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Breast MRI

ksfc
ksfc CSN Member Posts: 251
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
I recently had an experience with a breast MRI that I thought I'd share in the hopes of helping someone else avoid the same problem. I was having an MRI rather than a mammogram on my affected side because last years mammogram set off problems with cellulitis and vasculitis because of the rad damage. Anyway, I went for the MRI (drove 2 hours) after being screened only to find out that I would not fit with the breast coil that they use. I'm definitely a plus size woman, but not what you would consider too big for an MRI. I was mortified, of course, but came back and reported the problem to my doctor who couldn't believe it. He contacted another radiologist and it turns out that there are different breast coils. The one that I tried was a completely raised platform that takes away about 6-7 inches of the MRI. The techs told me that there are many who won't fit with this type of coil. So....I went to another hospital with a coil that only fits under your breasts and I slid right in - no problem. So, if you're a large person and you have to have a breast MRI, check out the coil ahead of time to save yourself wasted time and humiliation. I will say that everybody from techs to doctors who dealt with me through this was very kind and understanding. My onc felt terrible about sending me to the first place and told me that he had never even considered that it would be a problem and furthermore, he wondered why they would have such a limiting piece of equipment. That made me feel better. Anyway, the MRI is done and I'm continuing my battle to lose weight after bc :-)
Diane
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Comments

  • DeeNY711
    DeeNY711 CSN Member Posts: 476 Member
    #2
    I'm so glad you posted a message because I have always found your responses to people's questions compassionate and clear. Aside from your 2 hour drive to the first MRI office, the 2 hour ride back must have been two solid hours of distress. I'm sorry to hear that a mammogram set cellulitis and vasculitis in motion. The information you offered about breast coils was very interesting. Thank you for taking the time to share it.
    Love,
    Denise
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  • ksfc
    ksfc CSN Member Posts: 251
    #3
    DeeNY711 said:

    I'm so glad you posted a message because I have always found your responses to people's questions compassionate and clear. Aside from your 2 hour drive to the first MRI office, the 2 hour ride back must have been two solid hours of distress. I'm sorry to hear that a mammogram set cellulitis and vasculitis in motion. The information you offered about breast coils was very interesting. Thank you for taking the time to share it.
    Love,
    Denise

    Thanks for your kind words Denise. The drive back was miserable, but my family and friends put me back on the right track. As far as the mammogram, I don't want to scare anybody off from having one. It's not a common thing, but I've had problems with the area by the lymph node incision ever since right after surgery when I developed a staph infection. We had put off the mammogram for awhile to let the rad damage settle down a little bit, but it was still too much. Thank goodness for good antibiotics and steroids.

    Diane
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