- Share This Post
- Pin It
- 5
-
Sparkle (0)
I started writing this post to cover a new study on the benefits of using MRI for the diagnosis of breast cancer (full report). It's an important study, especially for women in a high risk category.
In the process of collecting information on the MRI study, I found myself wondering if an MRI could detect Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC)?
If you are not already aware of Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC), you may be surprised to learn that this is a deadly and virtually "invisible" form of breast cancer. Even though there is now more awareness of this type of breast cancer, it troubles me that there still seems to be no effective early diagnostic tool.
Truth be told. It more than troubles me, it down right
pisses me off(sorry)... infuriates me. Five years ago, someone (Becky) very close to me died from this insidious form of breast cancer. And as recently as a few weeks ago, I spoke with a surgeon who told me there is still no way to detect this type of cancer in it's early stages, and that it is still often misdiagnosed and mistreated.
So, when I read about the success of MRI as a diagnostic tool for breast cancer, and read that its main fault is being "too" sensitive an image (and in-turn leading to sometimes unnecessary biopsies)...It made me wonder if this may someday (hopefully soon) be the answer to detecting Inflammatory Breast Cancer? But until then, we (women) need to be vigilant in understanding the symptoms of both a lump in our breast, as well as changes in the appearance of our breast. When it comes to Inflammatory Breast Cancer -- *WE* are the first line of defense, not the doctor, and not the mammogram.
From the Young Survival Coalition...
What are the symptoms of IBC?
Rapid, unusual increase in breast size; Redness, rash, blotchiness or other skin color; changes of the breast; Persistent itching of breast or nipple; Lump or thickening of breast tissue; Stabbing pain and/or soreness of breast; Feverish breast; Swelling of lymph nodes under the arm or above the collar bone; Dimpling or ridging of breast; Flattening or retracting of nipple; Nipple discharge or change in pigmented area around nipple. Although the above symptoms may indicate a benign breast disorder, any change to your breast(s) should be reported to your healthcare professional immediately. In addition, these symptoms may appear quickly and suddenly.
At Toddler Planet a scientist turned stay-at-home mom is (courageously) blogging about her experience of being recently diagnosed with Inflammatory Breast Cancer. In this particular post she goes through each and every test and examination done prior to her diagnosis.
I will say that the waiting is difficult. The other thing that I have found difficult is the tests. I’ve had so many tests already that I’m having a hard time keeping them straight. If you are too, or you’re curious about how this whole diagnosis thing goes down, then here’s a post for you.
Also see: Steal this post and Laugh. Play. Build. Learn. Oh, and beat cancer.
Back to the MRI study...Unfortunately, even when an MRI is recommended, many will still have the problem of insurance companies not wanting to cover the charge (or being uninsured and not being able to afford the more expensive test).
This study was not designed to determine whether mammography or MRI is a better screening test for breast cancer in women who are at average risk. Mammography is an excellent tool for screening women at average risk for breast cancer especially because it is easily accessible and less expensive than MRI. The amount insurance companies pay for screening mammograms varies from $85 to $150, while the amount paid for MRI scans ranges from $ 800 to $ 2,000. The amount that a patient may pay for these screenings can vary considerably from these insurance payment amounts across the U.S.
The study results strongly support MRI as a complement to -- but not a replacement for --mammography. MRI improves the evaluation of the extent
