Breast Cancer monitoring after Bilateral Mastectomies

Hi, this is my first post here.  My name is Kim, I'm 51 and had Bilateral prophylactic mastectomies for LCIS in 2001.  When I was diagnosed the options my doctor gave me were Mastectomies, or close monitoring every 6 months with mammograms, as well as Tamoxifen.  I also had another  lump in my breast that she was initally going to do a 6 month follow up on but after the diagnosis of LCIS on the other one, she advised an excisional biopsy at the least within a month, as well as re-excision of the original biopsy site due to unclear margins.  So with that information, and the fact that I am a mammographer with 20 years of experience with breast cancer, I made my decision to have the mastectiomies.  I just couldn't take a pill every day and go to work and see breast cancer and wonder when or if it was going to be my turn. 

I'm so happy with my decision.  I really feel like I dodged a bullet.  I had very "dense" breasts that were not easy to read on mammograms and more than likely I was in for a lot of biopsies and scares in the future.

So here's my question.  Have any of you ever heard what the follow up on mastectomy patients is?

Some doctors say we don't need any follow up.  Some say MRI either yearly or everyother year.

I've not been able to find any solid recommendation on this.  As most of you know, there is always some amount of residual breast tissue remaining, and even tho our risk is small, their is still some risk.

I was hoping to ask this question to some of the MD experts at this site but could not find any way to do that. 

Does anyone know of any standard recommendation?

I would greatly appreciate any response.

Thanks

Kim

Hi Cathy,

I initially saw an oncologist every 6 months for a couple of years, but I stopped because my breast surgeon said it really was not necessary.  I've had a couple of MRI's over the years because I developed an inflammation in my right breast and a small fluid build up around the implant (seroma).  This happened when I was exercising and I think I just occasionally tear a little scar tissue or something.  But I've never been prescribed an MRI just to check me on a revenitive basis.

As a mammographer, I feel MRI is far superior to US.  However, it is the most expensive test and one your insurance comany may balk at paying for.  The reason is that with MRI, you are given an IV injection that will enhance any tumors that are there, and you can see in far better detail than US.  Also US is operator dependent and the potential for human error ( missing a cancer) is present. 

Thanks for the reply, I'm interested to see what your oncologist says

Kim