18 months ago I had what I thought was blocked ducts in my left breast. My lovley consultant reassured me and carried out an op which went fine and left a tiny scar. All the time I blocked out anything to do with cancer.
Just before Christmas I noticed a change in the size and shape of my right breast, although I haven’t had discharge like last time I assumed it was the same thing and asked my GP to refer me again which she did. I saw the same consultant and I was very blase about the whole thing. However, after the mammogram and ultra sound didn’t show anything up and I was all ready to go home and take some paracetamol, the consultant called me back in. He said he was concerned about the change in size and shape and has reffered me for an MRI scan. I said surely if nothing was showing up, perhaps there was just nothing wrong, He said if only that was always the case. Now I’m terrified, anything I read on the internet implies that MRI scans are used to detect breast cancer. My breast is still getting bigger and is very sore but there are no lumps. This all happened Tuesday and I don’t know how long I’ll have to wait for scan. Has anyone else had an MRI? Thank you for reading me. X
Hi Princess
Yes, MRI can be used to detect breast cancer, but it can also be used to rule it out!
I had a lump that I could feel and that could be seen on ultrasound that was cancerous, but it didn’t show up on a mammogram, so my surgeon wanted to have a really good look inside both breasts just to see if there was anything else in there that needed to be dealt with. She warned me that MRI is VERY sensitive and picks up all sorts of stuff that is completely benign and not worth worrying about, like cysts for example which I know I have quite a few of.
I had the MRI (I can tell you about it in more detail if you like) and true enough, I was called back to have a further core biopsy on an area the radiographer wasn’t sure of. That biopsy was done, and it came back as normal breast changes as would be expected in a woman my age.
I ALSO had the reassurance that the rest of my breast, and the other one, were CLEAR and so I was confident there were no other tumours or lumps that needed to be looked at further, so I felt VERY reassured that I had an MRI.
Please don’t worry, but thank your surgeon for being so very thorough, and best of luck.
Hi Princesspoppet and welcome to the BCC forums
In addition to the support you have here please feel free to call our helpline where you can talk your concerns through with one of our team in confidence, the line is open 9-5 weekdays and 9-2 Sunday on 0808 800 6000.
Take care
Lucy