This is just all so stressful as very little consistency. I am at Dana Farber-live in Boston considered one of the best and I'm thinking maybe in addition to crazy shortage of nurses we just have nationwide shortage of oncologists too. I had my lumpectomy in early Dec 2022 ILC, 20 rounds radiation followed month later and now on Letrozole (been 10 weeks and brain fog, fatigue biggest complaint and general feeling of malaise when I know I should feel grateful as no node involvement). My next appt is with a NP 6 months after surgery and a mammo was scheduled in Oct 2023 which is my annual mammo month. An MRI was not scheduled and when I asked the scheduling person she said that would be discussed with NP in May 2023 as MRI are not routine even with very dense breasts. I have private insurance (pay $2K a month which leaves me basically just above poverty limit - self employed 58 yrs old-HMO) and will probably have to fight to get MRI covered - I almost can't wait for Medicare because it seems Medicare covers a lot more. I'm wondering with all the media attention Katie Couric has given to dense breasts and to the inequities in our health care system, docs and administrators are worried that everyone asking for an MRI will "strain" the system. But the cost of treating my cancer which my radiologist said would have been caught earlier with an MRI would seem much higher than the cost of a MRI. Do I beg for an MRI at one year mark - or even a mammo 6 months after surgery or is it typical to wait a year after surgery for any more imaging?? Sorry to be such a complainer! xo