Sclerotic Lesion

Eve1956

Am almost 10 months out since last chemo treeatment and 8 months out since finishing Rads.

Over the past 3 months I have been having difficulty breathing, chest tightness so bad I went to the walk in clinic 2x, for nebulizer treatments.

Am now on my 4th antibiotic, been taking pretty large doses of Predisone for over a month, and using 2 inhalers. I have a terrible productive cough, worse in the morning, that won't quit no matter what we do.

Started seeing a Pulmonologist last month who ordered another xray on 12/21/11 and then compared it to chest x-rays done 10/2011 and 09/2010. He said compared to 09/2010, I had a "dirty x-ray", I said what does that mean? He said "You have markers", I said what does that mean/ He said "You have infiltrates". He said the x-ray from 09/2010 was clean. Very frustrating when I don't know what he's getting at.

At that point he increased my Predisone again, order I drop off a specimen for cluture at the Lab, and then told me to pick up and start taking my 4th antibiotic, of which I have 4 out of 10 days left.

I told him I was terrified my breast cancer had metz to my lungs and with my request and his blessing he ordered a Cat Scan for 1/10/12.

I schedued it as the same day as my MRIs of both breasts, ordered by my Oncologist.

I see both my Pulmonologist and Oncologist on 1/13/12 and picked up copies of my 2 MRIS, with reports to bring to my Oncologist, and copies of 4 chest cat scans I've had between 9/3/2010 and 1/10/12, to bring to my Polmonologist.

While at work today, the Imaging Center called me to say my Polmonologist had called them and wanted to ensure I would bring to my 1/13/12 appointmnet with him copies and reports of my previous cat scans. I told them I had been planning on picking them up after work but after I hung up I drove right over to pick up the package.

So the good news is the MRIs look clean and there is no difference from the previous.

The bad news is I'm worried it's spread to my rib.

The report refers 2X to a new ill defined Sclerotic Lesion in the left 3rd rib at the axillary line and given my breast cancer history, metastatic disease cannot be excluded. Bone scan is being recommended.

The lungs are a mess too, with stable small focus of linear social thickening at the posterior segment of rt upper lobe but might be small area of scar. Also says pleural parenchymal changes are present at the left lung apex. And mild subpleural interstitial thickening is present at the lingula.

I've read about Radiation induced Pneumonitis but don't think that's it because coughs tend to be nonproductive and clear up with Predisone.

So I'm focused on the Sclerotic Lesion finding and am totally freaking out and can't even speak the words to anyone 

Do you think I'm overreacting? Does this sound like I should be very concerned?

Bren-2007

Hi Eve,

I've been thinking about your note since yesterday. 

I don't think you are overreacting.  I did a google search of slcerotic lesions and what I found wasn't that great.  There are only a couple of things it could be.  One of them is breast cancer.  A friend of mine had pretty much the same experience you had ... an incidental chest x-ray for something else revealed sclerotic lesions on her ribs.  A bone scan was then ordered to see if there were lesions in any other locations.  The bone scan revealed more sclerotic lesions, so a bone biopsy was done.

When do you  talk to the doctor or radiologist about the chest x-ray?

Just wanted you to know I'm keeping you in my thoughts.  Let me know when you hear something.

hugs,

Bren

Eve1956

Hi Bren,

Thanks for your concern. I was at my Onco & Pulmonologist untill 6 last night. I don't have any answers but have more questions.

They are being very thorough, with my Pulm ordering a CT Angio with contrast (explained to me it is an enhanced CScan which will alos show thw blood vessels.e also ordered an Echocardiogram (wants to RU heart issues as an explanation for the wheezing) The CT Angio will also be able to focus in on the area of concern, seen in my lung. He RU radiation pneumonities, sayign it clears up on it's own or with predisone, which isn't happening for me..

He also wants me to finish out the predisone and my antiobiotic and get another culture done. Apparrently, the results of my last culture yielded nothing bc it was "bad", which he explained meant the specimen wasn't from deep enough in my lungs. No one ever told me it had to be, Oh well! 

My onco has order a full bone scan, which requires an injection first, then the scan 3 hour later. The bones will light up if there's an issue I guess. He said the radiation, even though it can easiy cause lung damage (now I have many scars) would not damage my rib, so that makes me even more concerned.

Lastly, when examining me, my Onco pointed to a bright red dot on my reconstructed breast (the size of a period at the end a sentence) and said, "What's that?" I said I didn't know but didn't think it was anything. Today, when I think about it, I've had it for some time.

Anyway, he said he didn't want to scare me but sometimes radiation can cause, ?_______ Radiation, ?_________ Radiation, or ?_________ Radiation and wants me to see a dermotologist.

Iread last night, someone postd they had little red dots post radiation that turned out to be skin cancer!

I have to make an appointment with the Dermotologist, and am scheduled for all 3 tests on 1/31, am seeing my Onco on 2/2/ and have to make an appointment for a FU with my Polmo.

So, I won't know much more until early February and until then am tring to keep positive thoughts. 

Wishing you a great weekend. I have a 3 day weekend since my office will be closed on Monday.

Eve 

Eve1956

Also, now when they look at my old chest x-rays, you can see the sclerotic lesion, but they didn't notice it I guess becuase they were focused on what the x-ray would reveal about my lungs.

Scary 

pupmom

Hi Eve, praying for you to have a successful B9 outcome. It seems we are never completely free from waiting hell. Ugh.

alexch

Eve,

I also had a sclerotic lesion found on my CT back in Oct.. It was located at my sternoclavical joint. I questioned my oncologist about it and she said she had "no concerns". I asked my family doc to look into it and I had an xray of the clavicle done and it did show the sclerotic focus again. In my case the Radiologist reviewed the CT and xray and basically said it is a B9 finding. It is a B9 abnormality in the sternoclavicle joint... So, I did not pursue exactly what is was I only wanted to know if it was b9 or Mets... FYI, sclerotic means "harding" in medical terms.

Many times we can view our written parts of the tests and they sound much more scary than they truly are. You said you had RADS and that is why you may changes in your lungs... A bone scan would show METS on the ribs. The reason they want to look at the older tests is to make comparsions...

Wishing you all the best and I hope your results are B9.

Take Care,

Alexch

Diagnosis: Aug, 2009, IDC, 7-8cm, 0/15, Grade 3, ER+/PR+ HER+

Eve1956

Thanks Alex,

I've resigned myself, it is what it is, and there's nothing I can do to control what happens.

I have to wait 2 weeks and then whatever comes I'll just deal with it, step by step.

I was thinking about how in the past, when I heard people had been diagnosed with Cancer, I really had absolutely no idea what that meant. I couldn't have fathomed the challenges they were being forced to overcome.

Now I understand. 

reesie

Eve,



I hope your tests show you're just "regular" sick. Just so you know sclerotic leasions can indicate healing bones not just mets. And rads can weaken ribs enough to cause fractures so I hope your scan just sHows your ribs are healing from an old fracture.

Eve1956

Thanks for telling me that Ressie. I had no idea bc when I asked my onco if the rads could damage my ribs he had said no. That would be great news.

I love how you've written before your diagnosis, "It's a great day to be alive;" 

I don't want this cancer to take over my life and define who I am. It's so easy to let it consume you.

I like your approach and it is a great day to be alive. Blue sky, shinning sun and crisp air to breathe. Thank you God for letting me have this wonderful day.