Photo: The Rat on the Cat on the Dog! Amazing! (Sent from Mudhubanini/Laura; location: Starbucks, Santa Barbara, CA)I had the breast MRI on Monday which was an interesting experience. I laid down on my front with my breasts hanging down through special holes so to isolate them, then the MRI magnets or coils could get precise imaging of them.
I also had an IV as they administer a contrast solution half way through the test to then be able to take a second set of images to see if any areas of the breasts enhance which could mean vascularization (a blood supply) this could indicate other areas of cancer. Yikes.
They had a difficult time finding the vein in my left arm, dug around a bit but were careful to not hurt me. I suggested the right arm had a better vein which they then decided to use and got first time. Yay. It was a bit robotic like with the contrast solution administered by an automated device with the syringe attached to a line and then to my arm!
It took about 30 minutes in the machine. I had ear plugs in as the MRI is rather noisy with a lot of clunking and buzzing. I felt the contrast drug hit my system half way through - very strange sensations in my face and head.
As I left I wanted to say goodbye to the tech who had set me up for the test and when i looked around she was staring at the computer screen talking rapidly into the phone with another person also staring at the screen. My paranoid mind immediately thought the worst - they see something awful!!
My dearest husband accompanied me to this test and was there to drive me back home. A huge support!
We had a call later that afternoon from the radiology department asking us if we had my prior mammogram and ultrasound images so that could compare them with the MRI ones. This was a different system so they didn't have them. We then made the trip back in to deliver the records.
I didn't get the results until 6pm the next day. The doctor called me and kindly left a message as I wasn't home. His first words were: "Joanne, I have good news!" Now that is the kind of words one does like to hear especially with this type of thing.
The MRI showed no other further disease in either breast - just the DCIS that was initially found. This area will need to be dealt with further surgery but no other additional stuff to contend with in the breasts! Double yay!!
I will be talking with the doc to now decide what course of action to take to try and completely heal and limit recurrence of any disease.
May we all be healthy. (Eat your veggies, please)
