Metastic Possibility - What now???

Lunderwood

I met with my BS yesterday for pre-surgery consultation. I am scheduled for a UMX in one week, with TE placement. During our review of the imaging and scans from prior week she stated that the MRI noted a T2 hyperintense lesion mid sternal body measuring 5mm. Apparently it was seen in my Dec. MRI but no notes were made on the report. (and I had no awareness of it) The MRI report notes that metastatic disease is a possibility but there have been no change in the lesion for the past 6 mos. Her only comments that they will monitor it going forward. So now I am not only highly anxious over the upcoming surgery (I have never had surgery or anesthesia before) I am beyond stressed that the cancer has already spread. Is this how bone mets are initially diagnosed? How do they treat bone mets? All of my focus has been on the single tumor and getting through surgery. I have told my husband who is also now stressed. I haven't told my children... maybe it's better to wait but at what point will I know conclusively if the cancer has spread?

bluepearl

The "no change" is a good sign. Things turn up all the time with these scans and they have to say "metastatic possibility" because it is hard to tell, more so with such a small lesion. I won't tell u not to worry because you will. No one knows right now and I am hoping that it isn't a mets. Why such a delay in surgery btw? Bone mets are treated with radiation, chemo and hormone therapy, depending on where and what type of breast cancer it is. You r hormone + which is very good. her2 negative which is very good. If you get chemo and the lesion shrinks, it is then a good sign that it was a mets. That it hasn't changed in the 6 months you have been in the hormone therapy too speaks well...it has remained unchanged. That said, any cancer found anywhere else has to be biopsied because it can change tumour hormone markers as well. Hang in there!!!! (((HUGS)))

cive

They treat bone mets with a bio-phosphate, like folks who have osteoporosis. Not only that but bone mets are an easy one, they worry much more when it spreads to soft tissue organs. After your treatment is finished, they will do another scan (MRI, PET,CT) to see where you are. There are a million reasons why stuff shows on radiographic scans that doesn't mean metastases and your treatment plan wouldn't change even if it had spread. No change in the last six months makes it even more likely it is some benign reason. I know it's easy for me to say and much less easy for you to do... but don't worry.

Lunderwood

Thank you both for the quick responses! I seem to be at an all-time high anxiety level right now (so I can't even spell the word - metastatic correctly) I know I need to slow down and take a deep breathe and take one thing at a time. Normally I am a calm matter of fact type of person but I suspect that this could be a SE of the months of the neodjuvant hormone therapy or that I am still trying to come to terms with the cancer diagnosis. BluePearl the surgery delay is due to the hormone therapy. I am part of a research program using two different meds. Although my tumor is fairly small my BS felt that surgery and reconstruction options would improve if we could shrink it. Fortunately it shrunk about 20% over this time so she may be able to do more skin sparing (unfortunately nipple sparing will not be an option.) I have been diagnosed with Osteopenia but am not taking any bio-phosphates so this may be something do discuss with my MO later this month. Thank you again for your very positive and helpful answers!!

KBeee

I think the fact that it has not changed is really a key. Anything seen on imaging without an obvious explanation will be labeled as possible metastasis simply because they cannot exclude it. Keep us posted

KBeee

I think the fact that it has not changed is really a key. Anything seen on imaging without an obvious explanation will be labeled as possible metastasis simply because they cannot exclude it. Keep us posted.