Expert: Claes-Gustaf Nordquist, M.D. - 3/19/2008

Question
Hello,

I had a lumpectomy for a 4mm IDC and DCIS in January /08.  Grade 1 on both, and Negative Lymph Nodes.
My Deep Margin was close and other margins Negative.
I am currently having Radiation Therapy.
Prior to radiation I asked my oncologist for a breast mri just for reassurance that the all the DCIS was found, as it was scattered in the 1 area of my breast prior to lumpectomy.
Because I am in Canada, Breast MRI is not offered to all patients, only high risk.
I did manage to have a breast mri but in the middle of my radiation.  Apparently my cancer breast is very bright.
The radiologist is not certain now, and may want me to have a repeat MRI in 6 months.
Just when I think my treatment is almost over and I can resume normal life, I am back to worrying.
Is this normal to have a "bright" breast during radiation treatment and after surgery?

Thank you for your help.

Answer
This was a hard one! Breast MRI scans during radiation therapy are NOT common and experience therefore VERY limited. All radiation therapies can induce an inlammation in the treated tissues - like an internal sunburn. It is quite possible that what is seen in your MRI is the result of such a radiation inflammation but of course I can not guarantee that! The best time for such an MRI would have been before your radiation therapy and actually before surgery too perhaps since also surgery can cause a mechanical inflammation - but then what you needed was a check up after surgery. So unfortunately we are back at aquare one and I'm sorry to have to tell you that you will have to wait for the next MRI until we - hopefully - will know for sure.