What type of screening do you have?

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Houndmommy
Houndmommy Member Posts: 377
edited June 2014 in High Risk for Breast Cancer

I am a 2 year BC survivor.  I had a unilateral mx (and very much regret not having a bmx!).  The only screening I have done on my remaining breast is a yearly mammo.  I feel like they should be doing more, especially since I had lobular which didn't show up on the mammo. My understanding is that it can show up in the other breast.  Unfrotunately, I didn't know about the lobular until after the mx, otherwise I would have gone through with the bmx at that time.  I've discussed having a mammo and US but my breast center says they don't do US unless thye see something on the mammo.  I'm wondering if I should fight for an MRI, but worry about all of the false positives.  Just curious as to what others are haivng done.  I have an appt. to speak with a radiologist tomorrow.  I feel like I'm having to fight everyone to get what I might need.  Unfortunatley I don't fully trust that my breast center and doctors are up on the research.  I'm not sure how hard I should push for testing.  Thanks for your input!

Kim

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  • sewingnut
    sewingnut Member Posts: 1,129
    edited May 2012

    I have my Dr write for a diagnostic mammo with ultrasound. That way even if they dont see anything on the mammo they also US. Haven't had any problem with the insurance rejecting the claim.

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  • Houndmommy
    Houndmommy Member Posts: 377
    edited May 2012

    So when they do the US, do they just US the entire breast?  My breast center says they only do US when the mammo shows something - they don't do the entire breast.  This just baffles me because of all the research stating that mammo with US are better, especially if you have dense breasts.

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  • sewingnut
    sewingnut Member Posts: 1,129
    edited May 2012

    They do the entire breast(s). They have an order that says US. My radiologist was happy that I stood my ground and demanded both. It saved my life. I have density issues and sometimes lumps and bumps are felt and other times not. In my case they were "watching" for changes. Well it changed to IDC but because it didnt change size they werent concerned until I became insistant on further testing. Through all this I learned YOU have to be your own advocate.

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  • Houndmommy
    Houndmommy Member Posts: 377
    edited May 2012

    Thank you - very helpful.  They made me feel like I was crazy that I wanted a full breast US.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited May 2012

    I think it's great that you are advocating for yourself and also encourage you to push for more.

    I started a thread a while back that was basically asking "How was your BC found...you or a Dr".  It was surprising how many found their BC only a few months after a "clean" mammogram".   I don't want to scare you...because statistics are still on your side that your remaining breast will stay cancer free... but you should not be made to feel crazy for insisting on more testing.

    I had very dense breasts and this is one of the reasons I opted for the BMX even though only one side had cancer.  

    I hope you are able to convince your doc for more testing! :) 

    ~ Susan 

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  • Natters
    Natters Member Posts: 361
    edited May 2012

    I have very dense breasts and I've never had a Mammo without an US! I actually thought that was normal - did not know any different. I think I'm going to have a diagnostic mammo with US every year from now on, or at least over the next 5 years. My BS said that MRIs are not great at showing calcifications, so they would probably not recommend regular MRI unless something concerning shows up on the mammo/US. I had an MRI last June and it didn't show anything new,

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  • jenlee
    jenlee Member Posts: 504
    edited May 2012

    Houndmommy, I would be very insistent.  There are SO many women here who had negative mammograms and were later diagnosed with BC.  I go to a small breast center and I went on my own for an US after every two chemo cycles.  And yes, they usually do the whole breast.  I even ask for the same US tech every time.  I didn't ask the surgeon or oncologist's permission and no one has questioned me.  My insurance pays for it because it's not a scan (which has to be pre-approved) and I like it because it's not radiation. 

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  • KatMJ
    KatMJ Member Posts: 75
    edited May 2012

    I don't have breast cancer.  Very dense cystic breasts.

    They want to do mammo, US and MRI yearly on me.  Not 6 months since they feel they can get a better picture of changes with doing them all at the same time.  This is what the breast center wants to do.

    The surgical oncologist who overseas my case doesn't want me to have the MRI yearly.  He is afraid that medical science might find out getting that many MRI's is too much.  Also that my insurance might get tired of coughing up the cash.

    For me...I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place since I'm so hard to screen and I have aunts who have died of BC on both sides of my family.  My mom is ok (I don't have sisters or children).  I wish there was a better way to screen dense active breasts!!

    I say...fight for what you feel is right.  Maybe your insurance will cover having the other breast done if in the end that is what you wanted.  One family member (not blood relative) felt that way too...she was sorry she didn't get both done.  Yes, she ended up with BC again.  Not to scare you but just stating what happend with her (also...she did live to 96 before it took her so she had a long happy life)

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