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Breast MRI timing
Hello All,
My wife was recently diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma. We met with the first of 2 or 3 breast surgeons today as we want to get at least a 2nd opinion. The surgeon today told my wife to go for a breast MRI soon because she's in the right time-frame for it (5-15 days after menstrual cycle). We're meeting the another surgeon next week and I called to ask them whether it would be OK if my wife went ahead with the MRI at the first hospital considering it's the right time for it. The 2nd surgeon said they wouldn't recommend it as the surgeon there would want the MRI performed at their hospital. This would mean we're waiting a month for the next opportunity for an MRI. I'm leaning with going ahead and getting the MRI now as I think the faster we move the better.
I guess my question is whether the MRI is more important for the diagnosis or the surgery or the treatment plan or All? Do you think we should go for the MRI soon rather than wait until we decide which surgeon we go with?
Any thoughts/opinions anyone wants to share are greatly appreciated. Thank You!
My wife was recently diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma. We met with the first of 2 or 3 breast surgeons today as we want to get at least a 2nd opinion. The surgeon today told my wife to go for a breast MRI soon because she's in the right time-frame for it (5-15 days after menstrual cycle). We're meeting the another surgeon next week and I called to ask them whether it would be OK if my wife went ahead with the MRI at the first hospital considering it's the right time for it. The 2nd surgeon said they wouldn't recommend it as the surgeon there would want the MRI performed at their hospital. This would mean we're waiting a month for the next opportunity for an MRI. I'm leaning with going ahead and getting the MRI now as I think the faster we move the better.
I guess my question is whether the MRI is more important for the diagnosis or the surgery or the treatment plan or All? Do you think we should go for the MRI soon rather than wait until we decide which surgeon we go with?
Any thoughts/opinions anyone wants to share are greatly appreciated. Thank You!
Good luck. The MRI was pretty wild... I have had many (I had a couple of pituitary tumors) but these were my first face down. IDC is not a really fast spreader, so was her biopsy a long time ago?
I was feeling super awful before my diagnosis and thought I had ms, and post surgery now it is receding. So once she gets treated, she should feel better. It is something like, at least with me, that my body was so fighting that once this was out, I am losing weight and my lymph nodes are reducing.
I was feeling super awful before my diagnosis and thought I had ms, and post surgery now it is receding. So once she gets treated, she should feel better. It is something like, at least with me, that my body was so fighting that once this was out, I am losing weight and my lymph nodes are reducing.
3 Comments
She went and got the MRI. It did find another lump that wasn't previously seen and identified suspect lymph node. Both will be biopsied. She said the face down MRI was very uncomfortable but glad its done and over with. Agreed, she just wants to get to surgery to get it out and keep moving forward. Thanks
I hope everything goes well!
My MRI saved my life. Surgeons pushed for lumpectomy for what they thought was a 1.5cm mass. MRI showed it to be 10cm. Advocate for yourself, do what you feel you need to do, no regrets. Best wishes.
My breast surgeon is young as well. Because of it, she picked up my cancer which I think would have been passed over by most (it was not a usual situation).
You have to evaluate why the radiation mistake was made (doctor, staff) and in my place they separate all the cancer areas so breast was off in a separate area with its own staff.
In the end, you have to feel happy with the whole process. My surgeon pushed for an MRI after I had all negative scans, and that was how my cancers were found. If you wife has already had biopsies and all, not sure why she is having an MRI.
You have to evaluate why the radiation mistake was made (doctor, staff) and in my place they separate all the cancer areas so breast was off in a separate area with its own staff.
In the end, you have to feel happy with the whole process. My surgeon pushed for an MRI after I had all negative scans, and that was how my cancers were found. If you wife has already had biopsies and all, not sure why she is having an MRI.
1 Comments
Point is well taken about evaluating our issues with the hospital; they also separate cancer areas as well. I guess we shouldn't let our hangups with the hospital affect our decision on the surgeon if we like her.
I'm assuming they want the MRI to ensure it's not spread. My wife spent the past few months fatigued and with back/neck pain. Her primary physician initially diagnosed her with Lyme disease based on abnormalities in her blood. A second opinion discredited that diagnosis and instead had her see 2 other specialists. These ruled out hormonal and infectious diseases but were going to continue to pursue other avenues. Basically she's been living with a lot of pain and discomfort for a few months.
Thank you so much for your reply, are minds are swirling with information and opinions but I appreciate your advice. We do have to stay grounded and try to keep emotions out of our decision.
I'm assuming they want the MRI to ensure it's not spread. My wife spent the past few months fatigued and with back/neck pain. Her primary physician initially diagnosed her with Lyme disease based on abnormalities in her blood. A second opinion discredited that diagnosis and instead had her see 2 other specialists. These ruled out hormonal and infectious diseases but were going to continue to pursue other avenues. Basically she's been living with a lot of pain and discomfort for a few months.
Thank you so much for your reply, are minds are swirling with information and opinions but I appreciate your advice. We do have to stay grounded and try to keep emotions out of our decision.
Hello... I just had bilateral IDC and was diagnosed last October and had surgery in December. I was pushed by many to get other opinions but I stayed with my diagnosing doctor and I was quite happy. I suggest doing research on your current doctor and see if you will be happy.
When you get the news it is scary as all get out, and it is hard to think, and people with good intentions are telling you a lot of things.... But this is a decision for your wife and you.
A lot has to go on and I was flabbergasted at the time it took between diagnosis to surgery... It can take months. You have to get scans, decide if you want reconstruction and if yes, then what type and then maybe more scans... Then schedule.
I don't know if the MRI is standard... Not everyone I spoke to had one.
When you get the news it is scary as all get out, and it is hard to think, and people with good intentions are telling you a lot of things.... But this is a decision for your wife and you.
A lot has to go on and I was flabbergasted at the time it took between diagnosis to surgery... It can take months. You have to get scans, decide if you want reconstruction and if yes, then what type and then maybe more scans... Then schedule.
I don't know if the MRI is standard... Not everyone I spoke to had one.
1 Comments
Thank you. We are in the shock stage still; and as you said, people with good intentions are telling us a lot of things. Unfortunately the hospital we were diagnosed at doesn't have the best reputation in our area; however we did like the breast surgeon. She is on the young side which made me question her experience, but after meeting with her she definitely seems to know her stuff. That and she was very sensitive and reassuring.
Basically the hospital screwed up radiating my father-in laws lung when he went through lung-cancer treatment and because of that family insists we shouldn't go there. As you said thought, the decision is ours and I understand the hospital is providing the facility and the doctor is the one doing the work.
We decided that until we meet the other doctor we will proceed as though we're staying with the diagnosing doctor and get the MRI as she suggested.
I'm very glad to hear you were happy with your doctor :)
Thanks for your response, .. it's nice to hear about positive experiences as we're starting out with this.
Basically the hospital screwed up radiating my father-in laws lung when he went through lung-cancer treatment and because of that family insists we shouldn't go there. As you said thought, the decision is ours and I understand the hospital is providing the facility and the doctor is the one doing the work.
We decided that until we meet the other doctor we will proceed as though we're staying with the diagnosing doctor and get the MRI as she suggested.
I'm very glad to hear you were happy with your doctor :)
Thanks for your response, .. it's nice to hear about positive experiences as we're starting out with this.
Thank you very much for your reply. We're seeing more than one surgeon because we were just diagnosed, we were told the surgeon is the starting point for treatment and frankly, we're scared and want to hear at least a 2nd opinion on all the results. Yes she was already diagnosed by biopsy and when we met the the surgeon today she said we should go for a MRI before surgery.
We discussed this with a my wife's friend who had previously worked assisting a breast surgeon and she's the one that told us the other surgeon would want their own MRI done. This is why I assumed MRI is standard operating procedure. We're new to all this, wife just diagnosed last week. The next appointments are next week but to your point about wasting time, I'm thinking we'll just keep moving and get the MRI done.
We discussed this with a my wife's friend who had previously worked assisting a breast surgeon and she's the one that told us the other surgeon would want their own MRI done. This is why I assumed MRI is standard operating procedure. We're new to all this, wife just diagnosed last week. The next appointments are next week but to your point about wasting time, I'm thinking we'll just keep moving and get the MRI done.
I'm not quite sure why you are seeing so many Breast Surgeons for one thing and also why you are rushing to have an MRI. If she has already been diagnosed by biopsy I would think that the next step is to have surgery or perhaps consult an Oncologist regarding options for pre and post op treatment as well as further investigation. The only exception to this progression would be if you are a Physician and plan to be in charge of her care. Personally I feel that you may be wasting precious time as all the opinions you are seeking will certainly cost at least well more than 1 or 2 months during which she could have had her surgery and most likely have recovered to the point of starting post op treatment if any is advised by the Oncologist. Best wishes to your Wife for a successful surgery and uneventful recovery.
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