Feb 10
23
Breast Cancer Scans Not Worth It?
MRI's Not Needed?
MRI’s are very expensive, and even if you have insurance, you can find yourself paying out the wazoo if you have to have one for a specific health problem or suspected issue.
That is why some scoffed when MRI’s began to be used as scans for breast cancer, or returning breast cancer, but because of their more thorough nature, or at least their perceived more thorough and less intrusive nature, many were applauding them for the new way to thoroughly scan for breast cancer, and foregoing or eschewing the idea of getting a traditional mammogram which can be painful and intrusive, especially if you happen to have breast implants.
I even thought it was a great thing, and I still do think that the MRI has some great benefits over other types of breast cancer detection because it is by it’s very nature a more thorough and comprehensive way to look for abnormalities in the human body.
However, apparently there are studies now that are showing that MRI’s are really not doing any better than any other form of breast cancer detection, and are not causing women to get another surgery.
They are really used when determining whether women need further operations for already existing breast cancer, and since the incidence of women needing further surgeries found was so low, they have deemed that since it is such an expensive and lengthy process, it may not be necessary. I’m not quite sure that the expense should be a factor when you are talking about the difference between life and death though – thoughts?
