What imaging/screening are you doing if you are higher than average breast cancer risk?

[Anonymous]

Curious what others are doing. I have heterogeneous dense breasts, early forties, family history of breast cancer. 18% lifetime risk on the IBIS scale. (20% is considered high risk.) My gyn recommends yearly mammograms, but during my yearly the radiologist wanted a second set of pictures and then an ultrasound. I have a message out to my doc, but curious what other screenings folks in similar situations are doing. The radiologist mentioned breast mri in the 6 months between mammograms. There were posters up all over “advertising” this procedure fwiw. TIA.

[Anonymous]

My insurance won’t cover the ultra scan but I’m doing one with herscan. I’m also dense with 18% risk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Curious what others are doing. I have heterogeneous dense breasts, early forties, family history of breast cancer. 18% lifetime risk on the IBIS scale. (20% is considered high risk.) My gyn recommends yearly mammograms, but during my yearly the radiologist wanted a second set of pictures and then an ultrasound. I have a message out to my doc, but curious what other screenings folks in similar situations are doing. The radiologist mentioned breast mri in the 6 months between mammograms. There were posters up all over “advertising” this procedure fwiw. TIA.

Yearly mammogram. Genetic testing. MRIs every 18 mos.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Curious what others are doing. I have heterogeneous dense breasts, early forties, family history of breast cancer. 18% lifetime risk on the IBIS scale. (20% is considered high risk.) My gyn recommends yearly mammograms, but during my yearly the radiologist wanted a second set of pictures and then an ultrasound. I have a message out to my doc, but curious what other screenings folks in similar situations are doing. The radiologist mentioned breast mri in the 6 months between mammograms. There were posters up all over “advertising” this procedure fwiw. TIA.

I have 19% lifetime risk, and my breast surgeon says 20% is where insurance will start covering MRI’s. I do every 6 month mammograms with ultrasound.

[Anonymous]

My lifetime risk is somewhere north of 50% with family cancer history, dense tissue, and fibroadenomas. Starting in my early 30s following the finding of fibroadenomas, my high risk doctor recommended a mammogram and breast ultrasound each year (rotating every 6 months) and MRI every 3 years. FWIW, mammograms have yet to identify fibroadenomas but ultrasounds have been very successful. Highly recommend if you have dense tissue.

[Anonymous]

Do fibroadenomas increase your risk?

[Anonymous]

I’ve not heard of fibroadenas increasing risk. There are calculators you can use online to find your risk.

I alternate mammograms and MRIs every six months.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the replies so far!

[Anonymous]

Mammo and US alternating with MRIs every six months.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mammo and US alternating with MRIs every six months.

This. I know it sounds like a lot, but it’s the best screening approach for higher risk.

[Anonymous]

Annual 3D mammograms alternating with US at 6 months. I see a breast specialist annually. I asked about MRI, but doc didn’t recommend in my case.

[Anonymous]

25% risk, over 50, alternating mammo & MRI every six months. As a PP mentioned, insurance usually only covers the MRIs if you are over 20% risk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Curious what others are doing. I have heterogeneous dense breasts, early forties, family history of breast cancer. 18% lifetime risk on the IBIS scale. (20% is considered high risk.) My gyn recommends yearly mammograms, but during my yearly the radiologist wanted a second set of pictures and then an ultrasound. I have a message out to my doc, but curious what other screenings folks in similar situations are doing. The radiologist mentioned breast mri in the 6 months between mammograms. There were posters up all over “advertising” this procedure fwiw. TIA.

Mammogram every year and then 6 months later MRI - alternating getting one of those two tests every 6 months

[Anonymous]

28% risk, 38. Alternate MRIs/3d mammos. First MRI got me a biopsy, but all clear.

[Anonymous]

Yearly MRI and 3D mammo spaced every six months. I do question if it is too much contrast agent over time, but I had DCIS at 45.