[Laurel]

A.A.,

I wonder why in the case of dense breasts they do not automatically do magnified views with our mammos? In my case I had a labyrinth of DCIS that after magnified views had been taken could be easily seen, however on the standard views it did not show up at all. My onc. said it had to have been growing for years to be that extensive. I began my annual mammos at age 40. On my eighth mammo they saw a change in some calcs they had been watching for a few years (unknown to moi). This lead to a bx. After a positive bx I went to Hershey Med. where they ordered the magnified views. They showed me just how extensive the DCIS was which prompted them to urge me to have a mastectomy. Fortunately for me my invasive component was small, but had a magnified view been ordered anytime in the 8 years I was having mammos, the DCIS would probably been noted. My surgeon felt it had been growing over 10 years, which corresponds with my history. With my 3rd child I noted that my left breast was performing poorly where with the other 2 children it had been my better side. I remember thinking that it just seemed "clogged" somehow. No mastitis, so I just worked the right side more and it responded to the call. My son was 13 when I was dx'd with left sided breast cancer. I am guessing that cancer had begun sometime between my 2nd and 3rd child, more than 13 years until dx'd.

Moral of the story: tell your friends to ask if they have dense breasts. If so, insist on magnified views at least every other mammo!