I'm a bit astonished Medicare would pay for a screening MRI every year.

When I was diagnosed in 2011 my surgeon said breast MRIs were becoming the chi-chi thing to do and I could have one if I wanted one, but it most likely wouldn't tell them anything my mammogram, ultrasound, and biopsy already told them, and it might show something that would need to be investigated that almost certainly would be nothing. Sure enough, it turned up a tiny lump in the other breast that delayed my lumpectomy and provided me a worried weekend before another ultrasound proved it was just a wonky lymph node.

But that's a different scenario than what you're describing here. An annual MRI just for screening? I'd have to have extremely dense breasts, and a lot of convincing it was worth it, before I'd agree to go through that every year. Maybe someone will come along with another perspective, but it sounds like overkill.

I always say push for what gives you the answers to have peace of mind. My doctor doesn't recommend screening MRIs for me because of all the chemo and radiation I have already been through, he doesn't want me to be exposed to more than I have to. Now, that said, if I have a concern or my bloodwork is looking wonky, he will certainly schedule one, no questions asked. I have been comfortable to this point and I know if I have a concern he will appease me when necessary.

Any one imaging procedure, whether it is US, Mammogram, MRI, PET, etc, can't give the full picture. It gives pieces and when used together can give a better idea of what is being dealt with. When imaging is done after a biopsy has already proven a diagnosis of cancer, it is generally to see if it has spread beyond the palpable lump, area of concern, or biopsy sight. I'm so glad I had one after my biopsy, because it found an internal mammary lymph node that would not have even been considered for removal at the time of my surgery because it was nowhere near my tumor site.

Jane I think your are right. If a biopsy is already scheduled why would they want to do an MRI also? Did you have one done around the time of your diagnosis? I would think that depending on the results of the biopsy the doc could recommend alternating mammo/MRI. Good luck!

I had an MRI at diagnosis and was told I would do the alternating mammo and MRI every 6 months until the BS says OK to go back to just annual mammos. I'm 2 yrs out and already had to have a biopsy this past January thanks to the MRI seeing an enhancing lesion. They do see things that mammo and ultra sound did not, especially if you have dense breasts. Thankfully I passed the bio, it was fat necrosis. I have just the diagnostic 3D mammo up next, not sure if I'm done with the MRIs yet.

My MRI was done after a needle biopsy that showed LCIS, which is usually an incidental finding and not shown on imaging, before my excisional biopsy to make sure nothing else was seen.The problem with MRIs as a separate “screening” tool (as opposed to using to correlate known findings) is that they are very sensitive, but also very nonspecific. In other words, lots of false positives, so lots of additional biopsies added.

I have an annual breast MRI which does help give me some peace of mind. My initial cancer that was diagnosed in 2007 was not seen on a mammogram. I first felt a small lump in 2005 that did not show up on the mammogram. They did ultrasounds every 6 months until one doctor decided to do a biopsy. After I got the results I went to Boston and my breast surgeon ordered an MRI which found several small tumors in the same breast. This was done prior to my mastectomy. I also have dense breasts. I know some states require insurance companies to pay for breast MRIs for patients that do have dense breast tissue. My surgeon orders it every year and I don't even have to ask. Between her and my MO I feel very comfortable with my follow up care.

Each_day_2018- MRIs do not use radiation so I don't why your doctor would not want to order it annually. However, I may have misunderstood his reasoning.

Jane - So far I haven't been allergic to the dye, but I try to put as few chemicals in my body as possible. And this one does have known side effects. My cancers were all discovered with either diagnostic mammo or ULS. I did have them confirmed with MRI, and as I said, gladly had an MRI after all treatment to make sure everything was gone.

I'm not adverse or resistant to scanning - PET, CT or MRI. My docs just never pushed "regular" MRIs, even with my HER2+ status, and I'm glad.

My medical team recommends alternating mammograms and MRIs every six months. I got a second opinion from another MO about my survivorship plan, and he agreed. I have dense breast tissue and it gives me peace of mind. The MRI I had after diagnosis but before surgery confirmed that there were no other issues that could change surgery plans.

I was diagnosed almost nine years ago, and of course, things have changed since then regarding imaging studies. My surgeon offered me an MRI, after the biopsy and before the lumpectomy, to see if there might be anything unknown going on in either breast that would affect the lumpectomy decision. As things turned out, my cancer was far more invasive than initially believed, and the MRI didn't reveal that fact.

Since I've have a double mastectomy my oncologist doesn't have me do mammograms. Yay. I have no cancer-related imaging at all, unless I have symptoms that need investigating.

I can see where regular screening MRIs could be of benefit for high risk individuals who fit specific criteria, but as MinusTwo stated, they're not risk-free.

"Since I've already HAD cancer, doesn't that put me in a high-risk group?"

Yes, but the medical community as a rule does not admit this anddownplays this risk.

Read this thread:

Topic: How common is a 2nd cancer in other breast? https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/88/topics...