1. < Breast Cancer

My Radiation Oncologist wants bilateral ultrasound done

Posted by msandbreastcancerwarrior @msandbreastcancerwarrior, Dec 9, 2023

My radiation oncologist wants a bilateral ultrasound done on my breasts before proceeding with radiotherapy. She wants to make sure no new cancer has popped up since my surgery two months ago and my breast MRI four months ago.

Anyone else have that done?

I am stage 1a with 11 Oncotype and low mitotic rate so I am wondering why she thinks there might be visible cancer now when four months ago the MRI picked up nothing other than the two small masses they already saw on ultrasound.

I guess better safe than sorry but now I am wondering, do they often see new cancer pop up like that during the treatment period?

I’ve had nothing done so far except surgery, won’t be on Letrozole until after I finish radiotherapy, so I guess there is nothing to discourage new cancer from growing.

But it seems worrying to me, like she EXPECTS to find new cancer. And my oncological surgeon is all, low oncotype, just do the treatment and go live a normal life, most likely the cancer will never come back.

Anyway, kind of confusing, wondered if anyone else got additional imaging done right before proceeding with radiotherapy.

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sue417 | @sue417 | Dec 10, 2023

Hi I don't know where you live I live in Ontario Canada and yes when I go to London Ontario for my radiation they will do an MRI also I don't think it is a bad thing better to be safe than sorry I know exactly what's going on

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1 reply
kstar077 | @kstar077 | Dec 10, 2023

I would have bilateral ultrasound . My cancer never showed up on mammo or original ultrasound. I felt lump myself after mammo and ultrasound. I had mri and my cancer was discovered after ultrasound pinpointed cancer that I felt lump. Do the bilateral ultrasound. I am doing bilateral ultrasound and mri in April. My mammo did not show the cancer. The mri did. And the ulta sound did but I had to point to the cancer I felt. Ultra sound no radiation so do it bilaterally. My cancer was cobweb type and did not show up on mammo. If I did not feel it, and insist on another mammo and ultra sound it would have kept growing. Because my cancer was small and my oncotype was 16. Not in lymphnodes or margins. No radiation or hormone blocker. Chance of cancer coming back 8%. 4% if I do blocker. 90% chance not coming back. I am going to do a bilateral ultrasound in April and do another mri. Make sure ultra sound tech goes over every 1/8 th inch of both breasts and underarms. Then have an mri. As I said my mammo did not show my cancer. The ultra sound did not show my cancer. I luckily felt the lump myself. It was close to the skin at 12:30 6cm from nipple. 11mm. You have to be your own advocate. It is good your doctor is checking your other breast too. Good luck

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1 reply
maryanne7 | @maryanne7 | Dec 11, 2023

I don't think she expects cancer. She is just doing a professional job. One must look both ways before crossing the street, right? She is just making sure. Sounds like you have a good doctor.

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1 reply
msandbreastcancerwarrior | @msandbreastcancerwarrior | Dec 11, 2023
In reply to @sue417 "Hi I don't know where you live I live in Ontario Canada and yes when I..." + (show)
@sue417

Hi I don't know where you live I live in Ontario Canada and yes when I go to London Ontario for my radiation they will do an MRI also I don't think it is a bad thing better to be safe than sorry I know exactly what's going on

Jump to this post

I agree, and thank you for your kind reply!

It just shocks me a bit they seem to almost expect there would be more cancer to find so soon after the MRI four months ago.

I supposedly have only a three percent risk of recurrence over the next decade, so the risk of recurrence large enough to be seen by ultrasound in four months is….????

But I guess it is better safe than sorry.

❤️

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msandbreastcancerwarrior | @msandbreastcancerwarrior | Dec 11, 2023
In reply to @kstar077 "I would have bilateral ultrasound . My cancer never showed up on mammo or original ultrasound...." + (show)
@kstar077

I would have bilateral ultrasound . My cancer never showed up on mammo or original ultrasound. I felt lump myself after mammo and ultrasound. I had mri and my cancer was discovered after ultrasound pinpointed cancer that I felt lump. Do the bilateral ultrasound. I am doing bilateral ultrasound and mri in April. My mammo did not show the cancer. The mri did. And the ulta sound did but I had to point to the cancer I felt. Ultra sound no radiation so do it bilaterally. My cancer was cobweb type and did not show up on mammo. If I did not feel it, and insist on another mammo and ultra sound it would have kept growing. Because my cancer was small and my oncotype was 16. Not in lymphnodes or margins. No radiation or hormone blocker. Chance of cancer coming back 8%. 4% if I do blocker. 90% chance not coming back. I am going to do a bilateral ultrasound in April and do another mri. Make sure ultra sound tech goes over every 1/8 th inch of both breasts and underarms. Then have an mri. As I said my mammo did not show my cancer. The ultra sound did not show my cancer. I luckily felt the lump myself. It was close to the skin at 12:30 6cm from nipple. 11mm. You have to be your own advocate. It is good your doctor is checking your other breast too. Good luck

Jump to this post

Thank you so much for your reply, and all the best to you!

I was just a bit shocked they thought cancer would have come back so soon after my partial mastectomies, but I guess they just wanted to be extra cautious.

❤️

REPLY
msandbreastcancerwarrior | @msandbreastcancerwarrior | Dec 11, 2023
In reply to @maryanne7 "I don't think she expects cancer. She is just doing a professional job. One must look..." + (show)
@maryanne7

I don't think she expects cancer. She is just doing a professional job. One must look both ways before crossing the street, right? She is just making sure. Sounds like you have a good doctor.

Jump to this post

Thank you so much for your kind reply!

I am really hoping they don’t find new cancer in this ultrasound,

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gardenfairy | @gardenfairy | Dec 11, 2023

The question that comes to mind: is new cancer more likely to be seen on ultrasound or MRI based on expected rate of growth in that short of time. MRI often has higher sensitivity and specificity, especially when done with and without contrast. Sending you best wishes for next treatment phase.

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1 reply
msandbreastcancerwarrior | @msandbreastcancerwarrior | Dec 11, 2023
In reply to @gardenfairy "The question that comes to mind: is new cancer more likely to be seen on ultrasound..." + (show)
@gardenfairy

The question that comes to mind: is new cancer more likely to be seen on ultrasound or MRI based on expected rate of growth in that short of time. MRI often has higher sensitivity and specificity, especially when done with and without contrast. Sending you best wishes for next treatment phase.

Jump to this post

Thank you so much. Yeah a new MRI would be more accurate but I doubt insurance would pay for one only four months since the last one.

I think she just doesn’t want to “waste” radiation on someone with currently noticeable cancer.

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