dr. says MRI is too expensive

MRI's are always better than mammos.   The only thing a mammo is better for is detecting microcalicifications.  

MRI's seem to find almost everything, and considering your sister's situation, it would seem the right way to go. As far as safety goes, my MRI's had to have a dye contrast, which is a load for your liver and kidneys to process, so no test is without it's concerns.

I would probably at least have the mammogram becauase it would be your baseline to watch for things that are changing...I never avoided a mammogram because of radiation. Just my 2 cents...

I know how you are feeling about radiation. I'm under 30 and my doctor seems to be avoiding mammogram with me. She is urging an MRI and genetic testing though, even though I'm not sure if my insurance will cover either. You could always have an ultrasound although that really is not going to be the most effective screening tool for the longterm. It's certainly better than nothing if you feel very strongly about radiation. My aunt is in her 50's and only gets ultrasounds even though her sister died of BC. I think she's taking a risk at her age doing that but I think a younger person might be okay getting just ultrasounds for now. I think my aunt should at least be getting a mammogram every few years. My doctor doesn't even bring up mammogram to me and I have a rather large lump.

I think insurance is more likely to cover an MRI when you have a family history. I'd look into that before making a decision. My doctor wants me to consider that test. It frustrates me though because if my current lump shows up on MRI, she will likely do nothing further because it was already biopsied. Not sure how good of a tool it is for a pre-existing lump. We shall see. Breast exams should be pretty thorough. My doc did a thorough one the first time around but not subsequently. It's a bit nerve-racking because it seems easy to miss a spot. That's why it's important to check yourself too.

Best of luck to you!

You need to understand that statistically, if you are PRE- menopause, then the weight is not an added risk factor.  It is a statistical factor for anyone that is POST menopausal.  

There is no perfect test.  Your doctor is really following a pretty standard course suggesting a mammogram first since they are a small amount of radiation.  It really is a combination of the different tests that gives the total picture.  Yes, each type of test, including the MRI, gives a different piece of info.  Part of the problem of starting with an MRI is the false positive.  Every time you biopsy somewhere in question, you leave more scar tissue that may obscure something important down the road. the MRI however is one of the best tests we have but it is not the definitive test.  Unfortunately, we don't have any one test that is 100% accurate and 100% effective. this journey is never easy, and it does require patience.