Breast Cancer Recurrence

[jst]

Diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer in 04/06. Started chemo ACT and lumpectomy in 09/06.  Lymph nodes positive.  33 rounds of radiation after lumpectomy.  Mammogram and sonogram showed OK in 04/07.  Same breast was swollened and had pain in 07/07.  Doctor did a needle biopsy and sent for chest MRI and both were OK.  (Does chest MRI cover the breast area?)  Was told that pain in breast caused by scar tissues from radiation/surgery.  Recent sonogram in 10/07 shows a few nodules and it's confirmed by biopsy that it is cancer.  If a breast MRI was done in 07/07 instead of chest MRI, would it make a difference to detect the recurrence?

[jst]

I still think my doctor made a mistake in ordering the chest MRI instead of the breast MRI.  But stressing on that issue doesnt help my situation.  The CT and bone scan last week are normal and I'm dealing with the local recurrence.  I just had my first chemo with carboplatin and avastin 2 days ago and when my white blood count goes back up, my doctor will give me Abraxane.  After chemo treatment, I will have a mastectomy.
Thanks for your prompt reply.

[Denise L. Johnson, M.D.]

The breast MRI would have been a better choice instead of the chest MRI.  I am not sure why your physicians would order that imaging sdytudy.  Please let me know your outcome and future plans