Hi, very recently diagnosed, heads a mess and chemo will be starting soon. Any advice on how to cope having a breast mri? I know it probably seems silly and the least of my problems but im so anxious already, not sleeping and not coping basically. Had 1 try of the mri already and couldnt do it, panic set in big time! Thank you
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Hi catlover2
Sorry to hear you feel you are not coping. I felt the same as you this time last year and thought I would never manage the MRI.
I got in touch with my GP and she prescribed diazepam which I just took on the day of MRI and it really took the edge off my fear and calmed my body down. Have you tried that?
When I was in the machine it helped that I was face down, just shut my eyes the whole time and imagined I was lying on a beach and all the noise was builders working nearby! Kept telling myself it will be over soon.
You will get through this and you will feel better than you do now. I wish you all the best.
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Thank you so much for replying, i have contacted my gp so just waiting to see what they will give me. Did you have the lowest dose and how soon to the appt do you take it? I have a long and hard road ahead of me and its really scary. Dont know how everyone has coped, i really dont, i think you are all amazing! I have also asked for my ongoing anxiety and lack of sleep so im hoping i hear from them tomorrow!
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Not silly at all I found the whole thing very scary. My doctor was able to prescribe me some propanolol which 100% calmed my nerves. It meant my body stopped shaking and so I was able to feel much calmer mentally.
During the MRI I tapped my finger to the beat of the music that was playing through the headphones. And I forced myself to breath in for 4 taps and out for 6, sometimes 8 if I could manage it. I did this the entire time and it gave me something to focus on and really helped pass the time.
One of my breast care nurses had a very stern word with me before hand also. She knew how nervous I was but she said without the MRI they wouldnt know exactly whats going on in my breasts and so they wouldnt be able to treat me as thoroughly as they might need to. That was a very big deal to me. I wanted everything found and dealt with.
Definitely speak to your doctor about getting something to calm your nerves. Tap tap tap your finger to the beat and get it done so you can move on from this as quickly as possible. So sorry you have to go through this but I have to say when the MRI finished and I got through it I was so proud of myself. It’s a nice feeling recognising how strong you’ve been. You can do it 
Big hugs
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I hope you get a good response from your GP. I just took one tablet an hour before I left the house. I could feel it working, as if my whole body and mind was unwinding. I also hung onto that packet of pills, thinking I could use them again if necessary but, and I hope this will give you hope, despite being a very anxious person before I had cancer which became unbearable after diagnosis, I found that once treatment got going I felt better and less anxious. I still have those tablets a year on and still plenty left in the packet! Hoping everything goes well for you. You are stronger than you realise at the moment.
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Like these other ladies, I had to take one Valium tablet one hour before going into the MRI machine for the second time as, during the first go, I had the (literally) screaming abdabs because of intense claustrophobia. I also asked if I could go in feet first so my head was near the escape hatch, which helped. Worth a try. You have to be collected if sedated however, in case you were planning to go alone. I honestly thought I would never be able to get in an MRI machine ever again after the first hysterical reaction I had but as Foxgem says, it’s an absolutely crucial element of diagnosis and treatment. Get the tablet, your GP will understand.
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Hi Catlover2
I had my first MRI after an ultrasound to ascertain whether the cancer had spread outside of the breast. I researched the hell out of the procedure. Mine lasted around an hour and was not like what I expected. I thought there would be more noise but actually it was not too noisy. Basically you lie on your front with your arms ahead of you…. like being on a surfboard and the machine does it’s thing. I requested some relaxing music while it was going on which was Enya. They give you headphones and then speak with you as it goes on to explain what they are doing. I did not need anxiety medication but if you feel like you do then don’t hesitate to ask for it. I had to have some dye inserted beforehand which was the only hiccup because I feel that the dyes affect my kidneys. My GP was made aware of this and has been monitoring it. All in all it was not too bad.
Thank you so much for your reply, at least it wasnt just me! Its awkward cuz they try to run to a strict schedule so i also didnt wana push them back to much either as they were already running later from before me but i just knew as soon as i tried i couldnt. Docs have given me diazepam and taking someone with me this time, as i didnt realise i could! Just wish it wasnt so bloody noisy and claustrophobic! You would think in this day and age that they could improve it!! Thanks again, i was trying to pretend im okay but im really not and its all coming out now.
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Thank you for your reply! Makes me feel a little better that its not just me. Makes it harder that i know i need to get it done but i think not sleeping isnt helping and only having the diagnosis last week and trying to pretend im okay caught up with me, especially after a weekend of telling everyone.
Thank you for your reply. Hopefully now i know what to expect, fingers crossed that helps! I am getting diazepam so hopefully takes the edge off it. I couldn’t hear any music at all and the headphones they gave me didnt help so maybe i will try earplugs.
I tried to think of it, not as loud but as a bit noisy. Same as someone else said, like really annoying roadworks outside your window.
Got my fingers and toes crossed for you today. Eyes closed and slow breathing, counting as you tap. 4 taps breath in, 6 taps breath out. You can do it 
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my appts not til next monday now but its an early appt so i shouldnt have to wait around this time! Sods law its on my birthday though! Lol. But thanks so much!
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Of course it is haha Cancer is the gift that keeps on giving! Smile through it just to spite it. My suprise 2nd operation was on my mum’s birthday. You can’t make this stuff up!
I’m glad you’ve got some time to get your head around it. As frustrating as all the waiting is, it can offer you time to reflect
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Did you have chemo? It was a shock when they told me it would be chemo first if im honest. Sons doing his gcses soon and i dont know how im going to react to the chemo, that scares me.
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I’m starting my chemo on the 9th March so we wont be far apart My cancer was HER2 negative so they have to whip it out first.
There is a long thread here in the forum that you will find really useful. Hopefully I can attach it here…
I have 2 teenage girls aged 12 (13 in May) and 15. I have a lot of cancer guilt at the moment that they have to go through all this but like everyone here, we didnt choose this. I have found that being really open and honest has been easier for them. Far less worrying
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Thank you for that link!! I suspect that we might be starting chemo at a very similar time so please keep me posted as to how you are getting on. I hope you are doing okay too. Its just the unknown isnt it.
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Hi again, i have an ultrasound on my axilla tomorrow morning and they only said a scan, they had a cancellation. Do you think they will biopsy it? I hate it when they dont tell me in advance. Thank you
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They might do. I had one of mine biopsied because it was slightly more swollen than the others. This came back negative and later on I had 3 removed during my op that were negative. They might not see any reason to biopsy yours.
Keep in mind lympnodes can swell a little bit if we are fighting off a cold, infection or even if we are a bit run down
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Im guessing they will as they have already said they are swollen. Just wish they would give me a heads up of what might happen! Lol. My anxiety is in overdrive lol. I really appreciate your replies, especially whilst you are going through your own battle! X
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Hi. I had an MRI and then an MRI biopsy. Like the others here, I took a Ativan which really takes the edge off. You are lying face down with your breasts dropped through holes in the table. They give you ear phones to communicate with you and to play music. I told my technician I was very nervous and asked her to give me frequent updates on how long each picture would take. Also helped. It’s really only like 1( mins long and is doable. I did box breathing which is inhale for a count of 4, hold for 4 counts, exhale for a count of 4, hold for count of 4. Repeat. You got this.
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