Please help ! Can you help with this..about breast cancer ?

[Diva In New York]

My life long best friend just told me she has breast cancer and I am so worried. She ignored a lump for several years and this week finally got a mammogram and a ultrasound and a biopsy which confirmed it cancer.
She says she can feel it and its 3 to 4 cms..
They told her to come in monday for an mri..
She is only 36 and what concerns me is that she had this lump for so long and never told anyone,
Why the mri and does she still have a good chance it hasn't spread?

[wubzy_wubzy_wow_wow]

the mri is to see if the cancer has spread anywhere else, to find out exactly how large it is, and to grade the cancer (how severe it is). i would think with chemo and possibly a masectomy her chances are pretty good, but again there are a lot of factors to consider, including her initial health.

[Orchid L]

They are doing to MRI to see where and IF It has spread. As far as It spreading It just depends. It's been awhile since she first knew she had the lump to begin with. She has a chance it may have not spread...only the MRI will tell. Just be patient and be there for her. Hope the best for you both. My prayers are with you. go to this link for more info:

http://www.imaginis.com/breasthealth/mri.asp

[GirlfromUncle]

Oh, I feel for you. I wouldn't worry though...I have several friends who had breast cancer and survived it and have been cancer free for years. One friend of mine's sister had 4th stage breast cancer and was treated at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Texas and she is now cancer free for over 7 years! I think maybe they're doing the MRI to see if the cancer has spread -- I'm not sure about that though. I know it's really, really scary but the fact that all my friends survived cancer makes me thing that it's a really good chance your friend will come through with flying colors!

[okiegirl]

3 to 4 cm isnt that large. so chances are it isnt a fast growing cancer. im not sure why they are doing the mri but probably to help make sure it hasnt spread to other parts of the body.