Should I worry? Radiologist versus oncologist and rad oncologist

Kristian

Hello,

I have been trying to read some of the posts on this discussion forum to see if anyone has had a similar situation.  I went to see my oncologist last week to go over the results of a CT scan I had.  My CT scan was Mar 10,2011.  I finished my last radiation on Dec 30,2010.  My oncologist started our discussion by saying "In this report, the radiologist is saying you have stage 4 breast cancer that has spread to your ribs and lungs", then he went on to say he does not think this is the case, he is surprised that the radiologist would come to that conclusion.  Although he was reassuring, I was really very upset that evening when everything started to sink in.  I went to see my raditation oncologist the next day and he seemed very confident that what was seen on my lungs and ribs was the direct result of the radiation.  That made me feel better but I am still paranoid.  I am supposed to have another CT scan in 3 months.  I am wondering if the CT was done too soon.  My radiation oncologist wanted to wait until May to have a scan done and then my oncologist booked one for March.  I am also wondering if anyone has had an instance where your doctors completely disagrees with the radiologist.

Now every time I feel a little cough or shortness of breath I worry.  I just want to move on and I am having a hard time doing this.  Any words of advise on how to get cancer out of your head would be appreciated.  My friend did give me some good advise last night "concentrate on your abilities not on your disabilities".  I can't seem to get there though, and here I am back on the forum looking for answers!  You are all such wonderful women, I have had a lot of good advise and interesting reads on this website, so this is where I always turn for help!

Kristi

voraciousreader

For peace of mind, why not have the radiation oncologist and the radiologist have a talk and then get back to you?

voraciousreader

I just want to add something that's a little off topic but relevant.  Back in the day, the DH had chest pain and we were sent to the hospital and this MORON of a person who calls himself a "cardiologist," diagnosed my husband with a heart attack.  When my husband's internist got the report that said my husband had a "heart attack" and that I was a "psycho," for NOT believing my husband had a heart attack, the internist sent us to ANOTHER cardiologist.  He confirmed my husband DIDN'T have a heart attack, but was suffering from something else.  We ended up going to an endocrinologist who figured out the diagnosis.  It's a very complicated story about why I didn't believe my husband had a heart attack ( You can read about it in Dr. Lisa Sander's column Diagnosis in The New York Times -- if you google it).  The bottom line is, you should have the physicians talking to one another and not leaving you in limbo.

Good luck.

bevin

HI Kristian- I am dealing with something similar now. I have a lesion on my lungs and pulmonary doctor is not certain if its mets or fibrosis from radiation. It has some suspicious qualities to it and they ran a PET/CT scan.

The PET/CT didnt answer the questions, I still need to have another one in 3 months. So very similar story. If you can, see a pulmonary doctor. Your Oncologist should refer you to one who sees/diagnoses cancer. They often have more insight than the radiologist and can give you some more answers as to what qualities they look for in the lung lesion to differentiate from rads problems or cancer. The 3 mos scan will look for changes from original in size, shape etc. to hopefully give them more insight. As I understand, they try not to biopsy lung lesions as they have a potential SE thats not good.

Let me know how you make out and see if you can get a PET or see a pulmonary doctor.