What do Percentages really mean?
I went for my first mammogram after treatment today.
They didn't really tell me anything but I just checked the portal and my report was out there and it doesn't appear as if they found anything in either breast. For a brief second I felt ok but then I saw this "Breast MRI screening in six months (This patient has a greater than 20% lifetime risk for developing breast cancer. High risk screening breast MRI is recommended.)" I'm right back to being terrified of reoccurrence.
The report also says that the results and recommendations were discussed with the patient at the time of the exam. They did none of this and calling would be useless. Only ever see PAs and NPs and they answer virtually no questions. Any real guidance on what this means. I'm was just trying to get a handle on my dark thoughts and now I'm back to not being able to think about anything else.
Comments
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Hi @july31, The difference between a screening and diagnostic mammogram is the time interval. If it is less than a year insurance will cover it only if it is ordered as diagnostic.
It sounds like the concerning sentence in your report comes from the radiologist who is probably not familiar with all the details of your situation. You have already had treatment for breast cancer so the phrase “lifetime risk for developing breast cancer” sounds strange and not indicative of your background. Since you are ER+ (taking anastrazole), stage 1A and have had a lumpectomy and radiation, was an OncotypeDX done on your tumor? That would have given a genomic risk number for your chance of recurrence over 9 years which is personal to your tumor profile. If not, you should ask your MO (or the NP/PA) for the doctor’s assessment of your recurrence risk. I would recommend sending a messsage to the doctor through your portal. One of the his assistants might be the person who gets back to you but that specific question is then in your medical record. If you don’t get an answer you would be able to insist on one at your next appointment. You should mention that the radiology report concerned you and nobody discussed this with you.
Everyone’s situation is different but in general patients with your profile have a recurrence risk of less than 10%. Taking anastrazole would reduce that to less than 5%. A recurrence risk is based on a large population size and doesn’t guarantee what will happen to you. A 5% risk of recurrence means a 95% risk of no recurrence, a very favorable situation. A 20% risk of recurrence (10% with a AI) means an 80% risk of no recurrence (90% with an AI), still not too bad.
I have had my share of radiology report mishaps/mixups so I would follow up on this. If there is no response to the written request it would be time to get the patient advocacy department (hospital setting) or practice manager (doctor group setting) involved. I hope you get an answer that eases your worry.
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