Diagnosed a week ago and still in shock, dazed and confused!

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evefer
evefer Member Posts: 4
edited October 2018 in Just Diagnosed

I was diagnosed a week ago for bc IDC grade3, ER+/PR+/HER2- 48 yo, there's no cancer history with any of my family from both sides.  My family and I did a lot of crying the first few days and I am still walking like a zombie still can't believe I have cancer!! My oncologist ask me to get an MRI but I have not gotten one since I have to wait for financial aid to approve me (I am uninsured) I will be going this Thursday to meet with my doctors to discuss possible treatments.  Now I am worried that I need the MRI test before discussing my treatment.  Should I wait to see my doctor until I get an MRI, so they can have a better picture of what I should do as far as my treatment goes?  

I have been reading everything I can get to educate myself about this disease and I am so thankful I found this forum to share my journey with other people who are going through the same thing.

Thank you for reading.



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  • ElaineTherese
    ElaineTherese Member Posts: 3,328
    edited September 2018

    Hi!

    I don't know if an MRI is really necessary, though MRI's are thought to be more accurate than ultrasounds in some instances. What did your earlier imaging show? Was your tumor big (over 3 cm)? Did any lymph nodes appear to be compromised? Do you have extremely dense breasts? If you're talking about a small tumor with no apparent nodal involvement, there's no reason to get an MRI right now. However, if the surgeon wants to take a closer look before operating, ask him/her to authorize the MRI. ((Hugs))

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  • evefer
    evefer Member Posts: 4
    edited September 2018

    Hi Elaine, thanks for your reply.  My biopsy says the tumor is 1.8cm on my right breast, and not sure how to tell if lymph nodes are compromised; is there another testing for this? I don't have dense breast.  My onc says the reason for MRI is to find out if there's other tumor on the left breast.  I am at this point ready to pay $2K out of pocket to get my MRI asap, as I want to know if there's something going one on my left breast and other parts of my breast.  I am very scared of the thought of the tumor spreading elsewhere.  


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  • ElaineTherese
    ElaineTherese Member Posts: 3,328
    edited September 2018

    Hi!

    Yes, get the MRI if it will reduce your anxiety, but no, don't pay for it until you look into other possibilities for payment. A breast MRI may reveal whether or not there is cancer in the other breast, and might show whether nodes are affected. But, if you want to know whether or not your cancer has spread beyond the breast area/axillary lymph nodes, you need to get a PET scan, another expensive test. Your team wouldn't order a PET scan unless they suspected metastasis.

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  • Mombytheriver
    Mombytheriver Member Posts: 25
    edited September 2018

    sorry that you are going through this evefer. I was diagnosed in my left breast and was told to get an mri as well. They did find a completely different cancer in the right breast and it changed my treatment plan. I did have dense breasts though. Maybe call to explain the situation to your doctors office to see what they advise. Stay strong - you will get through these days and get your plan together.

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  • evefer
    evefer Member Posts: 4
    edited September 2018

    Mombytheriver, thanks for your response. I too am worried that there are something else going on the other breast.  I just can't afford MRI right now and trying to find resources to help me pay for the test.  

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited September 2018

    evefer, welcome to Breascancer.org! We're sorry you find yourself here, but we're thrilled you found us and decided to join this amazing Community!

    As you can already see, you'll get lots of support and great advice from other members here. If it helps, you can also learn more about resources for those who are uninsured at the Paying for Your Care section at the main Breastcancer.org site.

    Good luck with everything. We hope you will stay connected here and continue to let us know how you're doing!

    Best wishes,

    From the Mods

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  • star2017
    star2017 Member Posts: 827
    edited September 2018

    evefer, I’m sorry that you’re dealing with not only this disease but also payment/insurance issues. I hope things ease up soon

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  • edwards750
    edwards750 Member Posts: 3,761
    edited September 2018

    Being DX with breast cancer is tough enough without worrying about paying for treatment. My DH and have BC/BS with a $5000 deductible. We met that in 2 months. I had 33 radiation treatments which were expensive but fortunately we were at 100% coverage by the time I had to have them.

    I wish there was more focus on situations like yours and others who are dealing with the financial fallout from breast cancer. Research is important of course but so are the treatments and medications needed to survive.

    Good luck. Keep us posted.

    Diane
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  • evefer
    evefer Member Posts: 4
    edited September 2018

    Thanks so much for the warm welcome guys!  I had the best news yesterday, that I was approved for the state Medicaid thru BCCTP so I am covered 100% for my treatment.  Now I can focus more on how to fight this disease.  I will be meeting my oncologist, surgeon tomorrow so I'm trying to prepare all the questions. I can't get my MRI test until 2 weeks from today (something to do with getting pre authorization first) so not sure how/what they're going to say about my treatment. I was thinking I needed the MRI first so that the doctors will be able to discuss the best treatment for me, oh well...

    Thanks again for all the support!


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  • Sara536
    Sara536 Member Posts: 7,032
    edited September 2018

    Definitely meet with them. There will be plenty to talk about even without your MRI results. Make sure to take notes or ask if you can record. Since this is all new to you, you will have more questions the minute you walk out the door. If you are up to letting others know about this, taking someone with you to help remember what was said could be very useful. Hugsand best of luck!

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  • Sjacobs146
    Sjacobs146 Member Posts: 770
    edited September 2018

    So sorry that you find yourself here, facing a cancer diagnosis. I was also diagnosed at age 48. A complete treatment plan isn't put in place until after surgery. Your surgeon will recommend lumpectomy or mastectomy. During surgery, they'll remove some lymph nodes for testing. Then the docs will have a better picture of what's going on. This is the hardest part of the whole ordeal. I just passed my 4th cancerversary, and I am doing fine. I never has an MRI or PET scan, they're not always needed.Hugs to you and good luck.

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  • msphil
    msphil Member Posts: 1,536
    edited September 2018

    hello all going thru this trying time I just wanted to share with you some Inspiration I was 42 no history of bc in my family was planning our 2nd marriage when I found the lump working in medical field first as instrument tech in O R at local hospital 14yrs then at time diagnosis city workers clinic almost 7yrs. 3mo chemo(adriamycin cytoxin 5fu before Lmast then 3mo after we got married then 7wks rads. Praise God I am a 24yr Survivor. HOPE and Positive thinking.Stage2 0/3 nodes and 5yrs on Tamoxifen.

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  • msphil
    msphil Member Posts: 1,536
    edited September 2018

    oh this is msphil forgot to put idc body rejected the reconstruction expander removed been wearing prothesis. God Bless Us All.

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  • Runrcrb
    Runrcrb Member Posts: 577
    edited September 2018

    efever

    Sorry you’re here and glad to read you have some medical coverage. This is the worst time - lots of tests and waiting. Do not rush decisions. Ask questions and take notes. Ask until you understand. If you have some one other than family who can, bring her or him along to take notes. It’s a stressful time. Make sure you understand what’s happening before you commit to a plan. And know that test results will often alter the plan. My initial plan was lumpectomy and radiation; MRI led to more biopsies and a mastectomy. Node biopsy led to chemo. It took more than two months from diagnosis to the final plan.

    Good luck


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  • Meow13
    Meow13 Member Posts: 4,859
    edited September 2018

    Just got the bill for my routine breast MRI $2200. Your breast surgeon usually likes these screenings so they can get a better look at the extent of the lesions. My MRI before turned out right in almost every detail following my mx. That isn't always the case but helps the breast surgeon.

    My insurance is not as good as the coverage I had last year, this year I had to pay $99 toward the bill. Not bad at all. Hope you get financial help.

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