Sciatica and Negative Mammo

Ringo

ETA Is it possible to have a negative mammogram, but metastasis to bone?

Hi there, I am 55 and was dx Stage IIA HER2+ in April 2018, underwent 6 rounds neoadjuvant THCP and a lumpectomy in October 2018. I completed 6 weeks daily rads and another 4 months of Herceptin, and then given the all-clear in April 2019. Currently, I've developed sciatica after never experiencing any kind of back injury or pain. I've had the sciatica for 10 weeks now. My onco ordered a mammogram and MRI with contrast. MRI came back with several degenerative disks and I am to have a bone scan in 2 weeks. My mammogram results came back today as negative/benign with dense breast tissue. I know I need to be patient and wait for the bone scan, but is it possible to have metastasis to bone and still have a negative mammogram? I can't find a clear answer on the net.

I also have pain and pulling in the previously positive breast, as well as some swelling and lumpy feeling tissue in the breast. I did discover my initial lump myself, and what I'm feeling in the tissue now is very similar.

Thanks so much for your help!

Peregrinelady

Yes, it is possible. The mets would be from your original diagnosis if they find any. Are you on an AI? When I started Arimidex, I had hip pain that radiated down my leg. I immediately thought mets, but it turned out to be bursitis and went away with some exercises the dr. recommended. Good luck with your bone scan and let us know how it goes.

AliceBastable

If it's mets, it wouldn't be in the breast, so it wouldn't show on a mammogram. By definition, mets means a cancer that has reappeared elsewhere in the body. If it was in your breast, that would be a local recurrence, not a metastatic one.