Had First Mammo

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amlg1
amlg1 Member Posts: 596
edited June 2014 in Stage III Breast Cancer

I had my first mammo since my diagnosis,last May.Everything was normal,thank God.My breast surgeon,wants to see me in 6 months,but tells me I only need a mammo once a year.I feel a little uncomfortable with that,since I had a mammo every year for 22 years,always normal,and then last year I was diagnosed a stage 3.Many nodes involved,which did show on my mammo,nothing in breast .My point is in one year I went from nothing to a very aggressive cancer.It makes me nervous to think that I should wait a year.Does anyone have an opinion?I do intend to ask my onco what she thinks.It took an mri to find the cancer in my breast.Thank You

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  • jenn3
    jenn3 Member Posts: 3,316
    edited April 2010

    I'm wondering if it's more of an insurance issue for the annual mammogramm and  would be nervous too. I had a similar situation and it is nerve racking to think that the cancer can move so quickly.  Although you'll be doing the mammogram annually will you see the onc or surgical onc more often and they will be doing physical exams?  And.......because you needed an MRI last time can or will they do an MRI vs Mammogram? 

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  • KerryMac
    KerryMac Member Posts: 3,529
    edited April 2010

    I am getting an MRI, an U/S and a Mammo every year, spread out about 4 months apart. I also get Breast exams from both my Onc and my BS every 3 months.

    If you had ILC, you have a higher risk of getting it in the other breast. I would see if you can get an annual MRI. 

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  • Pure
    Pure Member Posts: 1,796
    edited April 2010

    I am getting a mammo once a year with an MRI in between. I would insist on the mri-I am surprised they are not offering that.

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  • clariceak
    clariceak Member Posts: 752
    edited April 2010

    That doesn't sound right.  I agree with others - I think the recommended protocol is alternating a mammo and mri every six months.  Is your mammo digital?

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  • LRM216
    LRM216 Member Posts: 2,115
    edited April 2010

    I am Stage 1, Grade 3 triple neg and I get a mammo and US every six months (both breasts yearly).  I question your breast surgeon - all others I know with breast cancer - at least in the first 3 years, get it every six months.  I think you need to question this.

    Linda

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  • amlg1
    amlg1 Member Posts: 596
    edited April 2010

    Thank You ladies...I have an appt. with onc. in 2 weeks,and I will see what she thinks.I do love my BS,she is chief of breast surgery.She said that mri alot of times show things,that are insignificant,and therefore many unnessary biopsies,my thoughts in my case I"d rather be safe than sorry.

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  • pupfoster1
    pupfoster1 Member Posts: 1,484
    edited April 2010

    I totally get where you are coming from Anna.  As you see I had a lot of nodes too, and neither my tumor nor the nodes showed up on my mamo just 11 months before I found the lump.  Unbelievable!  My onc says the same thing too about "unecessary" testing---false scares, unecessary radiation exposure, etc.  But it worries me that there is no other way to check for recurrance than to become symptomatic!  So as the other ladies have suggested I think I would press the issue (I had a double mx) and if your insurance won't pay for it, can you pay for it yourself---maybe work with the business office to see if they would accept the same payment they would get if insurance covered it?  Peace of mind is priceless in my opinion.

    Take care,

    Sharon

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