Is MRI after 1st post-tx mammo standard procedure?

Options
mshalto
mshalto Member Posts: 70
edited June 2014 in IDC (Invasive Ductal Carcinoma)
Is MRI after 1st post-tx mammo standard procedure?
· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • mshalto
    mshalto Member Posts: 70
    edited July 2009

     Hi everyone,

    I've been lurking here since Sept. 18, 2008, when I was "granted" membership into this sadly not-so-exclusive club..

    I'm 52, IDC Stage T1c (1.1 cm.), Grade 1, 0/3 nodes. Lumpectomy, margins clear with one close one, 6 weeks rads, on Tamoxifen since Jan. 09

    Had my first mammo since delightful diagnosis day last Sept. on Monday. My tumor was on the very bottom of my r. breast, not large to begin with, smaller with the indentation from surgery, so required 5 or 6 views 'cause they just couldn't compress it enough! I offered to lie down on the machine so they could get the tricky spot..Smile!  Anyway, finally the tech hoped she'd gotten enough, but no luck...the apparently very conservative radiology doc wants me to have an MRI because of my very dense breast tissue and scar tissue.

    I'm having it done Wed. All I wanted was a nice clean "congratulatory" post-treatment mammo! I'm sure all of you can relate.

    Wondering if anyone's been in my situation before and what their outcomes were--I've heard alot about MRIs showing alot of false positives as well as ambiguous "lighting up" of benign tissue.

    I've been working very hard on pushing past the panic and anxiety which has accompanied me on this surreal journey--I'm trying not to backslide! I've got my "special friends", Dr. Xanax and his burly friend Dr. Klonopin, but don't wanna get too attached to them, if you know what I mean..

    Thanks in advance for any responses, and I'm glad to be here amongst a group of such intelligent and articulate voices.

    MSHALTO

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • mshalto
    mshalto Member Posts: 70
    edited July 2009

    Well, looks like I'm responding to myself...always do enjoy talking to myself!

    Have I posted this in the wrong category? Does it need to be "bumped"? I don't know what "bumped" means--is it moving it to another place?

    I hope that somebody will respond....I'm a newbie here.

    Thanks!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • kira66715
    kira66715 Member Posts: 4,681
    edited July 2009

    mshalto,

      I had my first post treatment mammogram 2/09, and the radiologist came out and said, "I don't see anything suspicious, but your breasts are so dense, I'd recommend an MRI."

       So, the decision was made to get an MRI 6 months later, and I just got it ( a tiny bit early--as they time it with your cycles.) I did get the full report and although the impression was "no evidence of malignancy", there was a 3 mm spot that lit up, but was considered benign.

      I also got the EOB from my insurance, that it cost 2400$--fully paid for, though.

      It sounds like they can't image the area, so they want an MRI.

      My question would be, for how long? For ever? Will they ever be able to image the area?

      Hope more people weigh in with opinions. It seems like the right thread to me.

    Kira 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited July 2009

    I would want an MRI at least every year.  My 2.2 cm tumor did not show up on mammograms (even digital).  I would have paid for an MRI out of pocket if my doctor had ordered it.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • ShellyJo
    ShellyJo Member Posts: 132
    edited July 2009

    Lol Ms. You are funny. I don't know what bump means either..

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • mshalto
    mshalto Member Posts: 70
    edited July 2009

    Hi Kira,

    Thanks so much for responding! Do you know why they had you wait 6 months? Sounds like they weren't worried about it, so that's good. Glad it was benign, of course....

    Maybe there's just different protocols with this stuff....

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • mshalto
    mshalto Member Posts: 70
    edited July 2009

    p.s. I forgot to include my Oncotype DX score in my initial email. In case any one's interested, it's 19.

    I have been intrigued by the Oncotype threads...interesting to hear medical opinions nationwide!

    By the way, my onco. didn't think chemo would significantly benefit me...

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • beverlyg
    beverlyg Member Posts: 7
    edited October 2009

    My sequence of mammmary torture was stereotactic core biopsy, the MRI followed by ultrasound and 3rd unnecessary biopsy because she wasn't sure...I would take dr, Klono every time I visit the breast dungeon--some techs are so gentle is easy breezy and next one slams your girl into a tortilla and you feel like the skin near your armpit going to rip out!  I thought the mri was the best of the 3 --you are face down and not worried about how close you are to anything.  But it shows other irrelevant things that radiologists feel they MUST investigate so sometimes buys more procedures.  But your breasts are dangling thru some holes and not being squashed.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Leah_S
    Leah_S Member Posts: 8,458
    edited October 2009

    FYI, "bump" means to post something on a thread to move it or "bump" it up to the top of the list on the topic so people see it.

    Going for my first post-tx mammo and u/s soon. NOT looking forward to it.

    Leah

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • LRM216
    LRM216 Member Posts: 2,115
    edited October 2009

    Note to Leah:  I just had mine last week and, like you, was absolutely dreading it.  It went fine and not nearly as bad as I had anticipated.  Good luck.

    Linda

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories