Screening options, mother died aged 30

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sarahmcq
sarahmcq Member Posts: 6
edited June 2014 in High Risk for Breast Cancer

Hello everyone.

I'm 30 now (the age my mother was, I know I've left it late) and want to start screening. I scheduled a mammogram recently then cancelled after reading that the radiation in mammograms can cause BC. I don't know what to do. Would MRI and ultrasound be enough? My doctor wasn't very helpful and didn't have time for my questions. I'm also considering a prophylactic bilateral mastectomy but I've created a new topic for that.

Thanks.

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  • oropallo
    oropallo Member Posts: 12
    edited October 2013

    thermography.

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  • MelissaDallas
    MelissaDallas Member Posts: 7,268
    edited October 2013

    You need the Mammogram. It is a very small dose of radiation and does not cause cancer, alternated with MRIs. Genetic counseling too.



    Thermograms are not approved as a substitute for mammograms.

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  • sarahmcq
    sarahmcq Member Posts: 6
    edited October 2013

    Thank you both. I've never heard of thermograms.

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  • toomuch
    toomuch Member Posts: 901
    edited October 2013

    If you feel like your doctor didn't have time to discuss this with you, you need a new doctor! Shame on him/her for not discussing genetic testing with you. You might be best served by scheduling an appointment with a doctor at a comprehensive breast center. Most university hospitals have these centers. Breast surgeons will also sometimes follow women that are high risk. You will need to be your own advocate but don't rest until your questions are answered and you have a plan for surveillance or surgery!

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  • cp418
    cp418 Member Posts: 7,079
    edited October 2013

    You may also wish to consider a breast UltraSound done by Sonocine.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StP1YYlk8v0

    http://www.sonocine.com/united-states/

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  • beacon800
    beacon800 Member Posts: 922
    edited October 2013

    At your age a mammogram is unlikely to cause long term harm but it may have trouble "seeing through" your breasts if you have dense breast tissue.  Most young women have dense breast tissue.

    An ultrasound is a good idea and will detect many abnormalities.  MRI is also possible.  It finds "everything" which is good for finding cancer but often there are false positives which lead to worry and unneeded biopsies. MRI is also quite expensive.

    With a family history like yours, you should seek a genetic cancer counselor (they are often available in comprehensive cancer centers and university hospital settings) and have the doctor review your situation.  You may qualify for genetic testing which would give you alot of  information on what options are most appropriate. 

    You are wise to be proactive on this!!  Sorry you lost your mom so young.

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  • DiveCat
    DiveCat Member Posts: 968
    edited October 2013

    You get more radiation walking on the beach in a bikini for ten minutes or flying on a plane than you do in a mammogram. If you are 30 or over, there is also more benefits to mammograms (especially for high risk women) that outweigh the small radiation risk.



    In young, dense breast tissue, using both mammograms and MRIs are best. Both pick up different things and should be rotated every 6 months. Mammos are not as effective in dense tissue but can still see calcifications and so forth. Ultrasounds can be used too, but you need someone well experienced in reading them.



    Do NOT rely on thermography at all or at least not alone. They pick up heat signatures but cannot distinguish malignant from benign tissue and can only at most pick up heat changes close to the surface. They are not approved instead of mammos or MRIs and clinics have run into issues with FDA for their claims.



    Have you talked to a genetics counselor/expert yet? I assume your doctor is not a high risk/genetics expert and you really should talk to one.

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