Can spine mets happen after DCIS?

beatrice00

I have had an MRI of the spine and brain for polyneuropathy. The results came back with either a stroke or early low grade glioma on the brain MRI and possible metastases on the spine MRI. I had everything done at Sloan where the word "possibly" means 50% chance. It states:

Multiple scattered small nonspecific lesions in the thoracic and lumbar spine, possible metastases.

It also states: nonspecific diffuse hypointense bone marrow signal. Multiple scattered small subcentimeter T1 hypointense foci without definite STIR hyperintensity in several vertebral bodies.

Everything else is normal. What do you think this means? I am pretty much freaking out now.

Marietje1956

Hi Beatrice,

I hesitate to react, because you are freaking out already, but yes, there is a very, very small chance that the spots are mets from your DCIS. This is possible when there was a very small tumor, missed by the pathologist, hidden in your breast tissue with the DCIS spots. The small tumor might have metastased before your mastectomy. This happened to me. I had a mastectomy in 2006 after DCIS - no further treatment needed - and 8 years later (july 2014) I felt a lump in my axilla, the side of my ablation. Six nodes full of macrometases. They searched again (I had to insist on that) in my tissue from 2006 and found a small tumor, 0,5 mm. The slices are very thin, but still a small tumor can be missed.

I hope and pray your spots are no mets. I read spots on bones are often of other sorts! My doctor told me the chance the scenario I described happens is less than 0,5%. Still, wanted to share my experience with you, also because I had a hard time understanding where my BC came from.

Keep up the good spirit!

Marietje

nmh35

I just wanted to say that I have multiple sclerosis and it presents with lesions on my brain and spine. Maybe you can have the MRI's read for a 2nd opinion somewhere else since cancer is Sloan's specialty and they may not be thinking of other possibilities?

beatrice00

My DCIS did not need any further treatment and I felt pretty good about it until now. I have an appointment with a neuro oncologist next Friday. The wait is rough.

cookiegal

Beatrice, sorry that you are going through this. I will say that MSK is good with unusual cases and you are in good hands.

beatrice00

Ihad a spinal tap and will have a PET scan on June 4th.

bevin

Good luck Beatrice.