Breast MRI - High Risk Patient - Biopsy & Xtra Tests Needed

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lwallyn21
lwallyn21 Member Posts: 9
edited January 2018 in Waiting for Test Results

My mother passed away at age 50 from Triple Negative Breast Cancer. I am 29 and am a high risk patient who is now enrolled in breast MRI/3D Mammograms every 6 months. I had a breast MRI on Wednesday and the report was just posted. I have two areas of concern. Both are in the right breast. One is a subthreshold linear non masslike enhancement which "could be related to the asymmetric background enhancement." The second is a clumped non masslike enhancement with minimal progressive kinetics. Each breast has heterogeneous fibroglandular breast tissue with mild background physiological parenchymal enhancement. BI-RADS category 4. I am scheduled to have an ultrasound, mammogram, and biopsy on Friday. I will get the results next Thursday. I have a ten month old baby girl and I need to be around for her. I'm absolutely panicking.

I know that MRIs are sensitive and the nurse on the phone said that it was 'just an abnormal area and it could just be overlapping breast tissue but they can't know for sure until it's biopsied'.

Does anyone have experience with this?

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  • lwallyn21
    lwallyn21 Member Posts: 9
    edited January 2018

    I had a 3D mammogram and ultrasound on Friday. Both tests didn’t see anything. I have heterogeneously dense breast tissue so I’m not sure if the tests would have seen through that. The doctor seemed reassured and that I would get an MRI guided biopsy because of my family history. She said that 80% of biopsies are benign and that it could just be ‘me’ but they don't have anything to compare it to. She said it could even be gone because that’s how often breasts change. My biopsy is the 18th and results the 23rd. I’m still losing my mind. Does anyone have knowledge of this

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  • Veeder14
    Veeder14 Member Posts: 880
    edited January 2018

    Hi Iwallyn21,

    Nice to meet you, sorry you need to be here. So both 3-D Mammogram and Ultrasound didn't show anything and the doctor wants to do a biopsy?? What happened to me was I had a breast MRI which showed a small mass. Then I had an ultrasound that didn't see the mass. So next I had an MRI biopsy which showed a 5 mm mass, was tested and diagnosed as Invasive Lobular. The only thing they had to compare it with was my MRI from last year but even if there were no other films to compare they would still try and find out what is going on.

    Doing a biopsy just because your high risk without anything to target? I'm also high risk but the doctor only suggested continued imaging until the mass was seen. Maybe I don't understand but it seems a biopsy is targeting something seen or felt.

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  • momto3sons
    momto3sons Member Posts: 311
    edited January 2018

    I had a 3D diagnostic mammogram and u/s on 12/19, and was referred to a breast surgeon due to architectural distortion that showed up on the mammogram (u/s didn't show anything). The radiologist recommended a biopsy, but the doctor can't feel anything in the general area of concern so I've been referred for a breast MRI. My doctor said it would be very challenging to do a biopsy when they don't know exactly where the issue lies.

    I also have heterogeneously dense breasts, so we're hoping insurance will cover the MRI.

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  • missalyssa
    missalyssa Member Posts: 1
    edited January 2018

    That's interesting. I did a 3D last week and it suggested there could be focal masses or cysts. They scheduled me for both a diagnostic mammo and an ultrasound today. Did another 3D. Nothing was found on the mammogram. Apparently, I have heterogeneously dense breasts also so the radiologist was concerned that the spot that he was seeing could be something, however, it turns out that the area is just more dense than the rest of the breast. They showed me layer by layer how he looked at the area to make sure nothing was hiding behind there. They ended up cancelling the ultrasound. I also have a family history of breast cancer. So I say all that to say that there very well could be nothing there. It may just be a matter of how the doctor is choosing to proceed with your care. Hope that helps! Wishing you all the best!

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  • Veeder14
    Veeder14 Member Posts: 880
    edited January 2018

    I hope your insurance covers the breast MRI. My report said no architectural distortion although I don't know what it is. I hope it's nothing but worth getting the images. Yes, my mass was small and they had a hard time doing the biopsy even though it could be seen.

    I have bad back and neck problems so the MRI (on your stomach) was really an uncomfortable position for me. Have you ever been in an MRI machine? I found out after the first breast one not to eat or drink very much because your lying right on your stomach, and the plastic frame is right against your upper rib cage.


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  • lwallyn21
    lwallyn21 Member Posts: 9
    edited January 2018

    I have a non masslike enhancement which was seen onMRI.

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  • lwallyn21
    lwallyn21 Member Posts: 9
    edited January 2018

    Veeder,


    I have a non masslike enhancement that was seen on MRI. You must not have read my first post

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  • lwallyn21
    lwallyn21 Member Posts: 9
    edited January 2018

    momto3sons,


    Can they do an MRI guided biopsy if they see it in the MRI

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  • lwallyn21
    lwallyn21 Member Posts: 9
    edited January 2018

    Thank you so much, MissAlyssa!

    It’s so reassuring to hear positive feedback!

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  • momto3sons
    momto3sons Member Posts: 311
    edited January 2018

    Hi lwallyn - that's my hope! Right now it's been 10 days and still no insurance approval. I think they're still with the medical review panel. I have a feeling my insurance is going to deny the MRI.

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  • momto3sons
    momto3sons Member Posts: 311
    edited January 2018

    I'm shocked - my MRI was approved by insurance! So I have the MRI with contrast coming up on 1/18.

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  • lwallyn21
    lwallyn21 Member Posts: 9
    edited January 2018

    That’s such great news!! It’s so important to make sure that everything is okay! Even if it’s ntoging, you just need to know! So that is so great to hear! Good luck, keep us all posted!!

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  • momto3sons
    momto3sons Member Posts: 311
    edited January 2018

    Thanks! It'll just be good to get a better idea of exactly what's going on.


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