MRI & Mammogram.
I have a mammogram and MRI each year. My insurance covers it because I have been medically categorized as “high risk”.

I am “high risk” because: (1) I have very large (G/DDDD), very dense breasts, (2) I had a family history genetics study done, which is heavy in breast and related cancers, (3) in 2010, I had an ALH pre-cancer which increases breast cancer risk. Genetics actually led the charge in getting me categorized as “high risk”.

I am 63 yrs old, and just diagnosed with two breast cancers in left breast. My routine mammogram found a DCIS (Stage 0). During my ‘second opinion’ visit at Mayo Clinic, an Invasive Cancer (Stage 1A) was found via MRI. Grateful to Mayo for finding the second cancer. (Undergoing TC Chemo right now, then surgery. Lumpectomy/Radiation or Double Mastectomy yet undecided.)

Anyway, through this, I was advised that, in general:
- Mammogram best detects non-invasive. My DCIS (indicated by calcifications) is visible by mammogram; the small Invasive mass is not visible.
- MRI is best at detecting Invasive. My small Invasive mass is visible via MRI; my DCIS (calcifications) are not.

Perhaps the above is particularly true with large, dense breasts. Hope this helps. Love and luck to all in this journey. ❤️

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