Breast MRI Helps Detect Second Cancer in Newly Diagnosed Patients
Monday March 31, 2008
Getting a diagnosis of breast cancer is bad enough, but what if you had cancer in both breasts, and it wasn't found until after you completed treatments? A new study on women showed that 10% of newly diagnosed breast cancer patients do have contralateral (opposite side) breast cancer, which doesn't always show up during clinical breast exams and mammograms. Having a breast MRI at the time of diagnosis will accurately show whether or not your other breast has abnormalities, and can help distinguish between benign and malignant lumps. The study also found that breast MRI worked well despite breast density, menopausal status, or type of breast cancer. Constance Lehman published results of the study in the New England Journal of Medicine in March 2007. Dr. William Gradishar reviewed the study for Projects In Knowledge.
Comments
The article you referenced clearly states that a contralateral breast cancer was identified in 3% of patients. The 10% you quote is lifetime risk which is actually the same risk as a patient without a breast cancer diagnosis.
After reading your article, I now know that I am not alone. I was not sure if it was a precaution by the doctors. Only, why don’t they do it the first time around. It sure could have save a lot of radiation time!