Are there reliable alternatives to mammograms? What to do if you have 'dense' breasts? How to reduce breast cancer risk on HRT? Dr Kristi Funk answers your questions!
Thank you Dr.Viv and Dr.Funk!!! This is the article I’ve been waiting for. As a 44 year old with high cancer risk, I started doing annual whole breast ultrasound through HerScan with my annual mammogram. Breast MRI has been recommended every few years like you mentioned, but my main holdback is the contrast dye, gadolinium. From what I’ve researched, the long-term effects are unknown but it is found to linger in the brain afterwards. Any additional insight to this? My dad has hydrocephalus so anything not needed floating around in my brain makes me nervous.
So glad the article was helpful, Lindsey. An MRI with contrast is (usually) a one time thing - and it is mostly cleared by our kidneys. So a lot depends on your own individual detox capabilities, and if you already have impaired kidney function... of course, the benefit of the scan needs to be considered here too and hopefully your doctor can guide you in a personalized discussion weighing up the pros and cons :)
Thank you Dr.Viv and Dr.Funk!!! This is the article I’ve been waiting for. As a 44 year old with high cancer risk, I started doing annual whole breast ultrasound through HerScan with my annual mammogram. Breast MRI has been recommended every few years like you mentioned, but my main holdback is the contrast dye, gadolinium. From what I’ve researched, the long-term effects are unknown but it is found to linger in the brain afterwards. Any additional insight to this? My dad has hydrocephalus so anything not needed floating around in my brain makes me nervous.
So glad the article was helpful, Lindsey. An MRI with contrast is (usually) a one time thing - and it is mostly cleared by our kidneys. So a lot depends on your own individual detox capabilities, and if you already have impaired kidney function... of course, the benefit of the scan needs to be considered here too and hopefully your doctor can guide you in a personalized discussion weighing up the pros and cons :)