Detecting cancer in women with dense breasts: MRI?

I’m 48 and have always been “deemed” as having heterogeneous breasts. I haven’t missed a year. They would only do ultrasound and 3D mammogram . Two biopsy as well.
Over the 8 years… multiple call backs. This year…they cleared my left breast but told me my right breast had cancer. My faith was really never with them. I decided to go to a bigger city an hour away to speak to breast surgeon. They ran their tests which were an mri and cat scan. They found cancer in my left breast and it was a bigger size then the right. I’m not blaming the radiologist. We just need them to give us MRIs to begin with. I’m thankful that it’s stage 1. It still blows my mind that I was cleared on one. I’m having DMX on 4/19 and I will fight every year for a MRI to check the areas around the breasts, underarms and chest wall. What’s scary is the thought they would have cleared both breasts.

Sure do. For years I went to a facility that did not have 3-D imaging. I noticed he did ultrasounds after every study (annually). The explanation was because I had "dense" breasts. The last time I was there (2/2019) he sent me off saying "everything looked OK" I wasn't 5 minutes from the facility, got the call in the car to go back. That day ended with a needle biopsy. 5 days later I get the call "well, it looks like there's a little cancer there" Well, that "little cancer" turned out to be a 5 tumors, 10 out of 16 nodes diseased and a Stage 3C diagnosis. I do not say this to scare you, but to prove that one's own advocacy is so important. Now that all the med groups are coming out and saying that 3-D imaging is a must, trust that. They also have "rapid MRI" Also, I have become a believer in checking in with a dedicated cancer facility (in this case, Dana Farber) once a year to supplement my local care. They have much more stable, coordindated care in general.

I had 3D mammo and all was shown to be fine. Since my first bout w/ DCIS and having a lumpectomy, I had always had my surgeon check my breasts yearly along with mammograms.
I moved out of state so 4 years didn’t have a surgeon check my breasts. I finally got proactive and found one. This Dr was very proactive and recommended a MRI due to dense tissue. The MRI found my cancer. I always now tell women to have an MRI done alternating with mammograms, if they have family history and/or concerns. We all have to be proactive in our own health. Thank you all for sharing your knowledge & experiences. Blessings

@queenbekahboo, you do have a lot going on. It must be so frustrating to be so unwell, know that you have several underlying conditions, and to not get answers. I know that you said you've been shunted from specialist to specialist, but remain without answers. I wonder if you have been to Mayo Clinic or a university medical center where the specialists work together. It sounds like you need coordinated care with a multi-disciplinary team. Might that be a possibility for you for you to request an appointment at Mayo Clinic? Or do you live near a large university medical center?

3D plus ultrasound did not find two fairly large tumors in one breast … still symptom attic I insisted on an MRI … and there they were!

Dense breasts? Get an MRI!

What were your symptoms, may I ask?

I have the same thing. Have had several call backs to repeat mammo, so far they give the all clear but seriously, I have always been skeptical of their all clear. But I go on with my life. My Mama had breast cancer and now I have some symptoms that NEED further testing and I am getting so much info from all these beautiful warrior women on this site. I’m gonna look into the MRI since that seems to be even more clear than an ultrasound. I recommend the same for you. No mammos, just MRI’S from now on. We must also remember that with MRI’S there is no constant exposure to radiation. Mammos use cancer causing radiation to be blasted through your breast as they squeeze the hell outta your breast tissue. I mean whoever came up with that idea…well…never mind. I’m gonna push for MRI. Thank all you ladies!