My friend had one of the special "boob" MRI's or PET scans do see if the
cancer had spread before the surgeon operated.  She had the virulent,
genetic form of breast cancer and they wanted to make sure to get it all.
They are very expensive and not covered by regular insurance.  Luckily, she
had bought the AFLAC specialty insurance which has been a big help for her.

Beth T.

-----Original Message-----
From: St. John's University Cerebral Palsy List
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Kat
Sent: Thursday, July 24, 2003 8:48 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Hey all


Because ultrasounds have trouble with dense tissue and if you have a breast
with lots of cysts, etc. the ultrasound will just be confusing.

MRIs are a possilbility but they are not usually covered as screening
procedures by insurance plans, only as diagnostics.  And they're only just
beginning to be postulated as a possible diagnostic tool for breast cancer,
but it'll take a while for it to be accepted as a standard.

Kat


-------Original Message-------
From: Trisha Cummings <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: 07/24/03 08:37 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Hey all

>
> Hi Mike,

   What I don;t understand is why they don't use cat scans and MRI's. Cat
scans can make individual slice pictures looks like that would give a
better view of a tumor or growth and its primeters.

                                                   Trisha


> How come???  If they can tsake sonargrams of developing babies, they
> should be able to do the same for cancer.
>
> [log in to unmask] wrote:
>
> >It is here, just beginning to use ultra-sound for breast exams, but it
is
> >very expensive I hear.
> >
> >~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> >I am available to do writing, editing, reporting, designing jobs,
including
> >business cards, etc. I am also a disability rights activist.
> >~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> >
> >
> >
>