New MO checking for mets. Many tests ordered

wallan

Hey everyone:

After my Brain MRI came back normal, my new MO told me to take an Arimidex holiday for two weeks to see if my fatigue, nausea, headaches, vertigo and indigestion issues will subside. I think its a good idea because I am convinced it is SE from the drug or lack of estrogen. I have always been sensitive to drugs of all kinds.

This morning, her nurse practitioner called, and told me they have thought more about this and reviewed my history more and are concerned. So now, they are ordering all these tests. Chest X-ray, abdomenal CT, pelvis CT, bloodwork, and maybe a bone scan but there were so many tests rattled off I am not sure.

So this surprised me. I guess I just need reassurance from you wonderful people on here. I do have one thing that was imaged on my adrenal gland about 18 months ago or so, before the second BC was dx'd. It was called an adenoma. My GP told me it is nothing to worry about because I have no symptoms and that is "just what the body does - grows lumps and bumps as we age". He did order an MRI at the time which was scheduled in 6 months, but it was cancelled because of the 2nd BC Dx. He reassured me later that the MRI was only protocol and he is sure it is nothing - benign. The MRI was not rescheduled.

So, if this adenoma is still there, the CT scan will pick it up and then what? A biopsy? Because you know that the MO will be suspicious.

Sigh... I hate this. To make matters worse, I have a splitting migraine today. I guess Im having a pity party.

wallan

Joyseeker

Thinkingof you. Tests and waiting just plain suck. Prayinrg for a non event and that these tests are just baselines.

wallan

Thanks Joyseeker.

Tests and waiting do suck. I really do believe the issues are hormone treatment related, but I guess you never know. I have been off the anastrozole for a few days now and already I feel more clear minded with better memory. But my headaches are still there. I am also on Effexor so I wonder if that causes headaches...

wallan

NotBrokenJustBent

Wallen, I have has so many false alarms in my almost 5 years post BC. I had an MRI for abdominal pain over a year ago. At that time a nodule inadvertently was found on my adrenal. The report said "malignancy cannot be ruled out". My MO sent me to an endocrinologist and she was not concerned and reassured me that it was nothing and yes, these are common and the older and the more we look the more things we will find. The only follow up was a recheck in one year. The MRI one year later showed no progression and it is my understanding that no follow up is necessary. I have back issues which were worsened likely by the blockers and the back issues have caused hip problems and so because of the BC, every ache and pain is followed by CTs, MRIs, ultrasounds and bone scans. Try not to worry, easier said than done, but good your doctors are being proactive and checking things out.

Peregrinelady

I hope everything checks out benign, as well. I just wanted to let you know that I could not tolerate Effexor at all. Nausea, dizziness, etc. I quit after one day.

lkc

Hi there,

sorry that you are having to deal with this. For what its worth, it sounds to me like your new Onc is jst being super dillgent about ruling " all out":

having a normal MRI of the brain is great news and your symptoms can indeed be Rx related.

an adenoma is not medically significant as your GP advised,so no concern there.

let us know when you get the all clear as I am sure good news is coming for you.

Hugs,

Linda

wallan

Thanks everyone for your support and encouragement.

I will let you know what comes of this.

I don't even have the scan dates scheduled yet. It will be in the next few weeks... maybe this week, who knows?

I do believe all is well, but scananxiety is there still... I remember going in for my mammogram last year thinking all was well too... NOT. So, lingering fears I suppose get us all every time we have a scan or test. Its a paradox really. Because on the other hand, I am glad that my new MO is being diligent and I am getting checked.

I must say, I have only been off the Arimidex 4 days, and my head has cleared (I had very foggy thinking starting) and I have more energy. However, headache and vertigo still coming and going. I had vertigo today again.

I also have a soreness under my collarbone mid front neck which goes up into my front neck. Sometimes I get shooting pains. No lumps that I can feel. I think this is from surgery. My shoulder sometimes hurts on this side too, on and off. But of course, I think... maybe its not from surgery... sigh... this is one of the worse parts of BC is the fear of recurrance and every ache and pain might be onerous. I remember this from my first bout. It took years to quiet my fears. And now... again I am facing it. Ugh.

Thanks again to you all. You are wonderful.

wallan

KBeee

I do understand that anxiety completely, but am glad your new MO is not blowing off your symptoms. For what it's worth, I do have fatigue vertigo, indigestion, and nausea (the latter 2 likely related to GERD from chemo damage. I do not have headaches, though I do have shoulder pain and arm numbness and HORRIBLE brain fog that I never had during chemo. Let us know how all of the tests turn out. Thinking of you.

wallan

Hi KBeee..

Nice to see you posting on here.

I must say my brain fog was getting bad. I would be talking to someone and I could feel my brain giving up and then I didn't remember what I was going to say without effort. It was like my brain was fatigued along with the body. And I do think its fatigue vertigo as you say for me too because it does tend to happen if I am overtired.

Since I stopped the Arimidex 5 days ago now, that has gone. And I definitely have more energy. I think I felt weak on the Arimidex as opposed to fatigue. Because after a hard day at work today, I am fatigued, but I feel strong. On the Arimidex, I don't feel muscle weakness, but I feel energyless. Sleep does not relieve it.

I would rather stay on AI's though for their benefit and tolerate the side effects than increase the risk of a recurrence. If I can learn how to manage the SE's I am good.

The MO suggested putting me on another AI. We shall see. My chest xray and abdomen and pelvic ultrasound is Friday morning... Friday the 13th ... yeah.....

wallan