So I just went to your page to see if I could find more info, it looks like you were recently diagnosed so getting an MRI is a good thing so your doctors will get the whole picture. I didn't have any full body imaging when diagnosed or before surgery, all my imaging prior to surgery was focused on my left breast tumor so it was thought I was stage 1 or 2, a week after surgery I wound up in the ER and it was discovered I was stage 4 and probably was for 2 years. I really think every woman who is diagnosed with any breast cancer should have a full body scan before surgery. Your MRI is a body and not just breast?

Hi Yooly, the doctors looked at my mammo and ultrasound and said, based on that and the needle biopsy- they would consider mine to be Stage 2, (Grade 3)- based on size, and that the lymph nodes appeared clear- however, all of that is an estimation and would be confirmed during surgery. Surgery was done, which included the dye procedure to determine the sentinel lymph nodes. They inject the dye, and then wait to see which lymph nodes get busy clearing the dye- those that do are designated as the "sentinel" nodes (others are auxillary nodes) and the sentinel nodes are the ones most likely to test positive for cancer. Since there were no surprises, the three lymph nodes were clear- so the Stage 2 status was confirmed. They did test the lymph nodes in-house, while I was having the mastectomy. Had any tested positive they would have removed additional lymph nodes for testing. Hope this helps. Hugs!

Ok. I wish you the very best and I am sorry given your young age you are going through this . We have had quite a few young women show up here, its devastating. Try to stay calm and stick around here, great friendships are born here and the closeness is really helpful.

Yes it can show where it spread.

Yooly, I am doing well 5 years out of treatment, and so far- so good! Hugs!