Boobs are the worst - alleviate my fears please. UPDATE #2

[karinothing]

Ever since I got my first mammo my left breast has given my trouble. They always seen some focal asymmetry on the mammo but can never find it on the ultrasound. Today I went for a 6 month check. They found the spot again and it appears to be more prominent. I did the U/S and they can never find it on the U/S so I had a second more intense mammo (the worst) and they can clearly see it (i can clearly see it). So the Dr debated doing a mammo guided biopsy but decided that they wanted to send me for a breast MRI, which I have to wait for because it needs to be btwn days 7-14 of my cycle. 

Has any one had a breast MRI and can describe it? I am pretty clastrophobic so sort of panicking about that amongst other things. Anyone know how common it is to have something show clearly on a mammo but not be found in an US?

[sadie]

I alternate mammos and breast MRIs every 6 months due to family history of breast cancer.

The MRI is not awful. You lay on your stomach on a table (there's a head support like if you're getting a massage). Your boobs kind of hang down into an open area of the table. You are in the machine from your head down to your abdomin. There are a series of pictures they run that range from a min to a few min. The entire thing takes about 30 min. You can't stop mid way-if you do, you'll need to start over to ensure same angle for imaging.

The machine is loud. They give you headphones and often pipe in music (I got to choose my youtube playlist).

You can ask your doc for meds to chill. Some hospitals also have standing MRI machines if claustrophobia is a concern; I don't have any experience with those.

My MRI was a contrast MRI-they injected a dye into my arm prior to starting the scan.

I can't speak to the diagnostic components you ask about as my scans have been clear.

The test is not a big deal (I say this in hindsight as I had myself all worked up leading into it all.)

LMK if I can provide more info.

[karinothing]

sadie, thank you for explaining the MRI. I think i can probably handle that. Do you slide in head first or feet first into the machine? The pictures i look at makes it seem feet first, which seems less scary.

[sadie]

Mine was feet first. It really helped me that my head (and eyesight) was facing down, looking at the floor. I didn't really notice too much being enclosed that way.

[karinothing]

Sept 11, 2024 10:35:40 GMT -5 sadie said:

Mine was feet first. It really helped me that my head (and eyesight) was facing down, looking at the floor. I didn't really notice too much being enclosed that way.

Yeah I think that will help. 

I think i need to email my dr about what it means when something shows up on the mammo but not the U/S because I really don't understand that. 

[sadie]

Sept 11, 2024 10:52:37 GMT -5 karinothing said:

Sept 11, 2024 10:35:40 GMT -5 sadie said:

Mine was feet first. It really helped me that my head (and eyesight) was facing down, looking at the floor. I didn't really notice too much being enclosed that way.

Yeah I think that will help. 

I think i need to email my dr about what it means when something shows up on the mammo but not the U/S because I really don't understand that. 

My mom had the reverse-nothing shown on mammo, but detected on U/S. All these imaging tools work differently and, when used together, will hopefully give the most comprehensive details.

[dexteroni]

I have a boob MRI every year for the same reason as sadie and I second everything she said. So I actually am a little claustrophobic and I can tell you that it’s not that bad. The first time or two, I was a little nervous when they first slid me into the tube. But the feeling passed after 30 seconds or so, and I haven’t had an issue since. I would just remind myself that nothing bad is going to happen and I’ll be out in 20 minutes.

The hardest part for me now is remaining perfectly still for those 20 minutes. I swear my body just does not want to do that. I ask them to let me know when I’m halfway through. It helps my not feel like omgggg I’m going to be in here forever.

If you’re uncomfortable when you first lie down, ask to reposition. They can give you pillows and pads and stuff to help. The more comfortable you are, the easier it is to stay still. Even so, my rib cage is usually a little sore the next day, but it’s nothing too bad. I’m glad they’re looking into this further. It’s statistically likely to be nothing, and I hope that’s the case for you. Good luck!

[dexteroni]

Oh and mine is also feet first. One place I used to go was head first, and while I prefer feet first, both ways are ok.

I also forgot to mention the sounds. Yes they’re loud, but they’re also unusual, and take me by surprise every time. This video is a good example so you know what to expect. m.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=28&v=hvXoHU9Cexk&embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F&source_ve_path=MTM5MTE3LDI4NjY2

[huskymom]

I just went through this. And then had a follow up MRI biopsy (benign). It’s much better bc you’re face down and can’t see anything (though at the biopsy one- it had a mirror behind the face rest so I’m just staring into my own eyes the whole time??). I wish they had headphones, I just got earplugs. It’s loud and boring, and agree the banging noises are more sporadic than constant. There is an IV which for me was the worst part (I do not like needles).

During the biopsy a nurse rubbed my back the entire time which was very nice but a little strange.

I go every 6 months for some kind of mammo/MRI/US so this was definitely the least fun but mammos don’t bother me at all.

[huskymom]

Sept 11, 2024 11:25:56 GMT -5 huskymom said:

I just went through this. And then had a follow up MRI biopsy (benign). It’s much better bc you’re face down and can’t see anything (though at the biopsy one- it had a mirror behind the face rest so I’m just staring into my own eyes the whole time??). I wish they had headphones, I just got earplugs. It’s loud and boring, and agree the banging noises are more sporadic than constant. There is an IV which for me was the worst part (I do not like needles).

During the biopsy a nurse rubbed my back the entire time which was very nice but a little strange.

I go every 6 months for some kind of mammo/MRI/US so this was definitely the least fun but mammos don’t bother me at all.

Oh and mine was feet first both times, I’m guessing this depends on the location.

[underwaterrhymes]

I had many breast MRIs before my mastectomy. They’re great at seeing everything that’s going on, but can also flag extra issues that can be stress-inducing, but ultimately benign, so keep that in mind. If you have dense breasts, though, I highly recommend them as they also catch things much sooner than a mammogram might.

With a breast MRI, they will have you lie face down on the machine and fit your breasts into a hole. You will lie in Superwoman position, with your arms above your head. You also will have an IV. They’ll take some pictures without the contrast and then about three quarters of the way through, will inject it. It will feel warm, but it’s not painful.

The position you hold is uncomfortable, but they’ll do the best they can to make sure it’s not painful. If something hurts, let them know and they will do what they can to fix it.

ETA - I’m pretty sure mine have always been head first, but I haven’t had one since my mastectomy, which was two and half years ago, so I’m not positive. I also get brain MRIs every other year, so I could be mixing it up.

[timorousbeastie]

I’ve gotten a breast MRI every year for the past 15 years thanks to previous radiation treatment. My experience has always been you lie face down, the techs position your breasts to hang in the right spot with your arms stretched over your head, give you either headphones or earplugs (I’ve had both; honestly, the machine is so loud that even when I get headphones I can barely hear the music anyway), then are moved feet first into the machine. I don’t think my head goes fully into the donut hole, but between being face down and not having my glasses on therefore not able to see anything, I can’t say for sure. I think my legs are out in the open on the other side of the machine. Honestly, the worst part of the experience (especially now that I am 15 years older compared to when I got my first one) is how incredibly stiff I am when I’m done after staying completely still in that position with my arms over my head for so long. Climbing off the table is awkward thanks to that.

[karinothing]

Thanks everyone. I have shoulder issues so I am somewhat concerned about being able to put my arm above my head for long periods, but hopefully they can account for that somehow. Or i will take drugs lol.

[zizibet]

Tell them you're claustrophobic when you schedule- you may be able to use an open machine, or be allowed a low dose of anti-anxiety meds during. I have to get abdominal ones done every couple of years, and the drugs have really helped. (Can't use an open machine for those.).

[sadlebred]

One thing that helps me is having my eyes covered as I'm claustrophobic. They may be able to provide you with a blindfold (like a sleeping mask). With my eyes covered, I usually fall asleep during an MRI. The noises are a bit like a white noise machine.

[imimahoney]

Sept 11, 2024 10:31:30 GMT -5 karinothing said:

sadie, thank you for explaining the MRI. I think i can probably handle that. Do you slide in head first or feet first into the machine? The pictures i look at makes it seem feet first, which seems less scary.

Do you have any anxiety because I do and will say that a breast MRI is absolutely awful for me. You need to lay super still with banging noise all around you. My Dr now gives me an rx of one time anxiety meds for me to get through it.

[lessel]

I would also ask about the MRI machine type when scheduling. There are open MRIs, but even regular MRIs that are just more wide, white, and bright. I once got squeezed in a seemingly older and yellowing GE MRI and very quickly noped out of it. They sent me over to a place with a Siemens machine, and it was tons better. I think it's a 'wide bore' machine.

Best wishes... I feel like I'm on your trajectory with a similarly mysterious spot. ❤

[4speedy]

I had mine in an open MRI. I laid on my abdomin and then they slid me in feet first. It really helped because even though I was looking at the floor, I could still kind of see what was going on in the room and control center. It was loud, too loud to be able to follow an audio book but not so loud that I couldn’t hear music. It lasted about 45 minutes. It honestly was not that bad. It’s not one long continuous process, it’s broken up into many small images. Even though you can’t change position or make big movements, they will coach you to take deep breaths in between the images (I kept holding my breath).

[karinothing]

Sept 12, 2024 8:42:24 GMT -5 lessel said:

I would also ask about the MRI machine type when scheduling. There are open MRIs, but even regular MRIs that are just more wide, white, and bright. I once got squeezed in a seemingly older and yellowing GE MRI and very quickly noped out of it. They sent me over to a place with a Siemens machine, and it was tons better. I think it's a 'wide bore' machine.

Best wishes... I feel like I'm on your trajectory with a similarly mysterious spot. ❤

Good advice. I hope your mystery spot is nothing.

[karinothing]

Well i had the MRI today. It wasn't bad. I took dramamine and basically slept the entire time. But I have to go get a biopsy which sucks.

It says:

LEFT BREAST: There is very faint nonmass enhancement measuring 12 x 15 x 11 mm (transverse x AP x craniocaudal) deep in the central breast correlating with the mammographic abnormality. Although it is subthreshold enhancement, given its prominence on mammogram, tissue sampling is advised.

[underwaterrhymes]

karinothing - 💙 Have you had a biopsy before? If its a core needle, the actually biopsy itself doesn’t hurt, really, after they numb you. The noise is the worst part.

[karinothing]

Oct 3, 2024 15:55:26 GMT -5 underwaterrhymes said:

karinothing - 💙 Have you had a biopsy before? If its a core needle, the actually biopsy itself doesn’t hurt, really, after they numb you. The noise is the worst part.

I have had skin biopsies but not this kind. What kind of noise?

[karinothing]

Oh and it will need to be a mammo guides biopsy because they can't see it on the u/s

[underwaterrhymes]

Oct 3, 2024 16:06:44 GMT -5 karinothing said:

Oct 3, 2024 15:55:26 GMT -5 underwaterrhymes said:

karinothing - 💙 Have you had a biopsy before? If its a core needle, the actually biopsy itself doesn’t hurt, really, after they numb you. The noise is the worst part.

I have had skin biopsies but not this kind. What kind of noise?

Core needle biopsies make like a punching noise with every sample they take. It can be disconcerting and you will feel pressure, but it doesn’t hurt once you’re numb.

My core needle biopsy was ultrasound guided, but I had a mammogram guided radioactive seed placement in prep for a surgical biopsy. That was done while I was seated and in compression. It’s uncomfortable, but the tech was very gentle and the seed placement itself didn’t hurt because, again, they numbed me. The compression was the worst part of it, honestly. (I was nervous the seed would fall out before my biopsy the next day because my calcifications were shallow and behind my nipple, but it was fine.)

[lust2hart]

Here's a thread from when I needed a biopsy a year ago: pandce.proboards.com/thread/639567/experience-breast-biopsy

[karinothing]

Thanks ladies for the info.

My bi-rads score is 4 (suspicious for malignancy), which is not really giving me optimistic feelings

[underwaterrhymes]

karinothing - the mammogram / ultrasound / MRI that inspired my surgical biopsy was a BIRADS 4, but it was benign. Just wanted to give you some reassurance that it’s not necessarily malignant. 💙

[whattheheck]

Oct 3, 2024 18:19:26 GMT -5 karinothing said:

Thanks ladies for the info.

My bi-rads score is 4 (suspicious for malignancy), which is not really giving me optimistic feelings

I’m sorry. That’s tough news to hear. If you have questions about whatever you decide is your next step I trust someone on the board can provide some answers and support. So ask away.

[karinothing]

Oct 3, 2024 18:24:19 GMT -5 underwaterrhymes said:

karinothing - the mammogram / ultrasound / MRI that inspired my surgical biopsy was a BIRADS 4, but it was benign. Just wanted to give you some reassurance that it’s not necessarily malignant. 💙

Thanks for this. I know it could be nothing just hard to focus on the "it could be nothing" part..

[underwaterrhymes]

Oct 3, 2024 18:35:37 GMT -5 karinothing said:

Oct 3, 2024 18:24:19 GMT -5 underwaterrhymes said:

karinothing - the mammogram / ultrasound / MRI that inspired my surgical biopsy was a BIRADS 4, but it was benign. Just wanted to give you some reassurance that it’s not necessarily malignant. 💙

Thanks for this. I know it could be nothing just hard to focus on the "it could be nothing" part..

I absolutely understand the fear and anxiety behind this. I’ve had many procedures and am an open book if you have any questions. Take some deep breaths and remember that screenings are designed to catch things early and they often flag things that are concerning looking but wind up being nothing.

Please keep us updated and I’m sending good vibes your way.