Detecting lung or other metastatic cancer

scaredashell07

hello. I had my annual mri but have been having some discomfort in my back that’s concerning me. It seems to come and go but lately it’s more constant. It’s a dull ache and is near my spine under my shoulder blades on same side of BC. I’ve ad radiation and have lots of issues with my back and muscle aches and pains over the year or two. I’m hoping it’s not anything bad but can anyone tell me if an MRI would show lungs and back if it’s in same area as Breast? Or doesn’t it not go deep enough to see front and back? I also have a CT scan scheduled next week to check a nodule on my lung that hasn’t grown any in two years

vlnrph

My breast MRIs were always done on a machine with special coils that required you to lie on your stomach. I'm not a radiologist but I don't think that position would capture the spine or lungs. Although the order was for the left, the report included description of the operated side which was in the field. Therefore, when there is something to be seen, it gets written up. To ignore obvious changes would border on malpractice.

Certainly mention this concern to your oncologist and you can then get the proper type of scan. However, keep in mind that aromatase inhibition causes all kinds of joint aches/general discomfort. Also, it just seems like more things hurt as we grow older!

Hopefully they will decide soon that your pulmonary nodule is stable and stop making you have periodic CT exams which involve radiation exposure. Those things are commonly found as a leftover from some long ago bronchitis or respiratory infection. So, no big deal unless there is another reason to keep visualizing it.