Scan day freaking sucks......yet again. Probable curse words included.
With only minor trepidation and my shit mostly together I went to clinic today to get my results. I stopped to give a co worker that had just been diagnosed (MOFO BC) a hug and a shoulder to cry on for a bit while we were waiting. I heard my name called and promised her she would get through and I would be happy to help if I could in any way. She thanked me with that smile you put on when you are trying so hard not to burst into tears and your heart is aching as I waltzed on in to the doctors office. Well the whole thing went sideways and turned into me leaving work in a shaky, teary eyed mess. My goodness this thing still rocks you when least expect it. Here we go again with another fucking ambiguous result about the mystical eliptical thingamajjigy that has taken up residence in the rogue boob. Said thingy has decided to grow 2mm in 6 months. BIRAIDS score now moved up from a 3 to a 4 and hey lets poke a needle in it this time. This presents a problem. Considering the MRI is still the only machine that can see thingy (again it can't be felt by anyone either) and it's positioning, it is probable that a biopsy can't be done in the MRI machine. Still waiting on an answer for that one. So do we just poke around in there and try to hit it?? Cut it out or off just for the heck of it? No body is prepared to say it is anything sinister nor are they prepared to say it's not. Seriously, can someone please tell me how, for the love of god, you can have 4 MRI's, 4 mammograms and 6 u/sounds in a period of 12 months and still not know what this is or isn't. So as it sits, back to headlining the MDT on Thursday to get input from group of guru's as quote "my breast don't scan normally". Another targetted u/s on Friday. And wait for an answer on whether the biopsy can be done by MRI. Waiting waiting waiting yet again. Fuckity fuck fuck. I am sick of this roller coaster. I want to get off and my money back. Mental status right now = somewhere between zoned out numbness and seriously pissed off. Strongly considering ostrich tactics at the moment. Thanks for listening. :/
Newly diagnosed invasive carcinoma stage 2
Hi there , new to this .... Diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma in my right breast . Had a lumpectomy 3 weeks ago , 2 nodes removed and 18mm Tumor .Nodes were clear . Had satellite nodules in my margins which were not seen in any scan or during surgery, so margins were not clear , so had a second surgery last week . Tomorrow is the day I get the next lot of results . Prognosis seems good but the last 4 weeks seem to be waiting for lots of results with always more results that I wasn’t expecting . My left boob feels like it has lumps and am getting paranoid . Feels like from now on there will be suspicious lumps and can’t help but wonder if a double Mastectomy is just better for peace of mind ....surgeon says there is no need . It’s more about lowering stress levels and just wanting to make the best decision now . I guess tomorrow’s results will determine what is best depending on if I get clear margins . So many questions why not just do an MRI now even if it’s just to check the left breast ....anyone have similar thoughts , stories ??
Cost of MRI
I just need to vent. My oncologist suggested I do an MRI to see why I am getting numbness in my arms & legs. I have also been suffering a lot more headaches. Well the MRI cost me $1000. How much do I get back from Medicare? You guessed it ZERO! What about private health insurance? ZERO.... Why isn't this test covered? I don't understand. I have metastatic breast cancer. So an MRI is the only way to definitively test the progress of my mets. Can anyone explain to me why this is not covered. BCNA is this on your radar?
Testing question
My 44 year old daughter has been treated at Wesley Brisbane for cysts in her breasts for years. Now they have found something suspicious in her breast and want to do MRI. She’s had them before but this one needs to be done at a particular time of the month, and she’s had her uterus removed so no periods. They said if it’s not the right time, they will repeat it. She can no longer afford all this. She rang breastscreen and they said all they can do is book a mammogram for October, which is twelve months since her last one ( when Wesley found this lump). Her GP said she needs the MRI but can’t order a bulk billed one. Does anyone know where she goes from here. Neither of us want her to wait till October. She will pay for one MRI if needed but can’t do much more than one.The never ending circle
I literally go from ultrasound to mammogram to mri to ultrasound and then biopsies. This is about my 6th time in 2 years which they say is because of dense breasts. This is getting frustrating and the costs are so high. Has anyone else had this experience. At this stage negative but last two years this keeps happening. Back again for another ultrasound this week after mri.
OMG what a day! !!
Hi all Just wanted to vent a bit as had a s**t day! I had an appointment at the hospital to get the results of the MRI I had in May at the request of the surgeon as they saw a small "thing" on the mammogram and ultrasound, and being Triple Neg they are taking no chances. Got told there was a it of a wait as they were a Dr down ( nothing new that always happens). Appointment time was 10.40. Got talking to another lady there whose appointment was 10.20 with the same surgeon/reg. Too cut along story short there was only one registrar between two surgeons that both had clinics. The main man left at 12.30ish as had other commitments! and the other surgeon was due in theater at 1.00pm! The Breast Care Nurse was very helpful and tried to find out when we would be seen. The 10.20 app went in at 1.30ish to see the reg and there were two others before me! At 2.30 still waiting to see the reg then she gets called back to the ward and another Dr is sent down to replace her. 2.50pm finally got in to see him. He asked why I was there told him for results of MRI he found it on the computer and started reading then turned to me and said " I am very sorry to tell you there is a 2.5cm lesion in the left breast which dose not look good " OMG WTF How can that be it was only very small on the ultrasound a week before the MRI. I am in total shock and panic so is Hubby. Hubby said 'Are you sure you have the right report as it was not worth a biopsy a week before the MRI" "Yes they recommend a biopsy and follow up appointment in the next 3 days" This all can't be true its a nightmare. The DR leaves the room to call the reg so i ask if breast care nurse is still around. As soon as she came in knew something was wrong when i told her she did not believe it either. After a very stressful and emotional 10minsand a lot of talking and shouting it was discovered that the junior Dr had read last years report when I was diagnosed. The new report said something there to be monitored and to have repeat MRI in 6 months. Holy S**t I went to Hell and back. BCN was not happy with the DRs and their handling of the situation and was putting in a complaint and so will we. It was like being in a movie. There was a lot of apologizing and hugs from the female reg and BCN and Hubby but it was very distressing. I started this post last night but became too upset to finish it and I did not leave the hospital until 4.10pm!!!!! I still cant believe it happened. Sorry to go on a bit but needed to get it off my chest, keep going over it in my head and with Hubby. He cant believe it happened either. He had to apologize to the Dr for shouting at him but it was justified at the time as both were in total shock. BCN is going to get the surgeon to review the report and hopefully when I go back in Dec for the results of the next one there will not be such a cock up!!! I have calmed down a bit now after a few red wines last night but it all keeps popping up in my head. Thanks for listening everyone, Take care xx ;) <3
Call out for anyone living in Queensland who has experienced out of pocket costs for breast MRIs
Hi everyone, I have another call out for someone interested in talking to the media! There is so much interest at the moment in breast cancer related stories so we want to make the most of this. This time a senior journalist with a major paper is wanting to run a story on the lack of rebates for breast MRI and wants to interview a Qld woman. If you live in Qld and were left out of pocket for your MRIs and are interested in speaking to the media about your experience please direct message me Thanks!
Cysts - pancreas
Hi, I had a successful lumpectomy/radiation 3 years ago and have been cancer free since then. I've been so lucky. However, on the latest 6 monthly blood test, Ca19.9 levels were up and rising, so I was sent for Pet scan (clear of obvious cancer, hooray!). But then another blood test showed they were still going up so I was sent an MRI to check for very small cancers. The surgeon who read the MRI told me that I had small cysts on my pancreas, and that they are harmless now but could turn cancerous. His method for dealing with that is to watch them. I'll be sent for another MRI in a year. He also said the Ca19.9 readings can indicate pretty much anything, from not very significant things to serious, and I'll also be having an endoscopy/colonoscopy to double check. Has anyone out there had a similar situation? I know pancreatic cancer is pretty scary.
