advocating for an MRI instead of mammography

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  • IHOP
    IHOP Member Posts: 79
    edited January 2011

    Hi, just saw your post.  It has been my experience that most insurance companies require pre-authorization for breast mri's and its seems to be almost impossible to get.  I've only had diagnostic mammograms.  So it may not be your oncologist's fault, they may just know before hand what your insurance may allow.

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  • LtotheK
    LtotheK Member Posts: 2,095
    edited January 2011

    Darlene, it's the oncologist who is throwing tacks in the road, I think it's NCI lockstep BS.  Make an exception for one, then you have to do it for all.  

    As for insurance, I'll gladly pay for the MRIs.  With deductibles, over the counter meds, and work related issues, my cancer cost me far in excess of an annual MRI.  But I don't think they just do that.  There must be legal issues with allowing patients to self-manage in that manner. 

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  • thenewme
    thenewme Member Posts: 1,611
    edited February 2011

    Hi MHP70, I was thinking about you this morning and wondering if you've had any luck yet with getting cleared for an MRI?  I hope so!  If not, can you get a second opinion?  I'm frustrated for you, but I'm hoping you've gotten a benign MRI by now to ease your mind.

    Take care!

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited February 2011

    Keep pushing for the MRI.  I would have paid for mine out of pocket if I had been given the opportunity.  With dense breast tissue, there is also increased risk of breast cancer and they cannot see it.  Many of us had very large tumors not seen on mammograms or ultrasounds.  Paddle your own canoe.

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  • susan_CNY
    susan_CNY Member Posts: 276
    edited February 2011

    I just had my yearly onco visit, have had painful mammos and biopsies since my partial mast years ago, last year had MRI after another we aren't sure mammo (the previous year had surgical biopsy, surgeon called it a lumpectomy), she has ordered a left side mammo and both breasts to have MRI since I told her absolutely no mammo to that side ever again, waiting for permission from insurance company now, all a matter of money, not health

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  • LtotheK
    LtotheK Member Posts: 2,095
    edited February 2011

    Hi everyone, an update.  My oncologist shopped out my story to a younger radiologist at the hospital, and they agree that an MRI annually is warranted.  I'm not angry, I'm frightened and saddened by how hard this was to push through.  They tried to intimidate with stories about the dye and other risks, but when pushed, came up cold with any evidence that risk outweighs benefit.  The story that they somehow magically read mammograms differently after diagnosis fell on my deaf ears.

    My issue now is, I have to wait another 6 months to get the MRI, and honestly, I'm not sure I'm comfortable with a mammogram and no ultrasound holding me for that time.  I am calling to get a second opinion.

    My take away:  it is clear something funny is up at these hospitals.  Insurance, not enough equipment--something.  And I'm not putting my life in danger just because my hospital isn't prepared to switch over to what is so obviously the new standard of care.  I did my homework.  I could find nothing at all to show that in dense-breasted women they shouldn't get MRI annually.

    Thanks for your support, all!

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  • brendaclee3
    brendaclee3 Member Posts: 119
    edited February 2011

    I just found this forum. Need some advice. My cancer was infiltrating in 1996, but after chemo for 8 months, it was gone.  I've NEVER had an MRI.  I've only been given mammograms.  Should I call an oncologist and schedule an MRI?  Should I still be under the care of an oncologist?  I've never seen one since 1996.  ~Brenda

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  • Sherryc
    Sherryc Member Posts: 5,938
    edited February 2011

    Brenda yes you should be seen at least yearly by a medical oncologist. I was told for the rest of my life.  I will be getting yearly MRI's however my MO said he does not usually order those for follow up but as he describes my breast he says they are complicated and he will not trust only a mammo for me.  Not sure what your history is but def see an oncologist.

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  • Sherryc
    Sherryc Member Posts: 5,938
    edited February 2011

    The scar tissue if for real.  I had scar tissue from my first B9 surgery 14 years ago and guess what my tumor was hidden behind the scar tissue.  Did not show on the mammo only the MRI and I could not feel it because of the scar tissue. Was chasing another breast rabbit and discovered my tumor by accident.

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  • VickiSam
    VickiSam Member Posts: 407
    edited February 2011

    MRI .. is a must.  Now getting our insurance companies to pay for this in lieu of a Mammo .. is another story!   Mri's out here in Southern California will run anywhere from $5,000.00 to 8,500.00 depending on hospital, and location.

    Talk about .. Health Care reform ...   Push Push Push for MRI's ..

    Vicki Sam 

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  • jancie
    jancie Member Posts: 2,631
    edited February 2011

    I pushed hard for an MRI and was told the insurance company wouldn't pay for it.  I then had to push even harder to have a U/S on the cancer side as I had broken my arm in 3 places up high in the shoulder area and I couldn't raise it in order to get the mammo testing.  So that was at least a 45 minute battle with the breast surgeon office and then the day of the test I had to fight again with the radiologist.  He didn't want to do an U/S - he wanted to do a mammo.  Hello....I am in so much freaking pain and I have swelling all underneath my armpit and my breast is swollen so NOOOOOO you are not compressing my left breast!

    I was told to go back ASAP and get the mammo done.  I heard the radiologist say something about U/S not picking up on calcifications.  Ok, so tell me why we go for a mammo that looks positive for cancer and the very next step is U/S???? 

    I still haven't been able to get an MRI done on that side but I see my oncologist Thursday and will talk to him. 

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited February 2011

    I have to have a blood test every year prior to my MRI (and I have no kidney issues whatsoever) and it has to be done within 30 days of the MRI. It is to check for proper kidney function, as gadolinium can cause fibrosing nephrotic syndrome. (I don't think it's very common, but the blood test is required here in NY state).

    anne

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  • Sandy105
    Sandy105 Member Posts: 216
    edited February 2011

    I just saw your post about the difficulty in getting a BS or anyone else to order an MRI. It is indeed a far better test to determine much about the health or lack thereof of our breasts.

    Getting my MRI was not easy. My husband accomplished this for me. He simply said to the BS, "If you order this MRI for my wife, we will do you a very great favor - my wife will never bother you again with any request of any type for she will be seeing a BS who is her advocate, not her enemy." 

    This particular BS is no longer my doc, but he DID order the MRI. Perhaps he ordered it "get rid of me" for I did ask a lot of questions, wanted explainations, felt I had a right to actually have a written copy of my reports (all of them) since I can also read, and most likely took more of his time than he cared to spend with a patient,

    I have a wonderful BS now who had difficulty understanding exactly why MRI's had not been ordered a long time ago because of my very high risk factor and my family history and personal breast history.

    You have to fight for this, but it is worth the fight! I agree with others who have responded - Mammy, US, MRI, and CBE are essential if you are at all considered high risk. I personally think they are all needed regardless of your risk level for each one detects things the others do not detect. This should be the standard of care for all women and we should all fight for this for our sisters.

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