mets as my tumor was 4.3 cm - 1.1 cm after neoadjuvant chemo

MountainMia

I had a screening mammogram (2/20/29), followed by diagnostic mammo and ultrasound and biopsy (2/26/19.)

Then came surgery (lumpectomy) and chemo. Prior to radiation (8/19) I had a chest CT as part of that prep.

And on 12/30/19 I fell and hit my head, knocking me out and giving me a concussion. I went to the ER, where they did a brain CT and a chest Xray, as well as a pile of other blood and urine tests, and an EKG. The doctor said the CT and Xray found nothing "remarkable." While I wish the fall/concussion hadn't happened, I guess I'm glad to have one more layer of testing to tell me nothing untoward seems to be going on!

Next imaging, a mammo and whole breast ultrasound, are scheduled for 1/31/20.

Whatjusthappened

I had screening mammogram, diagnostic mammogram, ultrasound, and breast MRI. I also had a PET scan because I had back pain. An MRI done later showed the back pain to be caused by stenosis and arthritis, not mets. I also had a bone density scan before starting AI's. It is my understanding that if you have any symptoms, your MO can order tests to rule out mets. My MO has been very good about this, and I've had multiple tests done over the past year. A word of caution though. While every test has been negative for mets, I have had a number of other conditions turn up on these tests, which has led to a plethora of referrels, appointments, and even more tests. Now I'm more cautious about reporting aches and pains to my MO. I figure if it is anything to worry about, it will get worse, and then I'll mention it.

chosen2020

How did the Taxol and Herceptin go? My docs recommended both. I told them I am "thinking" about it. I needed time. Now the time is out and need to make a decision. Had lumpectomy. Radiation scheduled for later.

MinusTwo

chosen - this isn't a particularly active thread and certainly doesn't seem related to the questions you are asking.

Did you already have the lumpectomy? What was your diagnosis? You for sure will need rads. Sounds like you're HER2+ so it makes perfect sense that someone is recommending chemo? Go to the search options and check the chemo threads. Lots of answers there.

AngieB92

After my mammogram, ultrasound, and biopsy, I was dx’d at one facility and transferred care to another facility where my oncologist ordered a breast MRI with and w/o contrast. He also ordered a CT scan and bone scan.

My breasts were dense and more things lit up in my cancer breast but my right breast was clear. I had already chosen to have a dmx.

The lung scan showed a nodule in each lung but ai was just getting over a respiratory infection and I live in a state high on agriculture so he was not concerned. I also had a spot show up on the back of my head but he said it looked like more of a trauma than a cancerous lesion. I did fall the previous year skiing and, although had a helmet on, I hit hard.

I am almost done with active treatment and asked my oncologist about any testing. They said unless I exhibited symptoms or something is found in a check-up, no scans will be ordered.

I’m really thankful that the breast MRI was standard operating procedure. There ended up being DCIS which was on the opposite side of my breast than the cancer that was dx’d. Had I stayed with my initial treatment center, they would have done a lumpectomy, chemo and sent me on my way.