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kel016's avatar
kel016
Member
14 years ago

Dense fibro breasts

Hi, so already had a mastectomy and have been told I have very dense fibrotic breast, which is a large mass. I'm concerned that they won't c anything new arise but my surgeon tells me their mammogram machine is not the norm. Apparently it is a MRI mammogram and I should feel confident with the screening . Been thinking about having a second mastectomy but so unsure. Any thoughts ????

5 Replies

  • kel016's avatar
    kel016
    Member
    14 years ago
    Thank you so much for that!!!! I will do that on my next app. Xxxx
  • kel016's avatar
    kel016
    Member
    14 years ago
    Yeah that's what they said, I'm on tamoxifen ATM not really any side affects. My bc had a very strong hormone influence, something like 75% driven by hormones. My periods did stop which I was pleased about because I didn't want to take that zoladex injection. Have thought about having ovaries removed but they say that's really drastic, but I have read a lot of lady's on this site have done it as part of their treatment and they have the same type as me!!! I don't want to cut the other one off, nobody's does right?? But the dense mass scares me. I'm going to write everything down next visit as I tend to forget most things when I go and see him. And just see if I'm over reacting. But I never want them to say, don't worry we got it early but we still have to give u the chemo just in case. Thanks again for getting back to me, I live in the country and don't have access to the breast care nurses and support people .xxx
  • kel016's avatar
    kel016
    Member
    14 years ago
    I forgot to add my surgeon said I had the boring run of the mill bc, horm post,hert neg
  • kel016's avatar
    kel016
    Member
    14 years ago
    Thanks for responding, when I spoke to my surgeon 8 wks ago. He told me that the mammogram machine they use isn't an ordinary mammogram. He said that is was a MRI mammogram and that it would detect anything. He said there were only about 3 in aust and they had one of them. It works and looks just like a normal one, I think the difference is in the films and what they can see. I go to the attunga breast centre at burnside Adelaide . It's a big wing all just for boobs. I'm early bc 2 lymps involved , istu and grade 3 . Prob is the lumps were so tiny that I don't think many people would have felt them, but it quickly found its way to my lymphs. Just trying to get rid of some of the worry.
  • Joy_K's avatar
    Joy_K
    Member
    14 years ago

    Hi kel016

    Ordinary mammograms don't pick up tumours in dense breast tissue as well as MRI's.

    Did you have a MRI of your breast in the large, noisy machine or a mammogram?

    How does a MRI mammogram work?

    If you had an MRI of your breast it is an excellent scan.

    Ask for another opinion if you are having second thoughts about requesting another mastectomy.  Odds of a recurrance are different for different women and different types and stages of breast cancer, you need to discuss this with your Surgeon or Oncologist before making a decision.

    Once you are fully informed a decision is much easier to make.

    With love

    Joy K