[caya]

Yes nordko, mris do cost more money than mammograms. But they will save lives - that's why dense breasted women have to push for breast mris, whether with our doctors and/or insurance companies. I was lucky that my tumour was found by my PS, but in fact, a subsequent breast mri before my mastectomy found another 1.0 cm. tumour in the same breast.

What I am saying is once a women has the initial mammogram and high breast density is noted, subsequent testing should be mris, in my opinion. Money would be saved not doing mammos and/or ultrasounds, basically useless imaging on dense breasts. There have been many studies showing that dense breasted women are 4-6x more likely to have BC - and that mammograms on dense breasts often miss the tumours. Women must be vigilant and demand to know the % of their breast density so they can be better informed and discuss with their drs. what action/further imaging to take. Some states in the US are passing legislation to require physicians to inform women of their breast density, a condition that masks cancerous tumours in mammograms, as noted in bill SB 791 that was recently approved by both chambers of the California legislature.

My point basically is - we have to push for more funding to get mris for all who need it, regardless of finances.

all the best
caya