Brain MRI

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I am among the 15% to 20% of patients with invasive breast cancer who have abnormally high levels of HER2. HER2-positive cancers tend to be more likely to spread than other types of breast cancer, particularly to the brain (HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer will spread to the brain in 30-40% of HER2-positive patients according to one source, or up to half according to another - startlingly high numbers). Because of this, Dr. Giuliano ordered a brain MRI. Dr. Hurvitz seemed to feel that this was overkill, and I read that it's not typically done for patients that aren't experiencing symptoms such as headache or memory loss. However, as with the PET scan, Dr. Giuliano told me that he wanted the MRI not because he suspected that my cancer had metasticized, but rather to provide baseline imaging.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a test that uses a magnetic field and pulses of radio wave energy to take pictures of the head. In many cases, MRI gives information that can't be seen on an X-ray, ultrasound, or CT/PET scan. It's faster and easier than the PET scan - no dietary restrictions, no IV, no fluids (since mine didn't require contrast dye), no wait. I just had to lie still in the MRI machine for about 20 minutes. Unlike the PET scanner, which was silent, the MRI machine is extremely loud, but they had given me earplugs and headphones so that I could listen to Bach instead. And since there were no dangerous substances involved, it doesn't prolong my segregation from Ike.

The technologist told me that both the PET scan and the MRI results take about two days, so my guess is that Dr. Giuliano will share them with me at my appointment on Monday. Because my lymph nodes tested negative in the biopsy, metastasis is not a major concern for me right now. However, it will be really good to know for certain.


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