My breast cancer - more than 8 years ago - was detected by a sonogram. It was not detectable on a mammogram. So I urge women to ask their doctors whether they have breasts that are dense or if there is some other reason for them to have sonograms as well as mammograms. A few years ago, I started having yearly MRIs also, since some tumors are not detectable via mammography or sonography. I think that women at high risk of breast cancer should consider all three diagnostic tools. The downside to this vigiliance is that I have had 6 biopsies -- 3 surgical and 3 needle -- in the past seven years. Luckily for me, they have all been negative for cancer. Today, I am healthy and cancer-free. I expect to stay that way, but still intend to be vigilant.

Amy Rothstein
New York, NY