Should I ask for MRI?

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Kat_in_Texas
Kat_in_Texas Member Posts: 12
edited June 2014 in Second or Third Breast Cancer

Not quite sure where to post this question, but you ladies have had experience with this so I thought I'd ask you.

I was dx'ed with DCIS in left breast in July 06, lumpectomy in Aug 06 and had 33 rads in Oct/Nov.  Had follow-up mammo in Feb on left breast only, all clear.  Fast forward to Sep 07, annual visit with gyno, he felt suspicious lumps in BOTH breasts and ordered mammo (time for another follow-up anyway) which will happen this week.  He ordered bilateral diagnostic mammo with ultrasound but did not mention MRI.

I have extremely lumpy fibrocystic breasts (always have).  Should I insist on an MRI if mammo doesn't show anything?  Or just be thankful that mammo is clear and wait another six months for next follow-up?

Thanks for any input.

Kathy

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  • Calico
    Calico Member Posts: 1,108
    edited September 2007

    Kathy,

    I would ask for a MRI just to be sure, especially since you have a history of DCIS and dense breasts.

    Neither my DCIS was visible on ultrasound and my IDC was not on the mammo.....

    Hope it turns out to be nothing but having these diagnostic tools avalable, why not using them.

    God Bless

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited September 2007

    I could be wrong, but I thought that it was now recommended (ACS? ACOSOG?) that an MRI be done yearly for all women at high risk, including those with a history of BC. I'd ask for the MRI if I were you. If you don't, you'll probably just worry yourself crazy.

    ~Marin

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  • anita15
    anita15 Member Posts: 3
    edited October 2007

    yes yes yes...i had clear mammos forever and even my last one...right before they found a tumor - almost 9cm- lobular cancer which only shows up on a mri.....if you're over 45 insist on one....i tell all my friends now and one did find a small lobular - lucky enough to just have a lumpectomy and rads - me i had a mastectomy, chemo, the works...so be good to yourself....good luck, a

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  • nosurrender
    nosurrender Member Posts: 2,019
    edited October 2007

    YES!!!!!

    Get the MRI!!!!!!

    Wish I could tatoo that on my forehead!

    ((good luck)) 

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  • avasmom
    avasmom Member Posts: 26
    edited October 2007

    YES, get the MRI.  I am guessing that even if the Mammo does not show anything they will want to do one if there is a lump being felt.  Also, Marin is correct...they typically do an annual MRI for high risk (such as previous dx) patients.  I had my annual one last spring and something slightly suspicious showed so I am going in for another one this month (6 month re-check). 

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  • Carolina59
    Carolina59 Member Posts: 232
    edited October 2007

    Yes, yes, yes! I was diagnosed with IDC in right breast (core needle biopsy). Left breast clear on mammo and u/s. However, as a precaution, dr. sent me for breast MRI (both breasts). MRI showed 2 suspicious spots in left breast. Sent back for a targeted u/s. Nothing seen. So then sent for MRI-guided biopsy of left breast: one spot benign, one spot DCIS. Had bilateral mastectomy and turns out there were multiple DCIS in left breast, which were not picked up by mammo, u/s, or MRI.

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