An MRI of the breast is perhaps the best method we have to evaluate your breasts for the presence of a cancer. However, breast MRIs are also the most expensive method to evaluate the breast. And therefore they are not used as a screening tool. Breast MRIs are used to either add additional information to mammography when a mammogram is unclear. A mammogram may be unclear if the mammogram is dense, that is if the report of your mammogram describes heterogeneously dense breast or extremely dense breast. Likewise, if there is an abnormality on the mammogram it may need further evaluation with a breast MRI.
Shortly after they celebrated their third year anniversary, Mary Jane and her husband, Alan, made plans to start a family. After a year of trying to conceive, Mary Jane made an appointment with her gynecologist to make sure everything was in working order before she and her husband tried again the next month. During her examination, Mary Jane’s doctor noticed a mass in her breast and scheduled an ultrasound directed biopsy. The lab results revealed cancer. Mary Jane, only 34 years old, was shocked. How could this happen to her at such a young age? What would her husband think? Would they even be able to have children now? Mary Jane was heartbroken.
Jackie is a good mom. She takes care of her kids. She gets them to do their homework. She drives them to dance class, soccer games and piano lessons. She washes their clothes, packs their lunches and cooks their dinner. And she does the same for her husband. Jackie has little time for herself, especially when you take into account the volunteer time at her kids’ schools.
