MRI Question

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Deborra67
Deborra67 Member Posts: 24
edited November 2021 in ILC (Invasive Lobular Carcinoma)

Checking in to see what the ILC folks think... What I know so far is grade 2 ILC estimated to be about 3cm in the right breast, and I have surgery for a partial mx (surgeon doesn't call it a lumpectomy?) on 11/18. It's easy to see the cancer on the ultrasound, not so much on the mammogram - but mammogram is how it was found. I met with the surgeon 2 days ago, and I can't get past not having an MRI to do a double-check the breast with cancer, but also the left.

I do believe her statistics... that given the location, that she can palpate what's there.. and it was not visible on my mammogram from Feb 2020.. so on & so forth - but I keep tripping over the what if we could see something else via the MRI. She cited false positives without new information being the reason we would not do an MRI before surgery.

Any thoughts on this, from your experience? Thank you!

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  • ctmbsikia
    ctmbsikia Member Posts: 1,095
    edited October 2021

    Hi. So sorry that you find yourself here. MRI's post diagnosis and pre surgery are an optional recommendation. At least last guidelines I know of. Do you have dense breasts? If so, that's when they usually recommend one. I think you will find most of us here did have MRIs, but there are quite a few that did not. I had one probably because there were no other images of my breasts before I showed up with a lump. They are very sensitive. I had 2 biopsy's on my right side before surgery, an also an excisional biopsy at surgery. Out of the 3, 1 was benign and the other 2 is how they found my LCIS. That breast has been fine since.

    With your surgery coming up, your pathology will determine treatment, and that may include possibly alternating Mammo/Mri . as your follow ups.

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  • TXLorelei
    TXLorelei Member Posts: 85
    edited October 2021

    My surgeon sent me for an MRI because she wanted a “better look" before operating due to the ILC.

    In my case, the MRI showed “multiple" enlarged lymph nodes and a possible second tumor that hadn't been seen on the mammogram. And it still didn't pick up everything - everyone was surprised after the surgical pathology report. But everyone is different.

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  • Deborra67
    Deborra67 Member Posts: 24
    edited October 2021

    Thanks for your input, for density.. heterogeneously dense.. is that the right term? She referenced that and said that because they weren't 100% dense, we can see what's needed on a mammogram.

    I'm leaning towards asking for the MRI, for my own peace of mind.

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  • momand2kids
    momand2kids Member Posts: 1,508
    edited October 2021

    My surgeon insisted on an MRI before we even did the lumpectomy-she wanted to know everything- there was nothing there-but it gave her peace of mind. Because my bc was not picked up on a mammo- I had MRI's annually for many years- and now do one every other year. I think asking for it makes sense.

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  • LillyIsHere
    LillyIsHere Member Posts: 830
    edited October 2021

    My MRI didn't catch everything. I had MRI before surgery and I had 3 biopsies and was recommended for a few more. This made me decide to have BMX. The pathology report showed LCIS all over both breasts, ILC, and 2 out of 5 nodes positive that didn't show up in MRI. ILC is sneaky, can show or not in MRI.

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  • Cowgirl13
    Cowgirl13 Member Posts: 1,936
    edited October 2021

    Deborra, I would definitely get a second opinion.

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  • Deborra67
    Deborra67 Member Posts: 24
    edited October 2021

    Really grateful I posted this question, ended up calling the surgeon's office yesterday and they are ordering the MRI for me as requested. There were just too many of you where I've read something additional was caught - seems worth the possibility that we will have to do additional biopsies that turn out to be negative.

    In fact.. I think I'm going to look at this as positive news no matter how it turns out. It either catches more, which thank goodness we did before surgery - or the right breast is all that's there... Will let you know how it comes out. Hoping I can get scheduled quickly, I still have just under 3 weeks before surgery.

    Deborra

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  • ctmbsikia
    ctmbsikia Member Posts: 1,095
    edited October 2021

    Good for you! Let us know how it goes.

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  • Deborra67
    Deborra67 Member Posts: 24
    edited November 2021

    So grateful for your suggestions here, I did indeed request an MRI but had to push just a bit to make it happen. I'm super glad I did, even though it's sent me for another round of biopsy and waiting - although everything is being pushed through quickly. Left breast looks clear on the MRI (YES!), but there is a larger area of 'concern' on the right breast, 5.2 x 2.1 cm. Biopsy was yesterday, and we might have pathology back as quickly as late Wednesday, which is actually the day of my pre-op appointment...

    I was scheduled on 11/18 for a partial mx followed by radiation and then whatever else the MO decides.. but I'm guessing this might change things. I'm so glad we are checking it out before surgery, but so NOT glad there is probably more. It's hard not to go spinning, but I'm working on that. We will know soon enough.

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  • Deborra67
    Deborra67 Member Posts: 24
    edited November 2021

    2nd larger area came back benign. YES! First good piece of good news (and that's REALLY good news) since all this happened. Onward with surgery....

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  • choochoobella
    choochoobella Member Posts: 43
    edited November 2021

    Deborra,

    I'm so glad you pushed for the MRi. I'm also thrilled with your recent news that the second area was benign. Woo-hoo!!!

    Only one tumor was seen on my mammogram and the biopsy showed it was ILC. My breast cancer surgeon said she would definitely order an MRI of both breasts before surgery if I wanted a lumpectomy. She wanted a clearer idea of what we were dealing with due to the 20% risk that ILC could be in both breasts. I chose to have a bilateral mastectomy.

    I am an anxious person and I didn't want all the monitoring that would have to be done if breast conserving surgery was done. In my case, I ended up having 4 ILC tumors in my left breast and 5 in my right. The only tumor the mammogram picked up on was a 1.9 cm tumor in my left breast, but there was a 1.8 cm tumor in my right breast.

    Anyway, I am proud of you for pushing for the MRI. More information is always better.

    All the best to you for a quick recovery from surgery!

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  • Deborra67
    Deborra67 Member Posts: 24
    edited November 2021

    choochoobella,

    THANK you for your encouraging post; I really needed to hear somebody say "good-on-ya" for asking for the MRI. I truly do know it was the right thing to do, but it has thrown a new wrinkle into my surgery week. The evening I had the biopsy, the bruising started to come up and it filled in a circular area the size of an orange with bright angry red. When I went for my pre-op last Wednesday, it was decided that they would need to check me again tomorrow (Tuesday) before giving the go-ahead for my surgery on Thursday. Who knew.. but I am STILL glad I checked, I keep reminding myself of that. It would have been a real mind game to not know for sure.

    There is a small hematoma in there as well, but to my eyes it's gotten so much better over the week. I've already waited over 3 weeks to get this cancer out, and I am pretty much on my knees praying we are a go for Thursday.

    Reading your message, thank goodness you also took that closer look with the MRI, and like you said - now no more monitoring! Did they pick up all of the additional tumors in the MRI, or not until surgery?

    Take care, and have a good week!

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  • choochoobella
    choochoobella Member Posts: 43
    edited November 2021

    Deborrah,

    Let me shout "good-on-ya" so you realize what a smart move you made in insisting on the MRI. I'm sorry that the last biopsy caused swelling and a hematoma. I sure hope that doesn't push back your surgery date, but I very much doubt that it will. Could a little ice tonight (no more than 15 minutes) help bring the swelling down? I'm sending lots of good karma that you get the surgery go-ahead when you are examined tomorrow.

    Since I opted for a bilateral mastectomy, I didn't have an MRI before surgery. My boobs were thoroughly sliced and diced in the pathology lab after they were removed and the resulting pathology report is how I know all the information about what was found. My surgeon removed the sentinel node in my left armpit and it was clear. I've been on Femara for over 8 years and tolerate it pretty well.

    Here's hoping you definitely get the go-ahead tomorrow and that the surgery goes as smoothly as possible on Thursday.

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  • Deborra67
    Deborra67 Member Posts: 24
    edited November 2021

    Thanks again, and now that makes sense why you did not have the MRI.. crazy they found so much when doing pathology!

    Had a good appointment today, surgeon is confident she can get the margins she needs and still avoid the hematoma that resulted from the most recent biopsy. So, all a GO for Thursday surgery, so glad.

    Take care, and have a great rest of your week

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  • Viqueen2
    Viqueen2 Member Posts: 1
    edited November 2021

    Be sure and let us know how it all goes. I'll definitely be following your journey.

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  • Deborra67
    Deborra67 Member Posts: 24
    edited November 2021

    Hello,

    Surgery went really well, am grateful for that, didn't have trouble with the hematoma and I'm keeping on top of pain without too much trouble. I had a shoulder repair early this year, and that was truly an experience.. I have a lot more mobility with this recovery. Lymph nodes removed and some reconstruction was done, nothing with the healthy breast just yet. I know shape & size can still change once radiation gets going.

    I didn't know I was going to pee bright blue from the lymph dye.. that was entertaining

    Appointments start next week but for now, just taking it easy. My dad is very sick with covid and was admitted to the hospital earlier in the week. It really feels like I don't even have the brain space to be a cancer patient right now.. so I'm in one day at a time mode while we wait to hear about dad.

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