Small spot on PET scan

artgug

I am posting for my wife, as she has been not reading through the Internet, and I'm glad she choose that route...it's a scary place.



She recently had a double mastectomy due to Lobular cancer in her left breast. Prior to surgery, her MRI looked good as they didn't think lymph nodes were involved. After surgery, they unfortunately did find 16 nodes all positive. Her post op PET scan showed all her vital organs clean, but they did see 1 small spot on the surface of her spine they are obviously concerned about, but are not sure if they can get an accurate biopsy due to size. They are following up with another MRI to see what else it shows.



I'm not sure if I am even in the right forum, as she has not officially got Stage IV yet, until they verify what exactly this is. The good side being that her vitals being clean, the bad side, if it is another cancer, she would be considered stage 4.



My question is....are there different levels of stage 4, and with a single small spot on a Pet Scan, do they occasionally show false positives?



This Pet scan was quickly read by her breast surgeon an hour after the test was taken, we go this Thursday for an official reading from the oncologist.



I am doing worse than my wife, as I have not slept much since....I pray for all of you, and am amazed at how strong you women are. You are truly inspirations.....

chrissyb

Hi artgug and welcome.......sorry you need to be here but its a good place for information and support.  There is a specific thread for questions and also for care givers.

Should that spot on your wifes spine prove to be BC the she will indeed be stage IV and no, there are no degrees of stage IV.  Having said that, there is still hope for a long and happy life it is not an immediate death sentence.  Your wife has every chance of a very good response to her treatments and she can still get to NED (No Evidence of Disease) and stay there for a long time.

Pet scans do sometimes show false positives.

Hoping your visit to her onc brings good news.

Love n hugs.   Chrissy 

Anonymous

Pet scans are not completely reliable at times.  I hope yours is one of the false postitives. I know that there are variables that can show "spots" that aren't cancer.  Hugs

Claire in AZ

sharon1953-

Are there some spots that are too small for the PET scan to detect?  Also, if you have cancer in the right breast, and the cancer spreads, would it be more likely to be in the right side of your body?