scans before chemo

chedon

Diagnosed with DCIS( 1cm) . Had a lumpectomy. Lymph nodes negative. Surgeon said most likely I will not need chemo. Then visited onc and she wants me to receive chemo because I am still menopausing at 55. Before chemo starts I need to get echo test, CAT and bone scan. I thought if my lymph nodes were negative I wouldn't have to go through more tests. Is this normal? I suffer from severe anxiety and I am scared of going thru machines that close around you.  THX Chedon

mary6204

Sorry your scared and believe me I understand.  I had tons of tests as well and waiting for the results was the hardest.  I thought since mine was  less than 1 cm with no nodes involved that I too could avoid chemo.  Since it was an aggressive type of cancer, chemo was strongly advised. When my mom first had BC she went through lumpectomy and radation and when it came back 4 years later it had spread and she died within 2 years.  Because of that I had no choice.  I am one treatment away from being done and I'm am so excited about it.  I will always know that I did everything I could possibly do to keep it from reoccurring.  The rest is in God's hands.

 I wish you the best of luck and this is definitely the place to come for advice, shoulders to cry on, and of course the occassional venting is okay too.  My husband has had problems with MRI's on his head for headaches, but a valium is what got him through it.  The echo is easy, the bone scan doesn't close you in.  All the tests to me were a pain in the butt, however, it's part of what they need to do to make sure it hasn't spread somewhere. 

God bless you through this difficult time and come back to this site often, we're all her to listen and help you through it.  Mary

chedon

Thanks for your experiences and sorry about your mom. Do you know what is the difference between an MRI and a CAT scan? Is is the same machine? Still worried and can't seem to get it out of my my head. Two more days before tests and I can't sleep. Chedon

mary6204

You know, I really don't know.  I asked my husband and he said he's had them both, but he's not sure what the difference is either.  I know the first time he had a MRI, I drove him and shortly after he was called in and I was reading a magazine, he came out.  I said "wow, that was quick"  and he said he couldn't do it.  I don't want to scare you, but it does happen and you shoudn't feel back.  He needed a valium so it was rescheduled and then he was fine.  He did say the best thing to do is to keep your eyes closed tightly and request the earphones for music.  He is now a pro at them.  But we both think a CAT scan isn't as enclosing as an MRI.  I know a lot of ladies have them.

I have my echo tomorrow and I'm a little nervous.  Not about the test, but the outcome.  Since your having an echo it makes me wonder if your cancer was HER2+.  I didn't think echo's were part of the tests unless you will be receiving Herceptin like I am.  Maybe your doctor just orders them for everybody. 

I'm getting a little giddy about my last chemo next week.  I can't wait to see my hair coming back in.  Never thought that would be something I'd be exciterd about.  Hope you got some sleep and good luck getting past those test, I'm sure it will be a big relief when it's over.  Mary

chedon

I just had a appointment with my radiation oncologist. He says I have Stage 1 breast cancer. So I don't understand why I need more testing for.  I guess they want to make sure. Anyway he was in a rush because he flies in and out off my island because our local hospital has no oncologists. Also, for radiation treatment I need to fly off to another island for treatments. Chemo is done locally, thank goodness. I know I venting but I am just so scared that they will find something else wrong with me. I even went to the imaging center to ask if they could show me the CAT  machine. They coudn't but the receptionist and a another woman who went thru it said it was quick and that I would be fine. It must feel great to be at the end of chemo. Take care!

dellmonica

I just had my second echo cardiogram.  I had an initial echo done prior to starting the chemo and another one  done in the middle and I will have one after I finish chemo.  The doctor told me that the purpose was to get a baseline of your heart size.  Chemotherapy drugs can damage your heart and they just want to continually monitor.  My results were great -- no changes to my heart since I started the chemo.  God is GOOD!!

randymich

Hi, try not to be scared of these tests. Think of it as life insurance, you can never be to sure with out these tests and if they are willing to do these test, you should do it, its for your protection. These test are very harmless and most likley to have a positive outcome. Dont let the cancer scare you from educating and protecting yourself . Whatever life seems to bring, you have to find the strength to fight and find you again.

My mom has IVDC 3.2cm 5 or more pos lymph and is on her second round of chemo. She too had to have all these test and I'm happy to say that her echo was clear and heart strong. Her scan said she showed no cancer any where else. That was worth any anxiety or wait we went through and it was good news. Now we can just focus on what she needs to do to be heathly and strong again. You are not alone and fear is of the unknown and everyone here is here to suport you. Please take care of yourself and maybe you can talk to the doc so they can give you somthing to ease your fears. You should call the breast cancer society and they have wonderful people there too. There are people that can meet with you and help. They can even go with you to your apts. Hugs and Best wishes to you

Michelle

henny

It's a good idea to get a bone scan, CAT scan (or PET/CT scan if you can get to one), and echo before starting treatment. These will be your base line studies.If in the future you have bone pain you can get another bone scan that will be compared to the baseline one. 

MRI and CAT scans are 2 different machines. CAT scans are just x-rays done in a circle around your body. MRIs are big magnets that you go into. Usually CAT scans are very short (like 90 seconds) MRIs can be longer (like 45 minutes) Each one has things that it sees better. MRI is really good to look at the brain and CTs are good for seeing lungs and livers.

When I have my scans I look forward to getting a little rest and they usually have to wake me up when it's done. I do like to bring my own music for the longer scans and the techs play it on their cd player for me

Hope this helps a bit 

Henny 

vhqh

Be glad to get the scans!  Echo is done with ultrasound so no claustrophobia there.  Bone scan is done with a machine where you lay on a table and a flat panel about 24 inches square slowly moves down your body, it is very close on top of you but the sides are open so you might have some problems there.  CT is much like the MRI in that you are rolled in and out of a hole in the middle of a big machine but you do not stay in it for an extended period of time like the MRI, it rolls you in and right back out.

Tamara67646

I had the same tests after my lumpectomy - CT of lungs and liver and bone scan.  Neither was difficult - I  haven't had an MRI so I don't know how that compares.  The CT of lungs and liver - you just lie there and a "doughnut" passes around you and takes the images.  Didn't take long and wasn't claustophobic at all - though I did elect to keep my eyes shut.  The bone scan took longer - but a similiar set up with the table moving you under the device while it took images - but I wasn't totally incased in a tube or anything.  The tech did tell me that the device would be very close over my head for that portion and if I was concerned about that making me nervous - to keep my eyes shut - so I did.  I just pretended that I was at that stage in a facial when they put the warm towel on your face and leave you in the room to "relax" in the dark

boricua_63

Hello, I met with my oncologist and she stated I will be having chemotherapy, stage 2 grade 3 IDC. She did said she wanted me to have a CT scan of my chest, abdomen and pelvis and an Echocardiogram, I really didn't understand why, (so much information on that first appointment, my mind blocked) Has anyone gone through the same? I just had the scan today and I'm a little nervous because she did said that if the results are not good, then we will have to postpone chemotherapy.

Any advised???!!!

Mastectomy on 5/23 with breast reconstruction.

Thanks for gelpi