My Breast Cancer Wasn’t Found on a Mammogram: Dense Breasts, a Breast MRI, and Advocating for Yourself

Her mammogram ended with “see you in a year.” She felt nothing. Yet a few months later, Lindsay Pinchuk was diagnosed with stage 0 breast cancer. The cancer wasn't detected by a mammogram or an ultrasound. It was a breast MRI, ordered because of her dense breast tissue, that led to the diagnosis. On this solo episode of Dear FoundHer, Lindsay, an award-winning entrepreneur and host of the show, answers the questions she's received since sharing her diagnosis.

Lindsay has category D breast density, the highest classification, which can make cancer harder to detect on a mammogram. At a routine annual visit, her OB-GYN ordered a baseline breast MRI, even though there was no immediate concern. That MRI found something her mammogram hadn't. Lindsay shares how easily her diagnosis could have been missed. A test no one required. Results that still weren’t in her chart on the date they were due. An ultrasound that couldn’t find the spot and a doctor who said it was probably nothing but still recommended an MRI-guided biopsy.

This is a real lesson in advocating for yourself at the doctor. Lindsay shares the moment she stopped being polite with a scheduler and pushed for a sooner biopsy. She also talks through why she chose a double mastectomy and what her follow-up care looks like now.

For women in business who routinely put their own health on the back burner for a launch or a busy month, Lindsay shares four things she wants every woman to do. Press play to hear them and learn the one question to ask your doctor before you assume a mammogram is enough.

Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Lindsay’s Stage 0 Breast Cancer Diagnosis Recap 02:21 Dense Breast Tissue and a Clean Mammogram 04:37 Ordering a Breast MRI for Dense Breasts 06:58 The MRI Appointment She Almost Pushed Back 09:22 The MRI Results She Never Received Directly 11:48 Federal Law and an Ultrasound That Missed It 14:06 “It’s Probably Nothing” and Pushing for a Biopsy 16:28 The Diagnosis Call and Every Near Miss 18:48 Why She Chose a Double Mastectomy 21:00 Four Steps to Protect Your Own Health

Connect with Lindsay: Follow Lindsay on Instagram Follow Dear FoundHer on Instagram

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