Is a Mammogram needed after BMX for DCIS??

Did you have reconstruction?  If so, what kind?  Are you seeing an oncologist?  My BS also said that I will need no imaging at all.  I just got the standard reminder card from radiology reminding me that it's time for my annual mammogram.  I asked them to take me off the list! I had flap reconstruction and there is no way they are squeezing these babies.  

Leesamarie, I had a single MX with implant reconstruction.  For years I never had a mammo done on the reconstruction side but the last time I went in for my annual mammo for my natural breast, the tech told me that they were now doing mammos on implant reconstructed breasts. Since my doctor hadn't ordered a mammo for the reconstruction side, she gave me the choice on whether I wanted it done or not.  I decided "why not?" but I reserved the right to stop it if it got painful. I was curious more than anything about how it would be done and whether it would hurt. It turned out to be perfectly fine, no pain and I feel good that I was checked. 

So are mammos necessary after a BMX?  I think most docs would say no but there have been a few women who've come through this board who've had them done.  Now that I've had one and it turned out to be so easy, I plan to continue to have them. 

At one of my last appointments with ps he told me to have a mammogram after 1 year then every two years after that. I assumed that was to check for ruptured silicone implants. I too am paranoid about any squeezing that a mammogram might do.

I had BMX with silicone implants - no recommendation for mammograms.

I hope folks are still reading posts for this topic.

I wanted to comment on something in one of Leesamarie's posts: an MRI is able to show DCIS - or at least enough of something that would warrant a biopsy.

In November, my mammogram showed some calcification in the right breast. They biopsied the spot and I was diagnosed with LCIS. Because I had dense breasts, the doc ordered an MRI to make sure they weren't missing anything. The right breast showed the same thing as the mammogram. The left breast, however, showed a spot that was not on the mammogram. This spot was also biopsied. Ten days after my LCIS diagnosis I was diagnosed with DCIS in my left breast. Ultimately, I had a BMX in January.

I've asked my doctors about whether I still need my annual mammogram. I'm getting mixed recommendations.

My breast doc and primary care doc suggest that an annual mammogram would be a good thing to get, since I still have breast tissue - even if it's just a minuscule amount. My BS and oncologist say that it's not necessary. I have not yet asked my PS.

My PS did tell me that the FDA recommends MRIs every 3 years to check the integrity of the implants. I would assume that this would show something.

My BS said that I would see her annually in lieu of getting my mammogram. I'm not sure how her pallpating me would allow her to detect something. I'm leaning towards getting a mammogram, if only to give me peace of mind.

The breast clinic I go to has mammography equipment specifically for reconstructed breasts. I don't believe this type of mammogram squishes the breast. It will be a nice change to have a mammogram that doesn't hurt!