Bone/Liver mets after treatment

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Julialives
Julialives Member Posts: 2
edited June 2014 in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Hi ladies!

I was wondering if anyone can share with me how they found out they had mets to the bone/liver?  I finished treatment July 07 (6 rounds of TAC, 48 rads, partial mast) Triple neg, path very aggressive presentation.  No lymph node involvement but had lymphovasucalr and veiniuos invasion present with high nuclear grade and high nottingam score. 

I go every 3 months to my Onc and he does a full check up and blood panel but no scans.  I was 45 at diagnosis and have been doing great.  It took a long time to get back in physical shape and my memory still isnt all that great but not complaining! 

Anyway, I'm just wondering if I should be doing any other scans so I can be pro-active!  Every once in a great while, I get a little nervous that I should be doing more to catch anything early.

Thanks!

Julia

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  • FloridaLady
    FloridaLady Member Posts: 2,155
    edited December 2008

    I would think your doctor would at least do a CT Scan once a year for the first two years.  Relying on blood work only is only good for mets of organ/bone.  Local mets do not show up for a while with blood work.

    If you have bone or liver mets your blood work would show it pretty fast with him/her checking it very three months. 

    I'm glad you are doing so well.  I don't blame you for being nervous.  I hate to say this....but if you want a scan done.  Go in with a pain complaint and they will at least run a CT.  Sad but true...but hey it is a peace of mind.

    Flalady

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  • Julialives
    Julialives Member Posts: 2
    edited December 2008

    Thanks Flalady!

    I see him again in January so I just may take your suggestion.  He's not the kind of Dr that would ever not do a scan even if I just told him I was really worried.  It just sneaks up on me every once in awhile....  I really dont look back and I really (not sure how I do it) but I just put that year of terror in a little pocket of my brain that I dont visit very often.  I just started volunteering at the hospital and that probably clicked my fears again...  I'm volunteering in the ICU and hope to be moved over to the cancer center as a patient advocate. 

    Thanks again and have a nice holiday season!

    Julia

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  • Survive
    Survive Member Posts: 45
    edited December 2008

    Julia

    My mother's blood work was always fine and just by chance her reg Dr. ordered a chest X-Ray and they found mets to her lungs.  They have since done a PET and MRI and the PET showed mets to her bones and liver.  You really can't rely on the blood work.  My mom's Onc. said that the blood will only show about 70% of time.  I am not trying to scare you but I thought you should know.  Maybe suggest a scan or X-ray just for your own well being. 

    I hope for no mets for you in your lifetime!  Keep Positive!!!!!!!!!

    Stacey

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  • L0rna
    L0rna Member Posts: 3
    edited December 2008

    Hi Julia,

    I was diagnosed with mets to the sternum in August.  I went to my doctor in April with a strange pain in my armpit which I was worried might have something to do with my lymph system.  A bone scan showed "an increase in activity" in my chest area when compared to my scan from 2 years ago.  A CT scan confirmed the mets.

    I suggest a bone scan plus CT scans at regular intervals.

    Lorna

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