Am I stage 3 or 4.

Carrie61

I was dx stage 3a last year, did my treatments, then had a MRI which showed 3 tumours in my bones and was told that they were bone metastasis by radiologist(it was a private MRI). Then had a PET scan which showed no cancer activity.  In the meantime I had changed MO's, and the 2nd oncologist said that I would never know if the tumours had ever been cancerous in the first place since I didn't have a Pet scan prior to chemo.  Although I. Am overjoyed that the PET came back clear, now I'm wondering if in fact the chemo killed these cancerous tumours or not.  Any one else run into this? 

Carrie

Carrie61

Posting this so you can see my stats.

Carrie

TectonicShift

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Holeinone

Carrie, 

That's a tough call, & somewhat confusing. I think you ought to listen to your new MO & believe it was not cancer. I do not know how long chemo stays in our system & how it would take out tumors after the fact.

Those of us dx with stage 3, are so aware of the slippery slope. Since you did not have those biopsied and they are gone, try to go with what you know. 

Carrie61

I Had a bone scan and ct scan done prior treatment as well and these turned up nothing.  I also had another bone scan done to confirm MRI tumours and these showed up clear as well.  I really do want to go with stage 3 but also want to be realistic.  Thanks for your input holeinone (I'm a golfer too) and tectonic...

TectonicShift

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Lily55

Carrie you WERE stage 3 but you are now NED, no evidence of disease

pupfoster1

Crap, I was treated POST surgery.  The definitive answer would not be a verbal statement from your various Docs, but from your Oncologist with a FINAL pathology.  That will give you the stage you are at. Just try to remember you are NOT a statistic!

Sharon

lkc

Carrie, PETs trump scans. You're good. 

Kicks

Remembet that because you later deveolpe another cancer does not mean it is metastasis.  Different types of cancer have their own 'signature no matter where try are. I deal with BCC and SCC which area forms of skin cancer.  Not  related to my IBC. (Path proves it) .   

Any individual test can show 'strange' things .  The One you need to talk to is your Dr!