After MRI - Now something else!

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joyko
joyko Member Posts: 104
edited June 2014 in DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma In Situ)

I went for my MRI this a.m....not bad at all (thanks for the advice from all of you!).   Afterwards, met with the BS -  gave much thought to just losing the right breast, rather than both.  

Anyway - the surgeon called tonight (she is a friend of a friend - so I expected her to call as soon as she got the MRI report).  She said my 'good breast' showed some areas that, to her, looked hormonal...and the radiologist wasn't alarmed - said a follow-up MRI could be given in 6 months on that breast.  However, she knows that I would do a bi-lat if both showed DCIS.  So now...she wants me to have an MRI guided biopsy of the good breast in about a week.  If hormonal, it will show and the biopsy can be cancelled.  Otherwise, they will test the tissue from that one.  

Just when I thought I was dealing with things in a calmer way --- I get thrown another curve ball!  The BS truly believes it isn't DCIS ... but now I have to prolong everything AGAIN for another possible biopsy.  Does this ever end????  (I know it does, I'm just frustrated....)

Can someone tell me what an MRI guided biopsy entails?  I had a stereo on my other one.

Thanks.... 

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  • dsj
    dsj Member Posts: 277
    edited March 2010

    I don't have anything to add except to say I understand your frustration and hope you get some answers soon.  It seems to me, from reading your post, that your surgeon is responding to your specific needs and long-terms plans: 

     However, she knows that I would do a bi-lat if both showed DCIS.  So now...she wants me to have an MRI guided biopsy of the good breast in about a week.  If hormonal, it will show and the biopsy can be cancelled.  Otherwise, they will test the tissue from that one

    That sounds like she's really listening to you.  MRIs are very sensitive, so they pick up everything.  And their drawback is that there are a lot of false positives. Radiologists are used to looking at MRIS and it sounds like he/she isn't worried.  Hoping for the very best.

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  • 3monstmama
    3monstmama Member Posts: 1,447
    edited March 2010

    I agree with dsj---MRIs pick up EVERYTHING.  Mine showed me with much more extensive DCIS and possible liver lesions and thyroid cancer!!!  But additional tests proved all was nothing.  Its annoying to have to delay once you figure out what you want to do but in this case, I think the surgeon is doing what youi need. 

    hang in there!

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  • ladyod
    ladyod Member Posts: 152
    edited March 2010

    After my MRI, my right breast showed two new areas:  one behind the areola and one in the inner quadrant.  The left one was fine.  After my BMx (I chose to do both), the right did indeed have DCIS in the inner quadrant, but none behind the areola.  The left breast showed atypical cells and hyperplasia, so I am glad I did both and didn't have to go through this again.  I think your surgeon is being very thorough and the more information you can gain prior to surgery, the better!  Good Luck!

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  • sweatyspice
    sweatyspice Member Posts: 922
    edited March 2010

    An MRI guided biopsy is, well, sort of like the mammo guided stereotactic, except it's done in the MRI machine.  Essentially, you have another MRI, they see the area, they slide you out to mark the coordinates, they do the biopsy.....

    I had mine in September so I guess I'm (intentionally?  subconsciously?) forgetting the details, but there's a lot of sliding you in and out - but otherwise basically the same thing as the stereo.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited March 2010

    Joyko, I completely understand your frustration with the wait.  I had a stereo guided biopsy on my left, where they found cancer.  My surgeon said it was standard practice to do an MRI on the left prior to surgery.  He also said that we should check the right breast as well since I was leaning toward a unilateral.  My MRI showed a mass on my right side (disease free), thus I had to have an MRI guided biopsy.  I will tell you that the MRI biopsy for me was wayyyyy more difficult, perhaps because I am small breasted.  They really had a hard time getting me in the correct position.  It also took much longer than the stereo, with the IV for the dye, several pictures before they inject the dye, the biopsy, and then several more pictures after the marker is placed.  By the next day, my breast looked like a boxer had gone a few rounds!  I was completely black and blue. 

    Biopsy showed I had the same cancer in what I thought was my disease free breast.  A Mammogram didn't show a trace of what the MRI found.  I was thankful that they found the cancer.  Otherwise I would be in the same shoes again in maybe a year or two.

     I pray you have a false positive and that everything is just fine.  Just know that the MRI biopsy will probably take a little longer and might be a little more uncomfortable... so you are prepared.

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  • sweatyspice
    sweatyspice Member Posts: 922
    edited March 2010

    My MRI biopsy was easier and less painful than the stereo, though I was more emotionally upset because I had the gut feeling it was going to be bad news.  The bad feeling was correct, the area of concern was confirmed to be more DCIS (which had been invisible on mammo and ultrasound).  I'm also glad it was found before the initial surgery, otherwise I'd probably have been a recurrence waiting to happen.  And I'd hate to have had a lumpectomy first, then the MRI, and then have to go back for more surgery.

    But please remember that most biopsies are false positives, so you just don't know how it will turn out.

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