Best method(s) for regular screening?

[CountryMom27]

Hi - I'm 37, two kids, breastfeeding mom (tho my son, who's 2, is self-weaning so we'll probably be done in a month or two).  Last summer I had a fibroadenoma and an excisional biopsy.  In January, I felt another lump and had some pain, same breast.  Had a mammo and a u/s and they confirmed it was scar tissue.  I still get aches in that breast and occasionally feel the scar tissue lump.  My breast surgeon left for another practice so I find myself a little lost.

1.  When I saw another doc in the practice in January (and after my biopsy in July '07), I was told to have annual mammos and u/s from here on out.  I just saw my midwife, who I see for my GYN care (and who I first saw about the lump).  She and I agreed that I would time things so that next year I would have my mammo & u/s since I just had one six mo ago.  Does that seem ok?  (it would mean going 18 mo between mammos).

2.  Also, just read about Christina Applegate's cancer and of course it is freaky since she's younger than me!  She has a family history, I don't, but she's been screening for years with annual mammos, u/s and MRIs.  I've been told my breasts are quite dense (tho I haven't had a mammo and u/s without lactating).  Should I be having regular breast MRIs too?  

3.  Should I be seeing another breast surgeon/doctor regularly?  My prev doc's practice was at Yale, which is 2 hrs away, but there is a good breast surgeon I saw about an hour away when I was having complications from the surgery.  

Thanks!

[japdip]

Breast MRI is becoming quite popular but it isn't really used for screening. Mammogram is still the standard and often combined with Ultrasound to differentiate between solid and fluid filled masses.

[CountryMom27]

What about an MRI?  

Thanks!

[japdip]

The recommended time is yearly for Mammograms ... I would stay with that schedule no matter what with your history. I see no need for you to see another Breast Surgeon at this time; anyone can order your Mammograms and they don't need to coordinate with your other Dr.s visits. If something is found on your next Mammo then by all means consult another Breast Surgeon. i don't think I'd wait the 18 months but that's entirely up to you.

[CountryMom27]

Oh, to clarify, I also had microcalcifications on my mammos, and I'd be shifting the mammo/u/s to occur in the summer when I have my annual GYN exam, so it would be 18 mo from my last mammo until my next, and then annually after that.