MRI SCANS

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1

Can anyone tell me why some oncologists give of MRIscans do they show where cancer is? Surely if this is the case everyone would benefit from them.

2

Is it in relation to the boobs or another part of the body, Edwina? MRI scans are sometimes used for younger women as they are a better scan than mammogram on the younger breast.

3

I just keep hearing of breast cancer patients are having them and am wondering if I should have one. (Terrified of secondary breast cancer) ~ I am not one of the younger patients.

4

I have been told i will have to have MRI scans every year on my left breast(had mastectomy of right breast 3 weeks ago), as they found 2 seperate tumors in my right breast,which hadn’t shown up on mamagram/ultrasound,so MRI scans are used as more suitable when mamagrams/ultrasounds don’t detect tumors/lumps(hope that makes sense)?? Del

5

Hi Edwina

I had an MRI scan to determine whether they could do a lumpectomy or if I needed a mastectomy - apparently the mamogram was not clear how much breast tissue was involved (fortunately for me they decided the scan showed I could have a local excision). I think MRI scans are only used when they need more information, if the mamogram/ultrasound results are not clear enough which is more common with younger women. (although I’m not young, so can happen with 50 year olds as well).

6

Hi Edwina,

I was diagnosed in march, aged 34, and have since had a mastectomy and total axillary clearance and I started chemo in may. Personally I have never had an MRI scan, nor have I been offered one. Apparently my hospital doesn’t do them for bc as a rule. I had mammo’s and u/s to diagnose bc (along with biopsies). Pre-chemo I had a chest x-ray, CT scan and a bone scan. I only had these as I had lymph nodes involved.

I think, to be honest, every hosp and every doc seems to be different. I used to think I was being short changed as initially I was never offered nay of these scans!

Hope this helps,

Kelly
-x-

7

Thanks for all your help, what I still don’t understand is that if an cancer can be seen with an MRI scan can why doesn’t everybody have one? I shall have to put that on the list to ask my oncologist.

8

I would love to have an MRI scan but as I am rather on the large side, I cannot get one of these scans. They seemingly show up tumours much more clearly than a mammogram. If you are really unsure its best to ask your oncologist.

Take care a best wishes

Elizabeth x

9

I am a little over 17 stone and fitted in there… just…

mousy

10

Hi I have just had 1st year check and been told I will have an MRI in 6 months because they said that my tumour was opaque on my first mammogram and didn’t look as it should, although I was diagnosed immediately after having ultra sound and needle test straight away.

Lisa