Brisbane bound

Please can anyone help?? My closest friend in the UK has had a lumpectomy and needs further surgery if she does not have an MRI scan. She needs an MRI scan but it cannot be done because of facial implants for a prosthesis. I am sure I have escorted a patient for an MRI where the head was not enclosed and was outside of the machine (as opposed to the enclosed tunnel ).
An MRI could possibly rule out a mastectomy. Any help would be appreciated from anywhere in the world.

hedgehog-girl

I agree with your friend's Doctor. As far as I knew if you have had facial implants it is not advisable to have an MRI although there are other scans that they can do and certain probes during surgery that they can use so as not to have a full mastectomy.

Your friend really needs to discuss this further with her Doctor or get another opinion. Coming on here may not give you the information that you are looking for.

Good luck

Brisbane bound

Thanks for that. I thought I was clutching at straws.
It's St.George's in Tooting and they apparently are quite up to date with breast ca care, they haven't suggested another type of scan and are going straight for surgery.
Anyway, thanks again. Maybe a second opinion will be the answer.

hedgehog-girl

Yep, I have done a little more into it and they are quite right to refuse the scan as some movement with metal implants could happen which will have some repercussions for your friend. There are other options for her besides a full mastectomy but they have to give her the worst case scenario so please bear that in mind.

ShellnTez

when i took someone down for a mri i wasn't allowed in the room never mind near the machine as it is a very powerful magnet so i can fully understand why they won't put your friend in the scanner if she has metal implants
shell

Margaret3

I regularly work with the anaesthetist in the MRI room, however the patients (usually kids are being scanned for cochlear implants), so the face is in, can't see how it cant be really for any type of mri, but could be wrong, as it is only the scanner in our hosp i have seen.

It is one helluva powerful machine , we had to rush in due to patient probs during procedure, bloody machine nearly tore me arm off as i was holding the laryngoscope blade, which i held onto thank god or would have been killed for breaking the machine, the radiologists are so paranoid about it, the patient comes 2nd to it

Brisbane bound

Thank you so much for all your help.
We have had some good news! It seems with more histology reports that they are pretty certain the cancer hasn't spread any further so a mastectomy is off the cards. They will just ensure that the margins are clear with another small surgery withing the next two weeks and hopefully that will be the end of it.
I really appreciate your help and research.

hedgehog-girl

I am very very happy for you...As a theatre nurse I see a lot of women who come in for clearances of tumors benign or otherwise and it is a simple operation and very routine. She will be very well looked after I am sure. Give me a yell if you need anything else.