How was your bone mets diagnosed?

vampeyes

What tests were done to confirm you have Bone Mets?

Thanks all that reply.

Cheryl

NancyHB

I have not yet had a biopsy. I know - sounds weird to me too. My mets are on my ribs and sternum, and my oncologist says the areas are dangerous to biopsy. She confirmed mets by correlating a CT scan with a bone scan, and discussing with several specialists (I’m at Univ. Of Mich). All of them agree I have mets on my left 10th, left 6th, and left sternum. I have scans every three months to watch for progression (which I had this last time, a new lesion). My findings were incidental; honestly, if we hadn’t accidentally found them I wouldn’t know I had them.

I’m choosing no treatment at present; I feel very good, having minimal pain, and the lesions aren’t too large. The expectation is they’re TN, hence no Tamoxifen or AI. My MO is waiting for “a lesion I can stick a needle in” to determine best course of treatment.

vampeyes

Thank you for your reply Nancy. I am so sorry you have bone mets, but thankful it was found early. I do hope that it doesn't progress anymore on you.

I had a CT on Friday was told blood clot in lung and 3 spots on my spine with high probability it's bone mets. Seen my oncologist today who feels it's not a blood clot and not mets due to my cancer not being aggressive. Another CT to be scheduled and bone scan on Friday.

NancyHB

Vampeyes, I’ll keep my fingers crossed for a clean bone scan. There are lots of things that can show up in a CT that are not mets. Bone islands, hemangiomas, even artifacts from the machine.

My experience started with a routine chest CT where the radiologist found two suspected mets on my L2 and L3. My MO blew it off because I had just finished chemo 7 months prior, so I asked for a second opinion at UofM. Their CT scan showed the same thing, plus a spot on one of my ribs. But there it was - 2 different machines (so not an artifact), 2 different radiologist who saw possible mets - it had to be! But nothing showed up in the bone scan, and three months later the spots on my spine were gone. I’ve had 3 CTs/bone scans since then, and never seen them again.

Let us know how your bone scan goes. I’ll be sending positive thoughts and energy your way.

vampeyes

Oh my God Nancy that is awesome news the spots on the spine are gone! I will send positive vibes for those others to disappear as well. You could be our next miracle on here!

Thank you for the info, sometimes it is hard to find stuff on the internet and nice to know those spots could be something else. I wish they would do the next CT in London this way it would be a different machine like yours. I will have to look into that as soon as they open. I honestly don't think it is bone mets, arthritis fits me to a T, I use my body for work (house cleaner) and my grandma had arthritis bad.

Thank you again for responding. {HUGS}