Restaging Scans Again?

Anonymous · June 2011

I've not been on alot lately, Just got busy with normal life stresses and trying to live in the "LAND OF DENIAL" . I go thru that alot lately.

I had my 6 month follow up with my Onc and Zometa infusion today. I talked to him about the scans he did last July for my right hip and back pain. Remember me freaking out about a week of scans he did? Well guess what, when I told him today I've been in constant pain that has increased and keeps me awake at night and now I'm actually limping when I walk, He wants to do another round of scans. I said to him "but we already did them last year" He says, well we must do them again, It's my job to make sure we keep the cancer away." Ugh, so it starts all over again. CT w/without contrast, MRI, Bone Scan, Pet Scan. I really do appreciate his pro activeness, But......... I hate this cancer thing. It just never ends. The constant pain is frutrating me too because it's keeping me from doing my walks. I mentioned I hate the extra pounds I've put on that I thought was the Tomoxifen, he says but let's just worry about keeping this cancer away.

I'm in this kind of Twilight Zone or Wave that just keeps carrying me from one day to another worrying about this cancer thing. Then I go thru periods of saying to myself, I don't have cancer anymore, They took it out with my breast and nodes. Yet this constant cancer watch my onc does because of pain just freaks me out. So I told him I went to my GP for a yearly check up. Had all my bloodwork done, and she thinks maybe pain could be Fibromyalgia but see Onc before she puts me on med for Fibromyalgia. He told me " first lets do the scans and than you can explore these other things with GP.

I left the Cancer Center with a prescription that said Pain Swelling, Restaging and the types of scans order

Barb

LindaKR · June 2011

Frown Sorry to hear this, I said a prayer for you. I know what you mean about the constant pain - it's exhausting. They think mine is caused by the Aromatase Inhibitor.

Take care and God Bless you,

Linda

Pure · June 2011

Gosh can't you start on the meds, give it two-3 weeks and see if it works. If it works then no scans needed... I mean if you have been in pain 9 months what's another 3 weeks.!

karen1956 · June 2011

Shanagirl....I'm glad that your onc listens to your and is proactive, but sorry that you are having to go through all this....I agree with Pure....starting the meds seems to make sense...if it helps with the pain isn't that a plus.....

faithfulheart · June 2011

You know, it really sounds like you have a great Dr. I get the scan thing trust me, I have just been through some scary tests lately. Everything was ok though. I think we maybe just need to adjust to the fact that we are not going to get the wait and see response we want. Like when we were pre bc. This is are new normal, we don't get the luxury of a doc just trusting his instinct, that it truley is just what your gp said it is. With a bc history we will always go to the next level of tests .Lets think of it as, we are getting the elite care and special treatment, I know that sounds soooooo stupid, I can't believe I even said it!! What else can we do, these tests suck, yet with a good team on our side we get tests when most people just get put on drugs. Does this make any scense at all, or do I sound like a total freak!!!! Shanagirl, I think you are fine, I think if it were mets

they would have showed up on the last tests you had. Remmember, your Dr. is obligated to a certian extent, to follow up with chronic pain. I hate to say this , but dr.'s have to cover there bootys too. He is doing what the protocal would be for anyone of us who is still complaining about the pain, he knows it's probebly arthritis or some sort of joint pain after effects from chemo/ meds.

Try not to worry to much, I know that is so much easier said then done. You will be in my prayers

that all will be just fine and you will get the proper meds to make you feel better!!!!!!

Here's also a prayer that you will feel peaceful through the whole process, and when you find out all is well, we will all do the very big happy dance together!!

Hugssssssssssssss Sweeti, it will be OK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

stephanie

AnacortesGirl · June 2011

I know this isn't what you want to go through again. Anyone who has gone through the scans, the wait, the fears, knows how rough it can be. But you can do it. What is so frutstrating is when they don't come back with an answer for your original problem. Take a deep breath, plunge in, and get it over with. But keep on your onc until he comes up with an answer.

My thoughts are with you Shanagirl. It really sucks.

Kay_G · June 2011

I understand the fear of the scans. Saying a prayer for good results. Hugs.

pupfoster1 · June 2011

(((Barb))),

You and I are on the same page here. Some days I am freaking out about something, the next I tell myself just what you did---they took the cancer out in surgery. But it's always in the background.

I actually wouldn't mind a scan every so often just for reasurrance but my onc doesn't do them that way. Although it's going to be stressful while you wait it's probably a good thing to get these done just for your peace of mind. Then you can be "happy" it's just fibromyalga, or arthritis,etc!

(((Hugs)))

Sharon

Anonymous · June 2011

Pure ~ mmmmmm just what I want, more drugs, ugh My Onc is just not a "wait and see" type of guy. He wants me to have the scans first, and if no mets, he'll be happy to recommend pursuing it with GP or Ortho.

faithfulheart........Yeah, thanks for your words, I know you get it. And yes, my onc is wonderful, and he totally gets BC and where it can go. Maybe this is his years of experience with this dreaded disease.

Pupfoster1 ~ Thanks for being on the same page with me. I wish it didn't have to be this way for you either.

Karen ~ I know, Right? It does feel good to know my Onc hears me. Whenever he gives me that look in his eyes I see his wheels turning when he blurts out, "we have to keep the cancer away". Iguess that's what we all want to hear verbally from our oncs. Thanks, Karen.

SpunkyGirl · June 2011

Ugh, Barb, this stuff is really scary, and I'm keeping you in my thoughts and prayers, and hoping that the outcome is good for you.

Hugs

Bobbie

jennyboog · June 2011

I'm so sorry to hear that you're going through this again. I think we all deal with the deniel at one point or another. I create projects around the house to work on just to cope with BC, it keeps me from thinking about it if only for a little while. My thoughts and prayers are with you as you start scanning again.

YATCOMW · June 2011

More prayers for good scans......

Jacqueline

karen1956 · June 2011

Shana....any news?

ma111 · June 2011

It's good you haven't been here for a while!

I don't like when pain is ignored just because of cancer. I think they should let you have pain pills to get better sleep at night, than you feel better during the day. Call and ask for some, tell them you won't be able to lie flat for the scans, they might here that you are having pain.

I will also say a prayer for you.

Good luck.

Anonymous · June 2011

Thanks all of you for your encouragement. I always know you girls will have those words to hear. I won't be going for my Scans until Thursday, and again on Monday at Hackensack University Medical Center.

Not to change the subject, but I won't stay away from here as long as I have. OMG, after not reading the boards for well over a month, I came back here after my Onc visit last week and was so so horrified and saddened to see that Elizabeth (konakat) is no longer with us. I really loved her posts so much and it made me feel so down about this whole breast cancer fear of progression that each and every one of us feel. It really is a "sting" to the heart when we lose one of our sisters.

Barb

jenn3 · June 2011

Barb - I was just popping in to see how my "old" stage III sisters are doing and saw this thread. I am so sorry that you have to go thru another scare and will pray that it's nothing more than a pulled muscle or an angry disk. Funny how those things seem good in the light of cancer. I wanted to also say that I'm glad to hear that your onc listens and is very proactive - sounds like a great dr.

(((hugs)))) Jenn

faithfulheart · June 2011

Barb,

just checking in, how are you holding up, you have been in my prayer's!

Let us know how your scans went. I know you will be fine.

The waiting sucks, so if you need to talk, were here!!!

XOXO

Steph

Anonymous · June 2011

Today I finished up with the Restaging scans. Now I have to go to the "waiting room" until I see my onc on Wednesday. I don't understand this whole "restaging" thing. So tomorrow is another day.

Barb

faithfulheart · June 2011

Barb,

watch funny movie's, keep busy, sleep, even if that means a xanax!!!

were here.

In my prayer's for great results.

Hug

steph

AnacortesGirl · June 2011

It's Wed but still early (9:00 PST). Hoping to hear good news from you today!

weesa · June 2011

Me, too!!!

jennyboog · June 2011

Just stopping by to check on you...hope things went good.

pupfoster1 · June 2011

What's the GOOD word Barb????

Sharon

Anonymous · June 2011

Checking in with you all after a long day. Well, my onc told me I have good news, there is not cancer seen in the scans!!!! No evidence of osseous metastatic disease!