Hello everyone !
Our daughter (28 years) has been diagnosed with grade 3 breastcancer. She has been booked in on Wednesday for a hopefully MRI scan but also was offered a CT scan with the NHS for tomorrow. We are not sure which one the better option is… we did search on a few sides but nothing specific was clarified, apart from, that it sounds that a MRI is far more intense with picking stuff up…where an CT is likely to “miss” important things…and in my opinion more agressive to the body ? Has anyone on here had any experience or knowledge which could help to clarify the situation a little?!
Sending strength to everyone who is fighting his own battle on here…and thank you for reaching out and all your support ! T
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Sending love to you and your daughter at this time 
I was diagnosed at 32, my mum hasn’t been the best support system for me during this time so I really appreciate you joining the forum to help as best you can
I posted a couple of months ago about MRI/CT scans, one of our community champs @Tigress explained to me that an MRI is usually done on a specific area of the body rather than an overall picture. You may do a CT scan in the first instance, and if that picks anything up then an MRI to get a better picture of the area (please correct me if I’m wrong!)
Unless of course your daughter’s medical team have a different approach and do a full body MRI over CT scans? Has this been clarified by the consultant? I had a consultant book me in for an MRI once, but didn’t actually tell me what it was for though so I turned up not having a clue. I knew next time to ask more questions! It’s just very rushed at first and sometimes you forget to ask things…!
I can’t comment on what’s more “aggressive to the body”, it may be worth speaking to one of the Breast Cancer Now nurses though as they’ll know a lot more on this ( Helpline: 0808 800 6000 (Mon-Fri 9am-4pm; Sat 9am-1pm). Hopefully someone else on the forum may also know more on this too to help out.
Best wishes to you and and your daughter 
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Hi @templar-1310 I am not a medical professional but have recently had both an MRI and a CT scan on the same area and the difference was explained to me thus - the MRI picks up detail in soft tissue which is what the breast is made up of so a good image of the tumour and the extent of it can be got. It is particularly good for women with dense breast tissue, which most younger, premenopausal women have. A CT scan is better for bones and cartilage so can spot spread to the chest wall for example. MRIs are safer to use as they don’t use x-rays whereas CT scans do. A CT scan in small doses shouldn’t present that much of a risk however. I guess it depends precisely what the purpose of the scan is as to which is most effective. I’m so sorry that you have to deal with this, as a parent it is very upsetting.
I echo the advice given by @Yasmeink in that a call to the nurses here tomorrow between 9.00-16.00 on 0808 800 6000 might give you more clarity on this and any other questions you may have about process.
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I am not a medical professional but would guess she is having an MRI of the specific area of concern (presumably her breast?) and a wider CT (eg chest, abdomen, pelvis) to check for any further spread. CT is quite a quick procedure and if anything is identified from that they may do further investigations. MRIs are more detailed and take longer to do.
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Hello Yasmeink ! Thank you so very much for reaching out so quick yesterday ! And apologies for this rather late reply but the last two days have been full on with calling between different hospitals…arranging drivers for our daughter between our family and friends. Anything what helps to take pressure of our daughter and her husband. Rigt now it is tough, as we are in Denmark and our daughter is in the UK.
Im so very sorry to hear about your Mum not being a best support for you. This must bevery tough and upsetting! I hope that you have other family members and close friends who are there for you and giving you support!!
I think it can be so overwhelming, having to deal with this. It is so very scary and everyone deals differently with this horrendous scenario. But we have decided if our daughter is facing this in a strangly calm and fully focused manner, than we damn own her to do the same !! But hell, it is tough and the worst hasn’t even started yet.
What you did say regarding the CT scan makes sense i think.our daughter is still waiting for the fesults if she has this HER2 or not and it wasent clear yet, if the cancer has spread into the chest (breast bone) area… hence the CT scan first… tomorrow she will see another consultant to find out- with the results from today- what the next steps are…also regarding if she will also need to have a MRI on top of it. It freaks me out to think, all the stuff what gets bombed to the body and more to come when the treatment kicks in… i think our daughter was a bit in the same hsituation like you… no one really dihd tell her and her husband why and for what… i think both of them they are so numb right now…they dont even have the nerve to ask loads of questions… this is why i hope to fly out to her soon to be a bit of help pushung a bit for explanations and ask loads of questions…
I think i will take your tip on board and will talk also to a Cancer Now Nurse…
I wish you also the best and strength…never give up the fight ! You are such amazing woman on here…its truly inspirational ! All the best !
Hello Tigress ! Apologies for the late reply but the last few days have been just full on.
Thank you so much for the fast response and reaching out to me…so very much appreciated!
Grateful for the detailed explanation between CT and MRI…i mentioned yesterday, that i feel much safer on here with info from all your incredible woman, then searching on the minefield which the net is. So thank you all for the info and tips. So very grateful!
Thank you also for your kind words towards the end of uour note…it is scary as hell…i never ever have experienced this kind of overwhelming and numbing fear. So how must our daughter feel ??? That is the worst…i cant make it better for her, for her dad- my husband, her young husband( his father got diagnosed with a brain tumor only a few weeks ago) her brother… it terrs me apart…and the mind going entire insane with all those nasty thoughts…
Im wishing you well Tigress… please stay strong and never give up the fight !
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Hi @templar-1310 you are all in the worst phase at the moment, in that information is still being gathered and there will be a period of waiting for test results to go back to the Mixed Disciplinary Team (MDT) who then make a diagnosis and design a treatment plan which is specific to your daughter. It is understandable - and common - for us all to fill in the gaps that we don’t yet know with worst case scenarios. Once you know the factual diagnosis and the treatment plan, the mind can turn to positivity and taking the required steps to treat the cancer.
She is very young to be facing this challenge but with the right support and belief, the chances are she will come out the other side and go on to live a normal life. The treatments can be harsh however so hearing from those who have been where she is now will help. I have put a link below to a forum thread for young women which might be helpful.
If she is indeed HER2+ then this thread will allow her to interact with others who have had the specialist targeted treatment HER2+ and need some buddies
I know you are very busy at the moment so no need to reply but I hope these links will be useful (just click the pink links)and I send every good wish to you and your extended family for a successful conclusion to this unwelcome challenge.
Hello.
I’m sorry to hear this news…so young
The MRI focus on skeleton and CT scan on organs
She will need both …( lm not a medic. Just going
With what l know. )
The MRI is noisy and takes about 40 minutes
The CT takes minutes
I hope all goes well for her. She is lucky to have your
Support.
Xxx
@templar-1310 My heart goes out to you all; that’s rotten luck to get breast cancer so young. If your daughter is HER2+ then there are a good few younger women on the HER2+ and need some buddies thread who are super helpful, friendly and supportive. And if she isn’t HER2+ then there are still many younger women on this wonderful forum who she can connect with. She is not alone. None of you are. XX