I have dense breasts. I've had breast cancer. And I've had just about every test available for monitoring my breast health. Clinical exams, self-exams, traditional mammograms, digital mammograms, ultrasound, and MRI. They're all on my rotation, and I'm happy for that. In light of recent research, though, MRI may be my best bet for catching suspicious somethings in my breasts.

Conventional wisdom says the best ways to detect breast cancer are through self-exam and yearly mammograms. Now a new study shows that although MRI screenings may lead to more biopsies, they appear to be the best method for women at risk for breast cancer, especially those with dense breast tissue.

What timing that this news is spreading. Just last week during my radiation oncology follow-up, my doctor and I discussed an odd enhancement of tissue in one of my breasts. Her final call was that I'd just recently had an MRI -- the best of all tests, she said. If it didn't "light up" during this procedure, it probably is not a problem. Great news.

It's too bad MRI is not the first line of defense for women not at high risk. Wouldn't it be nice if this super screening tool became standard -- and affordable -- for all women, who could catch their own suspicious somethings in the most effective manner possible.