Detecting cancer in women with dense breasts: MRI?

Yes. I have very dense and cystic breasts and they follow me every 6 months. That is why they do the 3D mammogram. It sees more then traditional scans. And I get bilateral sonograms to make sure the breasts are stable. Look at the bottom of the scans report. They grade via Birads. That should give you an indication of what is happening as well as the doctor.

Ps: I had an MRI a few years back. It showed up all white so they could not tell much b/c of that.

Best of luck.

My breasts are dense too.. what bothers me after going through breast cancer that years later , my breasts are sore. I’ve mentioned to drs nurse ( on phone) it scares me if my cancer came back. All I get for responses is in July I have appt so it could wait 😫 What kind of answer or reassurance is that?! How would the nurse know that, at times if you never been through cancer like alot of us they don’t understand the anxiety, depression and the frightening thoughts that goes through my head wondering if my cancer has come back. So now I wait till July and hope🤞I have nothing worry about 😢

So, this is gonna be a bit complicated, but I have to know what women out there may have experienced what I am experiencing. First of all, I have PCOS, a pituitary growth (tumor) which my Mama also had, so it’s in my genes. I also have a meningioma in my brain (as well as neuropathy, arthritis throughout every joint in my body, degenerative disc and bone disease, spinal stenosis on my cervical spine (neck), muscle spasms and am suppose to be having a biopsy done of my muscles) and a few other issues. I don’t know if all this is connected or separate issues, but my labs show an autoimmune disease (they thought Lupus, but now they aren’t sure). I don’t know what density my breast tissue is, but I know they’re highly dense, enough for them to typically call me back in to do a repeat mammogram. My Mama had stage 4 metastatic breast cancer, one entire breast was a mass, and it had spread to her hips and femur. They tested her to see if it was genetic and no genetic gene was found. We were told that most women that get breast cancer have no genetic gene, it happens mostly on a random basis. So here’s one of my many issues. I am an odd patient, meaning I am often referred to as an enigma (must’ve inherited that from my Daddy). My pituitary tumor is only detectable by MRI Imaging. When they do bloodwork, my prolactin level is ALWAYS normal. It was only detected because my Mom had it and I was producing milk, so the doctor I had at the time decided to do an MRI per my request. Sure enough there it was. My labs often do not show certain issues, I need further testing when there is a suspicion to rule things out, but Drs don’t want to do the further tests because my labs are either “normal, inconclusive, or don’t match certain symptoms which should accompany such suspicions” so they scratch their heads and send me in my way saying “I’ll see you in 3 months and we will run tests again or see if you still have these symptoms.” Well, this is gross, but my pituitary hasn’t been checked for over 3 years, typically it is monitored once a year, and now I have something going on with my right breast which has my Dr “baffled” (his words). I told him my breast has some leakage, of course I have to milk it a little, and the leakage comes from a few small holes (where milk typically comes), from one hole it’s white, similar to milk, BUT, from two other holes it appears black, like dark black, but on a tissue it’s like a dark dark green, almost black. He is so confused. So everything that happens to me, and is currently going on, it a mystery. My bones hurt, my muscles spasm, my joints kill me, my nerves are damaged, I have autoimmune disease…but I don’t have autoimmune disease, my back kills me, my neck kills me, I’m severely fatigued, often feel toxic, my memory is screwed, my vision and hearing are worsening quickly, I have breast leakage, a family history of these issues, but all I am being told is “wait and see, wait and see, wait and see.” Meanwhile…here I sit, sick, full body pain, muscle’s killing me, with VERY limited mobility.

I’m so frustrated. I don’t know what to do. 🙁

Thank you for understanding my concerns. Unfortunately my oncologist is leaving so I have no idea who the new Dr.is.

ER is another option. Once you explain your history they may order an MRI or contact your new doc.

Geographically speaking do you have options … like switching clinics or presenting at a teaching hospital ER?

My first diagnostic was an ultrasound ordered by my midwife, which came out BRads5. I am young (41 now, 38 then) and have dense breasts. UCLA has me do yearly mamos with ultrasounds done the same day, alternating with yearly MRIs so I am checked every 6 months. I like having the ultrasounds in the mix.

ER is another option. Once you explain your history they may order an MRI or contact your new doc.

Geographically speaking do you have options … like switching clinics or presenting at a teaching hospital ER?