"Not totally benign" , MRI needed...

Vbarstad, I am so sorry you're here with breast health concerns. I don't have experience with radial scar of ADH, but I do with mri. One of the reasons that mri is reserved as an imaging technology (mammo and us are first line), is that it is very sensitive (i.e. it "sees" lots of stuff in breast tissue that isn't "seen" on other types of imaging) but it isn't specific (i.e. what it "sees" is limited to bc). To help radiologists better define these findings, there are profiles or patterns of uptake and wash out of the contrast dye that are more common to b9 or malignant tissue. But the only definitive way to know would be biopsy. In your case, the best scenario would be that they don't find anything else. But they could, and it could still not be bc. That is another reason that they don't use mri on the 'front lines' (in addition to $$) is that any finding is typically biopsied, which means more anxiety and cost - even if the results turn out b9. So the odds are good that the mri will "find something" but that doesn't mean that the odds are good that it will be bc. And yes, I was diagnosed using mri (well 2 more areas were found that hadn't been seen on mammo + us). Try your best not to dwell on worst case scenarios and keep yourself busy while you're waiting, which is decidedly awful. Good luck for continued b9 results!

Vbarstad, I have my MRI on the 14th too! I hope yours goes well! I have had a benign result of a lump but then he feels that I have thickening of the breast that is separate from the lump that needs to be looked into. I see you're in Aurora, I'll be there tomorrow! I'm your state neighbor, one state over in Nebraska! Hope you hear good things next month!

Hi VBarstad,

I have been on every other year MRI screening for 6 years due to family history ( annual mammograms but dense breast tissue). Everything has been clear until yesterday. I am told I have a 4mm area in my rt breast that lights up on MRI, but they request that I repeat the MRI in 6 mos. I will talk to Dr, in am, as when he called, kids were within earshot and I couldn't ask questions). I know MRI has some false positives due to high sensitivity, but I have been six months without period, so I don 't think hormones are at play in the imaging. All anyone can do is keep seeking information and soldier on. Best of luck to you, and hugs.

Darn!! I'm still scheduled for tomorrow, I'm kind of nervous to get there. I am surprised they told you that you need to be four weeks post-biopsy, he told me that 2.5-3 weeks is fine, tomorrow I'm three weeks post. I hope it is clear, and this can get over with and I can get this lump out and move on!! So sorry that yours is still dragging on!

Vbarstad, I got news I wasn't quite ready for, actually. The MRI found one 5.5 mm mass with irregular medial margins, and one region of nonmass like enhancement that is 2.5 cm. Both are in the right breast. I'm being referred to the "best breast cancer doctor in the state," according to my surgeon, at University of Nebraska at Omaha, and I'll have an MRI guided biopsy (at this point this is speculation that the surgical oncologist will want to go this route, the other option will be an excisional biopsy, I think) and then go from there. Of course, I'm aware of the fact that eighty percent of the things that an MRI sees are benign but I'm also a little bit of a realist and I want to be prepared just in case. I really thought there would be nothing to see on the MRI so it was really upsetting to have this happen.

beachsidesunset, have you gotten a copy of your mri imaging report, or a BIRADS score? that might help us help you "be prepared".

beachside, if they "downgrade" you to a BIRADS 3, you may want to double check with your insurance company about coverage as BIRADS 4 is typically the "lowest" score for which they will reimburse a biopsy (typically, a BIRADS 3 recommendation is for 6 month follow up). Hope all goes well today at your second!

Oh good, just didn't want you to get good news quickly followed by a bill for ($$$)

you know, that is beyond my ability to give you good information. But I do think that DJMAmmo may be able to better advise you. Let me see if he's around.

I have all my appointments set up for this week, I meet with my surgical oncologist on Thursday, along with either an Ultrasound or MRI-Guided biopsy done by my new diagnostic radiologist. She is part of my team at UNMC cancer center. I assume since she is doing the imaging, she'll have a pretty good idea on Thursday when she does the testing, however, I'll have my official results on next Tuesday at 4:20. She said that if the timing (?) is correct and the images are what they look like that it is very concerning, but she said she has a policy to never trust anyone else's images over her own. If the results are cancer, I'll meet with my multidisciplinary team next Wednesday or Thursday. I don't know what she means by timing, or what she means by if the images match with the timing or whatever, but she said she'd show me when I'm there here in a few days. So I have been just trying to relax and get ready for the trip across the state!

Good to know you are in capable hands, Beachside! I get my results on Tuesday as well. The waiting is just so much hell sometimes. I'm looking for bingeable shows online currently because I have used up all my other distraction tactics. I have kept up with your thread and I'm glad you are making more progress towards a dx. Healing vibes!

Bellapam, I've been watching a lot of shows, and I recently turned to Roblox games! They're addicting, my kids got me started haha. They're six and four so they sit with me and we play them together. As far as shows, I watched Stan Versus Evil, and now we're bingeing (binging?) (the spelling just isn't right!) Midnight, TX which is pretty good, we like those kind of shows. We watched The 100 a few weeks ago, we've pretty much watched them all! I'm hoping Tuesday gets here soon for you, too, so we can get some answers!

Vbarstad, I'm sorry it's taking so long to get here, it seems like it's dragging on for me and it's not even my period! I remember how bad I hated it, I don't miss it at all. I bet its so frustrating for you that you have to wait for such an annoying time lol. I am anxious for you to get your answers too. Not too much longer. I hope that you can get it done before your birthday so you can enjoy yourself.

That would have been interesting (no doubt you would have a stronger word) to see how the surgeon would react to and explain finding nothing to excise during the lumpectomy. It is really good that you found another doctor! I called my breast clinic today, and no way would they tell me about my biopsy results, so I have to wait for Tuesday. Sigh. My biopsy was last Thursday. Thanks for the ideas, Beachside! I had forgotten about the Midnight, Texas show, and Manfred (main character) is one of my favorite supporting characters from another Charlaine Harris book series.