1. < Breast Cancer

Detecting cancer in women with dense breasts: MRI?

Posted by jaynep @jaynep, Feb 8, 2023

I had my one year mammogram today on my left breast and saw the nurse practitioner at my surgeon’s office. She told me it looked great! I asked about a MRI in six months when I am scheduled for my next appt with her and she agreed. However, when I got home I received the mammo report in their my chart app and it stated that the left breast is heterogenously dense which may prevent them from seeing a mass in some cases. So, this concerns me. Does anyone has any experience with this?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Breast Cancer Support Group.

sequoia | @sequoia | Apr 12, 2023
In reply to @semurrey "This is just all so stressful as very little consistency. I am at Dana Farber-live in..." + (show)
@semurrey

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

Jump to this post

@semurrey I think you should talk w/ your surgeon and let him know about you getting run around. I personally think that a mammo (on your regular schedule) is not appropriate as it is now not a routine mammogram, it’s a follow up from Cancer. Don’t let the establishment/facility dictate to you. You are Not a complainer, you are being proactive. The front desk ppl are not in the understanding & know. You should have an MRI as follow up. You pay for insurance and unfortunately you need to keep fighting until you get to the right person/doctor. Don’t give up. Sometimes the surgeon figures the oncologist is taking care of things and visa versa. Call your surgeon. Stay strong and God bless.

REPLY
sequoia | @sequoia | Apr 12, 2023
In reply to @rosy54 "I’m wondering if my insurance company would pay for MRI if my last mammogram was within..." + (show)
@rosy54

I’m wondering if my insurance company would pay for MRI if my last mammogram was within a year. It makes no sense, you buy health insurance for when you need it but if it’s within a certain timeframe from the last test I had done ,they don’t cover. Seems unfair 😒

Jump to this post

@rosy54 if your doctor /surgeon prescribes an MRI, the office should check for you. If you have had cancer - IMHO I think MRIs should be done. My cancer was found with MRI after a mammogram showed all was good. It was a surgeon that was proactive to say “let’s do a MRI to see what’s really in there due to your dense tissue “ cancer was found. Check w/ your surgeon to see if he will order up one. Doctors hesitate to order as due to cost but be proactive. It’s frustrating to say the least bit it is Your health. Keep pushing. Blessings

REPLY
kbnaz | @kbnaz | Apr 17, 2023
In reply to @badassi "Hi @jaynep I had dense breast and had my mammogram in Dallas and they said all..." + (show)
@badassi

Hi @jaynep I had dense breast and had my mammogram in Dallas and they said all looks good and my physical wear my dr examined my breast.
Within a year after moving back to Utah, my nipple started turning inwards.
I decided to call Huntsman Cancer Institute and see if that was normal. They suggested I do a mammogram. A dr did an exam on me before going in and said, “plan on being here for a couple of hours as you have some kind of cancer. I can feel it in your breast and your lymph node and I want to have a breast MRI done right after.”
It didn’t show my cancer and one of them was over 3” long.
They went ahead and did the MRI and then the biopsy. Called me 2 days later on a Saturday, to tell me it was cancer. Turned out I had 2 different kinds and Stage III.

The law in Utah is now that they have to offer you an MRI if you have dense breast. The mammogram is great at showing small tumors but not large ones and especially with dense breast.
I hope by now you have gotten your MRI!
Best wishes.

Jump to this post

I’m so sorry for your result, please know my heart and prayers are with you for recovery!
I was staged IIB after the pathology from my mastectomy came back. The biopsies missed the invasive cancer, it did show the other ductal in situ/ all in all I wanted to share, the tumors were over 14 CM over 3/4 of my breast but challenging to diagnose as the dense breast tissue is over 73% of my breasts. I went in for an early 3-D mammogram 6 mo after my yearly as my breast just felt thicker. Lucky I did. My continuing follow up includes 3-D mammo with dye contrast.

REPLY
celica | @celica | Apr 18, 2023

My Mamm didn’t detect invasive ductal in my dense breasts, but the MRI did

REPLY
1 reply
anjalima | @anjalima | Apr 19, 2023
In reply to @celica "My Mamm didn’t detect invasive ductal in my dense breasts, but the MRI did" + (show)
@celica

My Mamm didn’t detect invasive ductal in my dense breasts, but the MRI did

Jump to this post

Same for me.

REPLY
sequoia | @sequoia | Jun 28, 2023
In reply to @auntieoakley "Check this out, just came this morning in the Mayo Clinic newsletter. What a game changer...." + (show)

@auntieoakley WOW! That truly is. Game changer. Years ago, during my breast mammo, they told me I had dense tissue. Then over several exams, no mention of dense tissue. I guess I had forgotten about it. It was not until I had an exam by a breast surgeon that he talked about my dense tissue and ordered up a MRI.
In my mind over the years, because it wasn’t mentioned I ‘thought’ it just went away 🤷‍♀️. I did not know in my younger days.
We all must stay vigilant. Great video & information. Thank you.

REPLY
Sue Ellen Murrey | @semurrey | Jun 28, 2023

I really enjoy the advise to advocate, advocate. I am tired of oncologists referring to the stress of false positives potentially found on MRI. Most of us want the best surveillance available. I have very dense breasts and at 6 months post radiation will meet with my radiation oncologist but no scans for a year. I am going to ask about the molecular breast imaging. I am self employed and have insurance through the MA health exchange. It is $1000 a month with a hefty deductible but why not use the best technology we have to help us on our journey. Why is this such a hassle! xo

REPLY
1 reply
Mentor
Chris, Volunteer Mentor | @auntieoakley | Jun 28, 2023
In reply to @semurrey "I really enjoy the advise to advocate, advocate. I am tired of oncologists referring to the..." + (show)
@semurrey

I really enjoy the advise to advocate, advocate. I am tired of oncologists referring to the stress of false positives potentially found on MRI. Most of us want the best surveillance available. I have very dense breasts and at 6 months post radiation will meet with my radiation oncologist but no scans for a year. I am going to ask about the molecular breast imaging. I am self employed and have insurance through the MA health exchange. It is $1000 a month with a hefty deductible but why not use the best technology we have to help us on our journey. Why is this such a hassle! xo

Jump to this post

I agree! I looked at my doc when he said false positive issues, and asked what’s worse, having a negative biopsy performed or not finding a recurrence in time to stop it. Then of course he said the insurance would never cover it, and he was right. He is a good doc, no, he is a great doc, but the system is pretty overburdened and frankly top heavy.
After it wasn’t found in time to stop it, now we fight for medicine approvals. This is not a bug in the insurance model, it is the main feature. They take your money and they don’t pay. Then they post record profits.
The doctors are furious and the patients are left not understanding.
My best advice is fight for that MRI when it is time for a scan. If you are 6 months post radiation how are you feeling now? Do you have an appointment coming up?

REPLY
Sue Ellen Murrey | @semurrey | Jun 28, 2023

I appreciate your feedback, Chris. I think docs also are held to certain number of prior authorization requests by many powers of "be". I couldn't agree with you more on insurance industry - so terrible that I almost can't wait for Medicare in 8 yrs. Early detection is all we have - I wish I had requested MRI last year when mammo reader did mention at 57yrs she would have expected my breast density to somewhat "lessen". I'm almost 5 months out from radiation for ILC (1.8 cm, ER+) and taking Letrozole. My diagnostic mammo is scheduled for Oct ( regular mammo month) as oncologist at Dana Farber feels mammograms prior to year post surgery not helpful. There seems to be little protocol on timing of scans post treatment. My margins weren't great (less than 1mm) and did 19 radiation treatments with boost. Should I expect a 6 month scan?? Thanks again, xoxo

REPLY
2 replies
View MoreView Less
Please sign in or register to post a reply.