Waiting to have scans???

KELL414240

My oncologist called yesterday morning and stated that two radiologists had reviewed my bone scan. One says he sees two small areas - one in the sternum and one in the hip. Onco wants to wait until late Aug/Sept to do petscan and CT. He said it would be to our advantage. I was so in shock that he called on a Sunday that I couldn't think to ask any questions. My left hip hurt a lot last year while I did the AC treatment but when I started the Taxol, it seemed to quit. Could it have been in my hip then and because of the taxol, it stopped it? Some of these questons might be dumb to ask but this is my first experience with this. I have a call back in to him. One question I have is why is it an advantage to wait? What else should I ask? Anybody have any advice? My thought now is I don't want to wait. Let's scan now!!!

beau

HI Kell.

 I am hoping that one of the radiologists needs glasses! I have not been in your shoes, (hopefully some one will come along with more precise info), but I just went through a scare where my MRI showed a "hot spot". I had to have a bone scan to rule out mets (which it did). From what I understand, there can be lots of false positives with these tests so one of the ways that they can be sure is to re-scan to see if the area grows. If it goes, then they are more certain that it is mets. Nothing short of a bone biopsy can say for sure. 

That said, I would push my onc for sooner tests for your piece of mind if he thinks there is more info to be had from doing another test. In my case, when they compared the hot spot in the MRI to the bonescan, the hot spot was outside the bone and that meant that it was general inflammation in the surrounding tissue, not the bone. I don't see why you couldn't have a similar set of tests to pinpoint more exactly what is going on, unless what they see is in the bone - then maybe it is an old injury or some such thing.

I am not a doctor, so please verify all that I have said with other professionals. Still, I know that you would love to have some peace of mind so I would push a bit more for answers.  Good luck!

Best, Beau 

GoldenEyes

I would def. push to have the scan done sooner..Especially if radiologist said he saw two spots..Ask your oncologist .. insist on having it done sooner for your piece of mind. Let us know how you do

Donna