Confusingly in High Risk

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myg77
myg77 Member Posts: 5
edited June 2014 in High Risk for Breast Cancer

Hello ladies,

LLOOOOONNGG story shorts, my OBGYN was telling me that I am in the High Risk of having a breast cancer since my mom had it when she was in early 40's. And I had the mysterious nipple discharge when I was 30, turned out it was multiple papillomas(removed it at the time of biopsy). Then next year I had a same problem in the same breast, so my radiologist suggested me to have MRI to further investigate. Suddenly, my OBGYN changed her opinion of me being in the High Risk after hearing the result from the radiologist. It was almost like talking to insurance doctor that refused to pay a dime. My insurance refused to cover MRI(even thou it should be covered under my plan), my OBGYN refused to fight for me to have a MRI. The reason for refusing it was simply I was not in the High Risk and I'm young to have a BC. "Even thou your mom had a BC in her 40's, it doesn't mean you will get one too"  And at that time I simply just shocked to see how quickly she changed her opinion and I was busy preparing for cross country moving (CA to NY) so I was unable to obtain an approval or contest for having MRI. So...............my question is if it's not relevant, why almost all doctors is asking me if I have a family history of cancer? And why I'm again having a mass in my breast (newly found, will be checked in couple days) if it's not relevant?
I'm just confused if I'm on the High Risk.  Anyone had a same problem like that doctor change his/her medical opinion of you?

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  • farmerlucy
    farmerlucy Member Posts: 3,985
    edited April 2013

    IMHO you are high risk. I would go to full service screening facility and possibly have a consultation with a genetic counselor. I think risk over 25% is considered high risk. Not sure on that.

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  • myg77
    myg77 Member Posts: 5
    edited April 2013

    Thank you for your opinion. That's what I thought too!

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  • myg77
    myg77 Member Posts: 5
    edited April 2013

    Oh thanks, kayb. I just turned 36, am an asian-american which less risk of having BC than western/European/African-American ethnicity. But I was already having abnormalities on my both breasts when I was 30.  Like my doc said maybe I'm not considered as high risk due to my age and race, not relivent whether my family history.

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  • mkkjd60
    mkkjd60 Member Posts: 583
    edited April 2013

    Go get another breast surgeon fast!  I am 53 and my mom is 73.  She has stage iv bc.  My surgeon fought my insurance company for the yearly mri and didn't give up and she prevailed.  You need someone else on your side.  Please be vigilent.  This disease is horrendous.

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  • marie5890
    marie5890 Member Posts: 3,594
    edited April 2013

    Having abnormalities in one's breast in and of itself doesnt make a woman at high risk. 

    There are several factors. Do  you know exactly what kind of BC your mother had? 

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  • Annette47
    Annette47 Member Posts: 957
    edited April 2013

    I agree that your mother being diagnosed in and of itself doesn't raise your risk that much, but the fact that she was diagnosed at a relatively early age does (as opposed to my mother who was diagnosed at age 75).

    Now, I'm not sure how much it raises your risk and what else has to be in place to consider you high risk, but the age of diagnosis of your mother does play a role.

    Edited to add, my BS told me when I was diagnosed that my daughters should start screening 10 years before I was diagnosed, so for them they would start at 35.   Don't know whether they are considered "high" risk or not, but the age of my diagnosis does affect what recommendations are made for them.

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