October is breast cancer awareness month. I will probably get my annual mammogram because I have my annual physical this month.
I was told I have dense breasts. I have also been hearing that you need to have something else done besides a mammogram if you have dense breasts.
My MD retired about a year and a half ago. I now see a nurse practitioner. Although I totally respect NP’s , she does not seem to talk to me about, or be knowledgeable about all the stuff my MD was.
Any of you have experience with the extra test suggested for dense breasts? What are your experiences re mammograms, dense breasts or NP’s?
I go to a breast clinic for this, not my general practitioner or gynecologist. The breast clinic told me that I have dense breast tissue and I follow their recommendations. Without looking it up, I believe they do a breast ultrasound.
I go to our hospital’s dedicated women’s health center for my mammograms. I had to have a biopsy 2 years ago due to calcifications (turned out benign, thank heavens). Last year, they recommended that I have a new, 3-D mammogram, partly recommended due to my dense breasts. I did and it was just a few extra views and they cleared me.
If you don’t have confidence in your NP, perhaps you should see a women’s health specialist for this part of your health care.
The quick answer is that it’s important to know if you have dense breasts because women with dense breasts are more likely to develop cancer and regular film and 2D mammograms are hard to read in women with dense breasts. These women should ask for a 3D digital mammogram and in some circumstances will benefit from a breast MRI or ultrasound.
I would highly recommend the breastcancer.org site for anyone who wants to educate themselves about breast health.
My GYN suggests annual breast ultrasound in addition to mammogram. She also suggested that if I want to feel more confident, I could schedule the two tests six months apart, instead of scheduling both for the same day. Each exam is still performed once/year, but I am being looked at every six months. Do not know how valid this is, but I have been following her suggestion.
I’ve always been told I have dense breast tissues. Last few times, after they’ve done the 3D mammography, they suggested that I go back to do breast ultrasound. It was the radiologist’s call.
I have dense breasts, too. Over the years I have had mammograms, ultrasounds, and breast MRIs. It seems like there aren’t clear protocols, because I get different advice from my PCP, my Gyno, and various radiologists.
One word of advice - check with your insurance provider before embarking on whatever testing routine is recommended. I naively assumed that tests ordered by my in-network providers would be covered. My insurance provider had other ideas. My doctor ordered an MRI, but because I didn’t have a mammogram and an ultrasound with suspicious results first, they would not cover the MRI.
I have dense breasts, and have a family history of breast cancer. My HMO will only pay for routine mammograms, so I self-pay a breast clinic to do an ultrasound 6 months after my yearly mammograms. It’s about $200 to pay privately, but the peace of mind it gives me is worth it.
I had a mastectomy, radiation and reconstruction in 2008.
Needless to say, I get an annual mamo and sonogram on the other side every year.
A very close friend starts chemo for breast cancer a week from today. That makes 3 women on my block that I’m aware of-- my next door neighbor was about 6 months ahead of me.
I have had a few instances (3 I think) where I had to undergo the sonogram and once had an MRI. So far I have not have gotten the all clear, but not taking any chances.
Until I reached Medicare, I always paid for ultrasound. Once it cost $900. I never understood why insurance wouldn’t cover a procedure that the radiologist felt was necessary. From my first mammogram on, every doctor has stressed the dense tissue issue.
Until reading this thread, it never occurred to me to not have both tests done at same time.
Maybe not - was told I had dense breasts also - have never been advised to get anything special (although once they did retake some photos). At this point they have over a dozen years of my mammos on file at the same location to compare.
I have dense breasts. Annual mammography and sonography on calendar for next week. Last year had the new 3-D mammography and it was covered by my insurance, no question although I did have to sign a release that I would pay the difference if my insurance did not cover. You need the referral/prescription written for the mammography/sonography otherwise they won’t necessary schedule both appointments for the same day.
Another vote for checking with your insurance. Mine will cover the 3D mammogram, but it must be billed along with a 2D and must be billed as preventative care. So yup, you would need to have the 2D done, have the radiologist look at it, and then have the 3D done.
My insurance company will not cover mammograms as preventive care if they are not considered routine … meaning that if the doctor indicates anything but “routine” on the script, I would have to pay (for a test that would otherwise be free to me). With a high deductible health plan, that means I have to spring for the bill if I haven’t met the deductible - and pay 20% of the cost if I have. Personally, I think that stinks (although I will pay - but not everyone is so fortunate). It’s the same with colonoscopy.
I have never been told that I have dense breasts, but my state only has to inform you if your breasts are dense. I would prefer to be told they are not, so I don’t have to worry that they are & they forgot to tell me.
I have dense breasts. I have a yearly mammogram. I’m always asked if I want 2D or 3D. If I opt for 3D, I pay $50 - otherwise my mammogram is free (insurance - preventative care). This year I was called back for an ultrasound of one breast - a radiologist read it immediately and sent me on my way (textbook cyst). I’m lucky in that all mammograms and ultrasounds at the location I go to are read by M.D. Anderson radiologists. I assume they’d recognize cancer in its earliest stages.