MRI after 3D Mammogram - dense breast tissue

I have dense breasts also. I have shared this on this site before but 2 months after I was told my 3D mammogram was negative for cancer I felt a lump and then an ultrasound detected a 2 cm adeno squamous metaplastic carcinoma. I fought for the ultrasound because I had read that 3D mammograms were missing cancer in dense breast tissue.

Maybe you should get a second opinion. What do you think?

I also have dense beast and use to had yearly mammograms. Yet 7 months after a yearly mammogram in 2018, I found lump that turned out to be cancer and had already moved to lymph nodes.

After treatment (lumpectomy, chemo, radiation, AIs) I had mammogram and MRI for surveillance for first few years. Just had routine recheck with Mayo oncology and going to start alternating. So, I had MRI last week, in 6 months will do mammogram, then MRI 6 months later, etc....

One reason is insurance companies guidelines. I am on Medicare, and they only approve mammograms once a year going forward unless there is new lump.

As far as false negatives, I have had abdominal scans that found cysts that I panicked about. Drs. assure me they are not a issues. All the advancement in technology are great, but they do find things that may never cause you problems or develop into something serious.

Laurie

@2r3b In 2019 in had a 3D mammo and results came back normal. I had DCIS in 2004 and after my lumpectomy, I always ent back to my breast surgeon yearly for an exam. I felt, they are in the breast business and know what to feel for vs Gynecologist. When I moved I found that I didn’t have a breast surgeon and that was part of my medical preventative protocol if you will. I continued always having yearly mammograms & all was fine. Finally I made an appointment w/ a breast surgeon, recommended by my PCP. He studied my mammo and said ‘due to your dense tissue, let’s do a MRI’. I didn’t realize they even did MRIs of the breast. Lo & behold they found something, it was cancer.
I now have alternating mammo & MRIs every 6 months. My oncologist was alternating yearly but my surgeon said ‘if we are going to check you let’s Check you & recommended 6 month checks’. I feel you need to insist on the MRI. Blessings

I had a recent diagnosis of DCIS that was found on a 3D mammogram & had a lumpectomy. I’m 62 & have always had dense breast reported on mammograms. I never knew & never did a doctor suggest that I should have more testing done if you have dense breast tissue. Since being diagnosed with DCIS my surgeon told me I need a yearly mammogram alternated 6 months later with a MRI going forward just to be sure nothing shows up in the dense tissue. We need to be our own advocates for our healthcare. Since having DCIS I’ve done extensive research to see what treatment options are available & I speak up at the appointments. If they don’t listen I keep repeating till they do or can explain why they don’t agree or I’ll find another doctor who will listen. My thought is this is my health, my life & I’d like to be here as long as possible. Sometimes the “standard” treatment doesn’t apply to every situation.

My first MRI was after the breast cancer was discovered. I have very dense breasts. I had only been having mammograms until they saw something suspicious then I got a sonogram and then a 3d sonogram. I switched facilities and found out this new one routinely does 3d sonograms on dense breasts so they don’t have so many call backs. Boy I wish I’d known this before. I still wonder if my tumor would have been seen a year ago at my last check up.

I am sorry--I hope you are recovering well from treatment.

Since my experience began, I keep realizing how this is not a "linear" process for me. What I think I will be doing after one appointment might change at the next appointment. I think this occurs as new studies/trials are released and standards of treatment might change. Even so, I am learning, as you did, how facilities/medical professionals might have different thoughts on which tests are necessary, etc.

Thank you for sharing your experience. I wish you all the best as you recover!

Thank you. My surgery is next Thursday. I’m really worried it’s taken so long to get to this cancer removed and I’m questioning all of my decisions at this point. I’m scared but it just can’t come fast enough.