Crippling back pain and fatigue

awnie1301

Hi All,

Just really needing a spot to vent and express my fears. I am almost 3 year from diagnosis but again I find myself 24 hrs away from more scans.

When I was scanned thoroughly early in this process to look for spread the only thing the doctors all commented on was my terrible back. They even said "I don't see any cancer...but boy your back is f*%#+!

Well now I find myself again in excruciating pain in my low back. This is the worst I have ever had. My back was in such intense spasm that I was curved like the letter S. I am limited to standing and lying down. I am so tired too...all I do is sleep.

The worry is that now I have a compression fracture. So off for bone scans I go. I will have the scan tomorrow then hopefully have the results shortly after. Great timing too...my daughter is graduating on Friday...I will have to sit.

Anyways just having the usual scan-xiety. Thanks for being here to vent to.

Andrea

awnie1301

Ok so got some confusing results. The bone scan showed the same old degenerative disease I the SI joint. Nothing changed there. Apparently though there is a spot on my sternum and on one rib. These have never been discussed in previous bone scans. The radiologists who looked at the scan feel the sternum is nothing...just a "bony island" (???) and the rib looks like an old fracture...what???

I would like to believe what they are saying but I have to admit I am confused. Has anyone else had funny things show up on a bone scan?

Should I get another opinion/scan?

Thanks

dtad

Just want to add that aromatase inhibitors such as Femera is really bad for your bones. It could be contributing to your problems. Good luck and keep us posted....

KBeee

You could ask for a PET scan which would be more definitive.

awnie1301

Ok so this has been a total whirlwind of scans and anxiety but here is what I know. The bone scan showed "increased uptake...right 3rd rib in the anterior axillary line, right 5th rib at the costochondral junction and the 11th rib in the posterior axillary line suspicious for early metastatic disease".

It goes on to say "rib fractures might give the same appearance so further rib X-Ray is recommended if not already done".

All this sent me in for an urgent PET/CT yesterday. The nuclear medicine radiologist assures me that there is no cancer on the PET and that the CT show the ribs as old fractures. I did have a bad cough last Sep that landed me in the emergency room with severe rib pain but the X-ray at that time showed nothing.

Ugh! I want to be relieved with these results but still not sure. Would love to hear any thoughts or stories.

Thanks,

Andrea

KBeee

the PET results are good news