Has anyone had MRI suspicious for malignancy but negative Mammo + US?

Posted by gardenfairy @gardenfairy, Nov 30, 2023

My breast MRI last week showed a very large lesion with clustered ring enhancement and washout that radiologist defines as "suspicious for malignancy", but absolutely nothing showed on subsequent mammo and ultrasound. My surgeon is concerned it could be invasive lobular cancer or lobular cancer in situ. Has anyone been diagnosed with similar lesions based on similar testing? Thanks!

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

My story was different but the lesson is the same. The angst you are probably going through right now is familiar to me, and I know others here as well, even though our particular stories are all different.
Mine went like this; uh oh, there is a lump, go buy a book. Even though I felt panic I didn’t want be an alarmist. Wait a little while, it doesn’t go away it grows quite rapidly. Go to the doctors office, he can’t feel it with normal exam, so I sit up and show it to him (it is visible). So he does 24 core samples right then and there. Yeeeeeoooow! Orders a mammogram and sends me out, I find out later he told his secretary and my friend, I had cancer.
Both needle core and mammogram come back negative, a few weeks later after everything comes back, this surgeon and friend who saved my life said “there is obviously something there and growing let’s take it out and put it under a microscope”. Which came back grade3, her2, ductal carcinoma.
The lesson here is don’t take no for an answer until you are satisfied that you have the all the answers you need.
That same doctor told me one of the wisest things I have ever heard “the only good decision is an informed decision”.
I know this is crazy making for you, what did your doctor say about the findings? Do you have an appointment to investigate this further?

REPLY

Yes, I've had a similar experience. My mammo and automated ultrasound showed nothing. But a subsequent MRI found 4 suspicious areas, 2 of which turned out to be Stage 1 cancer (one was lobular, the other ductal). If a woman has dense breasts, often cancer goes undetected by a mammogram. MRI is more sensitive for those of us with dense breasts.
Try not to worry. It's good that your doctor is pursuing the diagnosis. I ended up having 4 lumpectomies one year ago and then radiation (which by the way is easy), and so far so good. It's not the end of the world, just a detour. God love you.

REPLY
@auntieoakley

My story was different but the lesson is the same. The angst you are probably going through right now is familiar to me, and I know others here as well, even though our particular stories are all different.
Mine went like this; uh oh, there is a lump, go buy a book. Even though I felt panic I didn’t want be an alarmist. Wait a little while, it doesn’t go away it grows quite rapidly. Go to the doctors office, he can’t feel it with normal exam, so I sit up and show it to him (it is visible). So he does 24 core samples right then and there. Yeeeeeoooow! Orders a mammogram and sends me out, I find out later he told his secretary and my friend, I had cancer.
Both needle core and mammogram come back negative, a few weeks later after everything comes back, this surgeon and friend who saved my life said “there is obviously something there and growing let’s take it out and put it under a microscope”. Which came back grade3, her2, ductal carcinoma.
The lesson here is don’t take no for an answer until you are satisfied that you have the all the answers you need.
That same doctor told me one of the wisest things I have ever heard “the only good decision is an informed decision”.
I know this is crazy making for you, what did your doctor say about the findings? Do you have an appointment to investigate this further?

Jump to this post

Thank you for sharing your story, harrowing as it was. As a retired NICU nurse, I'm all about research, and most of all not letting any medical professional gaslight me. It's hard to make a decision on the spur of the moment and it speaks to the importance of not letting anyone invade one's body with needles before having time to gather information. I'm sorry you had that experience of delay and eventual diagnosis. My surgeon is concerned about the possibility of LCIS of ILC. The MRI-guided biopsy hasn't been scheduled yet....I'm hoping to hear from the MRI department early in the coming week with a date for that. This area of concern on MRI is completely new since December 2022 and I'm having a hard time believing this 7.5cm area could have grown that fast in 12 months to be cancer. Nothing to do but research breast oncology surgeons and plastic surgeons in my area so I make a mastecomy decision, if it's needed, having done my homework. Thank you for your support!

REPLY
@pinkdaisy

Yes, I've had a similar experience. My mammo and automated ultrasound showed nothing. But a subsequent MRI found 4 suspicious areas, 2 of which turned out to be Stage 1 cancer (one was lobular, the other ductal). If a woman has dense breasts, often cancer goes undetected by a mammogram. MRI is more sensitive for those of us with dense breasts.
Try not to worry. It's good that your doctor is pursuing the diagnosis. I ended up having 4 lumpectomies one year ago and then radiation (which by the way is easy), and so far so good. It's not the end of the world, just a detour. God love you.

Jump to this post

Thank you for sharing your story! May your path forward be free of all cancer.

REPLY
@gardenfairy

Thank you for sharing your story! May your path forward be free of all cancer.

Jump to this post

Thank you, GardenFairy. You too!

REPLY

6 month MRI f/u
Hi! I am 46 with history of hysterectomy. I’m not on any hormone treatments. I have not been diagnosed with breast cancer, but I have had 2 left breast biopsies, both which came back Fibroadenoma. I go back at the end of December for my 6 month MRI f/u. The first MRI had allll the characteristics of cancer….washout, irregular borders, etc…. BIRADS 4. My lymph nodes were “fluffy” on the left side as well, but they weren’t biopsied because they looked “fine” on the ultrasound. Has anyone went back for 6 month f/u MRI, only to find out you do have breast cancer?? I have a lot of aches in my left arm and breast area that has been going off and on since April 2023. My heart has been checked, so it’s not that. Also, has been progressively getting worse in the last 6 months. Has anyone else have this happen? Thank you so much!

REPLY
@auntieoakley

My story was different but the lesson is the same. The angst you are probably going through right now is familiar to me, and I know others here as well, even though our particular stories are all different.
Mine went like this; uh oh, there is a lump, go buy a book. Even though I felt panic I didn’t want be an alarmist. Wait a little while, it doesn’t go away it grows quite rapidly. Go to the doctors office, he can’t feel it with normal exam, so I sit up and show it to him (it is visible). So he does 24 core samples right then and there. Yeeeeeoooow! Orders a mammogram and sends me out, I find out later he told his secretary and my friend, I had cancer.
Both needle core and mammogram come back negative, a few weeks later after everything comes back, this surgeon and friend who saved my life said “there is obviously something there and growing let’s take it out and put it under a microscope”. Which came back grade3, her2, ductal carcinoma.
The lesson here is don’t take no for an answer until you are satisfied that you have the all the answers you need.
That same doctor told me one of the wisest things I have ever heard “the only good decision is an informed decision”.
I know this is crazy making for you, what did your doctor say about the findings? Do you have an appointment to investigate this further?

Jump to this post

Thanks for sharing such a courageous story of your journey of beating the cancer, Chris!

My MRI result came back with a huge surprise! It confirmed that I indeed have Breast cancer (Invasive ductal carcinoma of grade 2, ER+, PR+, Her2-); however, it also showed "a partly visualized 4.3 cm T2 bright well-defined cystic lesion in the left lobe of liver". Apparently this "partly visualized cystic lesion" in my left lobe of liver is huge and much bigger than my breast cancer mass, which one should I fight first? Isn't there any medical equipments that use current technology to detect all cancerous cells in the patient's body to determine which is the most critical one to deal with first?
Thanks in advance for any wise advice! My heart goes out to you all!!

REPLY

I have had mammo and ultra sound because of history of ruptured implants since 1994. The silicon went under arms into organs. I had mris too and stopped 3 years ago with mris because the dye is not good for you. In 22 I had a mammo and ultra sound in Dec. Said negative for cancer. In June I felt lump in left breast 12:30 6cm from nipple. Had mammo and rechecked ultra sound. Mammo negative for cancer. Ultra sound initially did not show cancer. I pointed to lump and they found ìt to be cancer. The mammo did not see 11mm cancer at 12:30 and 6cm from nipple. I had biopsy and mri which showed 9mm of IDC. When they did surgery to remove it was 13mm. I asked if grown my doctor said no it was like cobwebs. It was not in my lymph nodes nor in my margins. In April my doctor wants me to have a mammo and ultra sound to check my breasts. Since the cobweb cancer I had does not show up on mammo and it was missed on ultrasound in Dec. 2022, probably, I am insisting on an mri and ultrasound and making sure the ultra sound goes over entire breast. I was so upset because I have always thought the mammo would catch breast cancer but apparently not the cobweb type I had. I am lucky I felt the lump and insisted on a mammo and ultrasound. You have to be your own advocate. I am having an mri in April and detailed ultra sound over every inch of my breasts because I do not trust just having a mammo.

REPLY
@lifetraveler

Thanks for sharing such a courageous story of your journey of beating the cancer, Chris!

My MRI result came back with a huge surprise! It confirmed that I indeed have Breast cancer (Invasive ductal carcinoma of grade 2, ER+, PR+, Her2-); however, it also showed "a partly visualized 4.3 cm T2 bright well-defined cystic lesion in the left lobe of liver". Apparently this "partly visualized cystic lesion" in my left lobe of liver is huge and much bigger than my breast cancer mass, which one should I fight first? Isn't there any medical equipments that use current technology to detect all cancerous cells in the patient's body to determine which is the most critical one to deal with first?
Thanks in advance for any wise advice! My heart goes out to you all!!

Jump to this post

Surprise isn’t quite the word I would have chosen, but I suppose it is a more acceptable response to such shocking news.
There is a pretty definitive image for finding what is active cancer, a PET scan will probably be ordered for you to check for any other places.
The question will be if the the lesion in the liver is breast cancer in the liver or something else entirely. If it turns out to be cancer, you will likely fight them simultaneously.
How are you handling this? Are they scheduling a ton of appointments for you to move forward?

REPLY

Yes and it did not show up on mammo or ultra sound. It was missed on ultra sound. Get mri of your breast right away. Good luck

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.