Screening after Bilateral Mastectomy with Reconstruction
Hi all. For all of you that have had bilateral mastectomy with reconstruction (implants) what has been your screening process after? Do you have MRI's? How do you detect if cancer has come back behind implants or somewhere else? I have been told that some people don't have any scans after but just do self exams. That scares me. How do you know it hasn't come back somewhere else?
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I had bilateral mastectomy with DIEP reconstruction in 2018. My onc said no imaging unless symptoms. It’s the standard of care according to her.
I stayed on the aromatase inhibitors for 5 years. Had BCI test done in 2024 which showed high risk for recurrence and no benefit to continue meds. At that point, I really was wondering about any survellience. She again said imaging only with symptoms and annual bloodwork. Then last year she offered to do Signatera test. It’s not a standard of care yet but she was doing it for about 15 patients in the same category as me and gave me the option. She said if it came back positive then pursue imaging.
There are clinical trials involving circulating tumor cells. It’s kind of fascinating to see the direction of treatment with breast cancer since I was diagnosed over 8 years ago.0 -
Hi @jsjohn11, if you are at high risk (because of a genetic mutation or because you had a more aggressive cancer) your team may order routine screening surveillance with breast MRIs and/or ultrasounds, and /or tumor marker blood tests that can detect the microscopic presence of cancer. Please consult with your team about your concerns regarding survivorship and what your next steps are beyond active treatment.
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I have ultrasounds done twice a year. My insurance covers it, my doctor is okay with it, so why not?
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