Anyone have something show up on MRI that mammo missed?

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Khakitag
Khakitag Member Posts: 46

Hi everyone,

I started this journey just before thanksgiving, and this last week was handed my Dx of DCIS 6mm, intermediate grade, clear margins with lumpectomy. Waiting for ER/PR status. Pretty sure I'm comfortable with doing nothing but surveillance. I'm 48, and perimenopausal. Mom had stage IV breast ca at age 40 but my genetic tests came back negative. My question, after all that, is did anyone have an MRI that showed Anything the mammo missed? That's the only thing I'd feel more comfortable having before I sit on this. I've been reading that MRI Catches DCIS that mammo misses. I have an axillary lump on the opposite breast and wonder if the mammo missed something on that side.

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  • Veeder14
    Veeder14 Member Posts: 880
    edited January 2020

    yes, had mammograms yearly and no tumors showed up. Due to being BRAC2 it was suggested I get an mri to check and it found a tumor ILC. Tumor didn’t show up on ultrasound either. I don’t trust mammograms anymore.

  • Rah2464
    Rah2464 Member Posts: 1,647
    edited January 2020

    Yes, I had dense breast tissue. My tumor was not detected by Mammography or Ultrasound. Thank goodness my BS ordered an MRI. Given your family history and your personal history, I would want MRI baseline at the minimum.

  • lifeb4me
    lifeb4me Member Posts: 39
    edited January 2020

    Yes, I have had the routine follow up mammon’s and everything was clear. As I ch as need doctors this year she asked for a bone scan, an mri, and a thoracic and abdominal ct, just to have a baseline. The mri found a big lump on one of my rotter nodes which turned out to be a recurrence. It is out of the mammo field. Lucky it was found before stage IV.

  • Beesie
    Beesie Member Posts: 12,240
    edited January 2020

    Yup, my mammo had picked up two areas of calcifications that turned out to be DCIS and a microinvasion of IDC. After my surgical biopsy, which removed both those areas (but with involved margins), I had an MRI. The MRI showed a lot more high grade DCIS.

    When you say you are considering doing nothing but surveillance, does that mean passing on rads and, if hormone positive, endocrine therapy? That may not be unreasonable with a small non-high grade DCIS with clear margins, but I would advise that you have an MRI before you make that decision. Also consider that if you are hormone positive, endocrine therapy will not only reduce your risk of recurrence, but will reduce your risk to develop a new primary breast cancer in either breast. Talk to your oncologist about this risk. With your mother having been diagnosed so young and now with your own diagnosis, your risk to develop a new primary will be significantly higher than the risk of the average woman.

    And did you have full panel genetic testing or just BRCA?

  • SummerAngel
    SummerAngel Member Posts: 1,006
    edited January 2020

    Yes. The multifocal tumor in my right breast was not visible on a mammogram (I had extremely dense tissue). It was found by MRI.

  • dtad
    dtad Member Posts: 2,323
    edited January 2020

    Yes, MRI picked up a ILC tumor that the mammo and ultrasound missed. Its the best screening tool for dense breasts. I would definitely ask for a MRI. Especially since you are young and because of your moms history. Good luck and keep us posted.

  • April0315
    April0315 Member Posts: 223
    edited January 2020

    yes, mammo and US missed IDC in my right breast entirely. MRI picked that up.

    All scans and biopsies missed the ILC in my left. Those were only found after surgical biopsies.

  • Yogatyme
    Yogatyme Member Posts: 2,349
    edited January 2020

    I had a fibroadenoma in one breast and small tumor in the other and neither showed up on mammogram (even a week before breast surgery) but both showed up on my first MRI. I am BRCA1+ so was doing close monitoring of breast health. I agree with those who have encouraged you to get an MRI given your moms hx.

  • Khakitag
    Khakitag Member Posts: 46
    edited January 2020

    I’m so fearful of SE of tamoxifen. I have uterine polyps and had a uterine ablation in Dec for abnormal bleeding. Fearful of the increased uterine ca risk with tamoxifen. Yes, I had the full genetic screening panel. I had one VUS but it was a gene my doctor wasn’t familiar with. After my lumpectomy incision heals, I will ask for the MRI. I’ll feel much better if that’s all clear. I have extremely dense breasts and just have a feeling that something is being missed.

  • MinusTwo
    MinusTwo Member Posts: 16,634
    edited January 2020

    Actually Khakitag - you didn't mention an ultrasound. Those are usually done after the mammo & often pick up things the mammo doesn't see. But yes - you should definitely request an MRI, even if you have an ULS that doesn't show problems.

  • Khakitag
    Khakitag Member Posts: 46
    edited January 2020

    I did have an US Inbetween my screening and Dx mammo. It didn’t show anything. I think I’d rather skip straight to the definitive test so I can rest easy finally, after two months of waiting.

  • MinusTwo
    MinusTwo Member Posts: 16,634
    edited January 2020

    Good plan. Hope your insurance agrees. Let us know.

  • ctmbsikia
    ctmbsikia Member Posts: 1,095
    edited January 2020

    I agree it's good to have MRI if for nothing more than a baseline for you. Hope all is well and clear now.

  • Falconer
    Falconer Member Posts: 1,192
    edited January 2020
  • FarAwayToo
    FarAwayToo Member Posts: 255
    edited January 2020

    Yes. I had a lump in my right breast, had mammo, US, biopsy and it was confirmed to be IDC (or maybe ILC, we actually don't know for sure).

    Right before starting treatment, I had an MRI that found DCIS in my left breast. I had biopsy (MRI guided, since mammo didn't see anything in my left breast). Moreover, I had multifocal DCIS - two regions in the left breast. Both Grade 1, so not aggressive, but, if left untreated, they would probably progress to invasive cancer eventually (considering I was 40 at DX). I'm glad I had the MRI. This guided my decision to have BMX.

  • Khakitag
    Khakitag Member Posts: 46
    edited January 2020

    this is my fear, that something is lurking in my right breast that mammo didn’t catch. Thanks for the info.

  • UpstateNYer
    UpstateNYer Member Posts: 387
    edited January 2020

    yes, like summerangel, I also had a smaller tumor of 7mm detected by MRI not seen on mammogram or us. It was 6mm away from the 13mm tumor that was found on my mammogram. Hoping your insurance will pay for the MRI. Best of luck to you.

  • voraciousreader
    voraciousreader Member Posts: 7,496
    edited January 2020

    first off..i had palpable mass that mammography missed for three years. Sonogram saw it but it was misidentified as a cyst. Finally, astute radiologist said, “That sucker on sonogram looks like cancer, let’s biopsy it.” And...the rest is history. Sent for baseline MRI and a “drop” of DCIS was found. So yes, MRI picks up more things especially if you have dense breasts.


    uterine polyps? I had a gazillion of them. Lost track of the number of D&Cs that I had. Used to joke that I got more D&Cs for uterine polyps than teeth cleanings...was tearing my hair out! Was contemplating a hysterectomy which thankfully the doctors talked me out of. Did 3 years of Tamoxifen and ovarian suppression. Still got the polyps after I started doing an AI. Finally, polyps quieted down. The one thing that my gyno was concerned about was uterine thickening and an ablation fixed that problem. I would strongly recommend a baseline trans vaginal ultrasound and then discuss ovarian suppression and an AI based on the SOFT and TEXT trials...that said, as long as your team has a uterus surveillance protocal, Tamoxifen is also doable.

    Any doubts, have your case presented to a tumor board and let them advise you. The fact your mom had a stage iv breast cancer diagnosis at a young age requires that no stone go unturned. Genetic testing, imaging, and opinions from many specialists is key to your future care.


    good luck

  • ps0705
    ps0705 Member Posts: 122
    edited January 2020

    My story is not typical but I had grade 3 DCIS, ER/PR-, 1.5 cm which did NOT show on MRI. It was seen on mammogram. I was floored that it didn't show on mammogram but that was clear. Did a bilateral mastectomy and now, 2 years and 1 month later looks like a recurrence. I have 2 areas scheduled for biopsy in the same breast. I've followed every recommendation and even exercise 4-5 times a week. Do what you can to advocate for your health.

  • Khakitag
    Khakitag Member Posts: 46
    edited January 2020

    so sorry. What a stinker, to have a recurrence after BMX. Hopefully it just a scare. I’m alittle confused about your post. The MRI found it, or the Mammo?

  • ps0705
    ps0705 Member Posts: 122
    edited January 2020

    The mammogram found the original DCIS (1.5 cm) but it didn't show on MRI.

  • Momgr5
    Momgr5 Member Posts: 20
    edited June 2020

    I had DCIS stage 0 grade 3. left breast. Had surgery in January with lumpectomy followed by radiation and now on tamoxifen. I was told if they had not done a 3D mammogram they would not have detected it. There was no mass with monthly checks nor my yearly Dr. appointment. Many insurance companies will not pay for 3D which is crazy. I have told all my friends to pay the extra money to have the 3D if insurance refuses to cover.

  • Tmh0921
    Tmh0921 Member Posts: 714
    edited June 2020

    At my first diagnosis, mammogram didn't pick up my tumor (even though it was palpable) but ultrasound did. I had dense breast tissue.

    In 2018, a mammogram and US found what was determined by core needle and excisional biopsies to be DCIS, however, I really feel that they missed IDC deeper in my breast - in 2019 3D mammogram, US, and MRI identified what was thought to be a 1.9 cm tumor, but ended up being a 3.2cm IDC and 2.4cm of DCIS.

    I don’t think any imaging is perfect unfortunately

  • janeheg
    janeheg Member Posts: 5
    edited June 2020

    I had a double mastectomy and reconstruction on June 8, 2020. A small spot showed up on the left side on a mammogram and ultrasound. An MRI showed the spot to actually be 5 times larger than the previous tests and it also showed 5 spots on the right side that did not appear on anything earlier!! Thank goodness for that MRI. 6 biopsies later they determined that I had all kinds of abnormal cells in both breasts so I opted for the mastectomies. The pathology report after surgery showed that I actually had malignant cells on both sides already. I am 100% cured. HAVE THE MRI!

  • MinusTwo
    MinusTwo Member Posts: 16,634
    edited June 2020

    Jane - there is no 100% cured. But I'm glad to hear that you are NED (no evidence of disease)

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