One diagnostic test too many??

SydSyd · March 2011

My sister (DCIS high grade comedo necrosis+triple negative - recent lumpectomy - re-excision this Friday) has had a lot of mammograms, MRIs and ultrasounds since her diagnosis in early Feb. Now she is worried about her other breast which has a benign fibroadenamatoid in it. This has been examined before and regualrly and biopsied. She had a mammo on this breast in July and yesterday - at her own urging - the doctor did another and is now suggesting that she have a compressed mammo done today. I don't think it is because she sees anything in particular. The second opinion doctor did not suggest looking at the other breast again after the recent breast MRI.

I am concerned that she is getting over-tested and will from now on in and is laying herself open to more.

She has dense breasts - nodular breasts - so every time she sees a new doctor they are alarmed when they first feel them which scares the hell out of her. They often recommend more testing.

Any thoughts? thanks, SydSyd

redsox · March 2011

I think it is up to your sister to do what she needs to in order to be comfortable with her decisions.

dlb823 · March 2011

Hi, Syd ~ Yes, I think this is one area where she really needs to take control and ask, "Why do I need this, especially since I just had an MRI last month?" Unfortunately, once we have a bc dx, any doctor with whom we come in contact will feel the additional pressure not to miss anything -- both for our sake, and their own.

There have also been rare stories of what sound like unscrupulous breast centers continually doing the maximum number of tests allowed by insurance. Not that this is in any way what's going on here, but your sister absolutely should question the need for another mammo so soon after an MRI. Deanna

One diagnostic test too many??

Comments

Categories