Fear of MRI results

Hi Kristine,

Your fear and anxiety are certainly understandable at this time.

A breast MRI is able to pick up smaller tumors than a standard mammogram. Here's more info:

Breast MRI and the New American Cancer Society Guidelines for Breast Cancer Detection

http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/breast-mri-38626-5.html

Digital Mammography and Breast MRI: What's Newer and Better?

http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/c/78/2970/mri-whats-newer

Are You Sure You Want That MRI? 

http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/c/78/40549/mri

I hope this is helpful to you. Good luck with your test results. Let us know how things turn out, OK?

Best,

Maria

Kristine, you're in a really good place; the cancer hasn't spread. The MRI was, as Maria said, just to fine-tune the mammogram results, make sure there aren't any other tiny spots anywhere the mammogram didn't pick up. They want to get everything they can, if they're doing a lumpectomy. Or if more spots show up, they may give you the option for a mastectomy. Either way, the 5-year survival rate for your stage of breast cancer is extremely high; so as I said, you're in a good place! Best of luck- PJH

Hi Kristine,

I was also diagnosed with Stage 1 IDC two months ago when I was 4 months pregnant!

I had a lumpectomy (it did not spread to my lymph nodes either) and I am now 6 months pregnant.  In my case, the tumor was so small it didn't require chemo - I hope this turns out to be your case as well.

Everyone told me we were so lucky to find it so early, because it was so small and at an early stage.  Just curious as to how you discovered it - was it through a routine mammo?

Best of luck to you,

Criss -

Its a process that you should be afraid but it's a process that determins where the cancer is located and if surgery would be the best or radiation.  I say this because my wife had the same precedure and her outcome of it was good until this year in february when cancer took  her from us.  Please avoid trying not to be afraid and pray and ask more than one doctor what you should do radiation or surgery because if you have surgery the lymphs will have to be removed and it can cause alot of swelling in the right arm and you may have to use a lymphodemia pump are bandage the area.  Good luck and may God be with you and your family at all times.

Hi, I had an MRI done after I was diagnosed with DCIS just to make sure that it had not spread into the other breast, or elsewhere in the left breast. I was relieved when the MRI was clean, although I was warned about "false positives". Don't be afraid. Once you know what you have, it's easier to make the kind of decisions you need to deal with it, be done with it, and go on and live your life.

Good luck

I had my regular mammogram at the end of July and stage 1 IDC was found.  I am sooooo glad I kept that appointment!  The flurry of tests that followed were terrifying, but manageable... this is where your faith kicks into high gear and you find out how many friends you have.  Waiting for results is much worse than the actual test.  I fretted when the phone didn't ring, and jumped when it finally did.  The information is overwhelming... you have to learn a whole new language of "cancer speak" in record time.  Thank goodness for this website where you can find others going through the same thing and find information to supplement the tomes of pamphlets they throw at you. 

I opted for a bilateral mastectomy because my family history was scary and the MRI picked up non-cancerous, but atypical cell changes in the unaffected breast that may have developed into cancer.  I have BRCA1 gene mutation so in my case, recurrence was a good possibility.  I am 1/3 of the way through a 6 month long course of CMF chemotherapy.  I hit the "easy button" choice...it really isn't bad.  I don't feel sick, just a little more tired.  I've still got my hair, although it's definitely thinner.  I have more bad hair days, but hey...any hair day is fine with me.  I won't have reconstruction for at least a few months after chemo.  My surgeon and oncologist both recommended I wait until chemo was completed so there would be no complications with healing.  The plastic surgeon agreed with them.  I am surprised at how many women have mastectomies and reconstruction at the same time.  I understand wanting to get it all over with, but I certainly understand how chemo would slow a healing process as it targets rapidly growing cells.  Something more to ponder.

Best of luck through your journey.  Pray for wisdom and trust your gut instinct.

Melanie

Hi! I understand completely, how you could be worried. Whatever the findings, if any, it's best to know so that it can be treated effectively.

I had non invasive ductal carcinoma and was so thankful that it was caught early. That was early March of this year. My last mammogram in Aug showed everything to still be clear.

Wilma Robinson

I WAS  DIAGNOSED WITH BREAST CANCER 8-18-08. IM  IN STAGE  2. I GOT A MOMOGRAM  AND ULTRASOUND DONE AND A  NEEDLE NIOPSY DONE . MAMOGRAM  SHOWED NOTHING  ON ME.  MY CANCER SHOWED ON  BIOPSY. THE MRI IS MORE CLEAR. IT SHOWED 2 SPOTS MORE  ON  MY RIGHT SIDE.   I HAD 1 SPOT  THAT WAS CANCER IN MY LYMPH NODES.   MRI ARE  MORE ACCURATE. I HAD A LUMPECTOMY  DONE  SEPT  2008.  I  AM DOING TREATMENT. I  NEED A  TOTAL OF 6 ROUNDS OF  CHEMO AND 5  WEEKKS OF RADIATION. STAGE 1  IS   THE   BEGINING STAGE. I ALSO NEED  TOMAOX  FOR  5 YRS. I KNOW SO MANY RESOURCES  IF U NEED THEM  I ALSO LOSED MY  HAIR DURING CHEMO. IF YOU NEED INFORMATION  YOU CAN E MAIL ME  juliefay232002@yahoo.com.

julie blackman

The MRI is just to show if things have spread to the lymphnodes or if somethings are in both of them.  Just a precaution.  Better for you.  Don't be afraid.  Breast cancer can be treatable and stage one is very good.  I had the same diagnosis and you in the same breasts and this is my two year anniversary and I'm doing great and so will you.  I know is scarry and the fear of not knowing is even worst.  But if you take things one day at a time and keep saying to yourself you will be ok, you will.  Think positive and if you need to talk I am here for you.

Hi sweetie,

You are not alone.  You have many, many sisters (unfortunately), and (fortunately) we are here for support.  My story is on my blog (all in right had margin for an easy read), so feel free to check it out.  http://www.tinainthepink.blogspot.com/

Also, be sure to check out the Komen Boards for some support, and depending on your "feisty" level check out Crazy Sexy Life, Kris Carr's site for wellness.  She is the one that has the TLC documentary (and book) "Crazy, Sexy Cancer".  I am "Tina!" on the site and would love to see you there.  We are a bunch of wellness seeking, life "thrivers", and oh yeah, there are a bunch of us there who either have or had cancer.  And a whole lot in between.  http://www.mycrazysexylife.com/

Big Love, Tina

hey

dear don,t get fear now a days tht is vry  commen my momtoo has go through it how old r u how can i do ur help plz tell if needed

HI THERE

Just wanted to let u know that u r not alone Us Breast Cancer Survivors have all thought the same way as u just the word Cancer is enough to shock u  It is the unknown that scares us Once you get your results u will know what path u r to go on and how to get there and u will do just great just another hurdle in life, seems like in the past you have had a lot of them to get over

At least these days we can get the Boob replaced imadgin how the people  before our time had to cope with cancer We r so lucky cancer treatment is so advanced  and there us so much help out there and people who care

U will be fine just take one day at a time don't expect too much of yourself

May there always be an angel by your side

I just an email away if you need

From a Pink Lady

Your experience sounds like mine in March 2007. My MRI verified what the mammogram and the ultra sound confirmed. I too wondered why another test, but i am glad I did get it. My MRI was bilateral which the results showed that there was no cancer in the right breast. My final decision was to remove the left breast and do reconstructive breast surgery at the time of surgery. My age when this was going on was 59 1/2.  After a year I am felling great and have resumed most of my normal activity.

Good Luck and stay as positive and stress free as you posibably can

Phyllis