pet-scan shows bone legions not sure what to do

maryds

Hi I am posting this question for my mom. She had a pet-scan and it's showing bone lesions. Doctor mentioned hip? I was so overwhelmed. She had ER+ breast cancer, and I read that this type of cancer is more likely to metastases to bones. She got the pet scan because there was an enlarged lymph node near the lung. It looks like the lung is fine.

She is 67 years old and previous bone scan was showing degenerating activities at multiple sites.

I am kind of freaking out. She has been doing so well after the surgery and she has no symptoms no pain or anything regarding bone and joints.

Can the pet scan be wrong? Can mets to bone be managed? Help~

vlnrph

My PET scans lit up like Christmas trees, the first one anyway. I think they are pretty accurate in terms of showing rapidly metabolizing cells which are using glucose. An area of injury and the brain all register accordingly.

Certainly, bone mets are manageable. Go ahead and look at the thread on the Stage IV forum. Prognosis tends to be better for those with skeletal lesions vs lung or liver. Ideally, a biopsy would be done to confirm that the newly detected spots are still estrogen receptor positive because hormonal status can determine treatment.

Many of get tumor marker blood tests periodically to assess response to therapy - something to ask the doctor about. It's good your mom has a concerned daughter to help her through this!

maryds

Thank you!