Anyone Ever Have a Bone Scan Prior to a Lumpectomy?

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Britt
Britt Member Posts: 731
edited June 2014 in Managing Side Effects of Breast Cancer and Its Treatment

Hi all -

I saw my BS today - and she has determined that I will have a lumpectomy next Friday, 1/16, when my surgery is scheduled.  All of my pre-op tests support this - no other cancer in the left breast or in the right.  However, my initial breast MRI (which was followed by MRI guided biopsies & bilateral ultrasound) shows a "shadow" on my rib beneath my left breast, which could be from a prior trauma that area (I did injure it about seven years ago) or from bone mets.  So, to continue the conservative approach, BS is scheduling me to have a bone scan sometime next week prior to surgery.  From what I have read about this procedure, I understand that one is injected with radioactive fluid.  So - how accurate is this test (or relatively accurate?)  Would love to hear if anyone else ever had this procedure.  Thanks so very much!

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  • dmh2418
    dmh2418 Member Posts: 64
    edited January 2009

    I had a bone scan but it was ordered by my Rheumatologist who was concerned about what the tamoxifen would do to my body.  I didn't have any injections, just laid on the table and let the machine do it's job. I saw the pictures and they came out ok.  Talk with your bs or primary to see if you have to have radioactive fluid injected or if there are any alternatives.

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  • Britt
    Britt Member Posts: 731
    edited January 2009

    dmh -

    thanks for the info!  I did ask my BS today about it and she is pretty sure they will inject me with that radioactive stuff - but I will find out tomorrow when it is scheduled and then call the hospital, where the test will be done. Glad your pictures turned out to be ok!!!!!

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  • Lisa1964
    Lisa1964 Member Posts: 944
    edited January 2009

    The bone scan is very accruate and very necessary and very normal.  It is just one of many scans that will be ordered.  It is non-invasive with no s/e's. Nothing to worry about.  Good luck.

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  • Britt
    Britt Member Posts: 731
    edited January 2009

    Thanks, Lisa - it's good to know it's accurate and without side effects - also non-invasive!

    Thanks also for the good wishes - Maria.

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  • Nancy277
    Nancy277 Member Posts: 2
    edited January 2009

    Hi, I read yesterday that most doctors prefer to have the dye injected because it is much easier to read the results. It said the dye is not neccessary and that it just takes the doctors longer to read the results without it. I would not get the dye if you don't need to.

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  • Britt
    Britt Member Posts: 731
    edited January 2009

    Hi, Nancy -

    Many thanks for the input.  Unfortunately, it looks like I will have to have the dye injected, since they want the results ASAP since my surgery is next Friday - and I haven't heard yet from my BS's nurse as to when it will be scheduled next week.  So we shall see.  I'm not crazy about having that stuff injected in me - had enough of that with my two MRIs! (one breast MRI, and the other the infamous MRI Guided Biopsies) - and I tend not to react to it very well.  Always feel a bit surrealistic afterwards - whether I eat a light breakfast or not!

    The best to you and have a great day,

    Maria

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  • emanresu
    emanresu Member Posts: 60
    edited January 2009

    HI, I have had two bone scans. Each time a dye.

    Very accurate, I could see my body on the screen as I

    went through the machine. It does pick-up hot spots, for me that

    was arthritis. Listen, I used to fret over every X-ray that I got at the dentist.

    Now, I just accept. MG

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  • Britt
    Britt Member Posts: 731
    edited January 2009

    Hi emanresu -

    Thanks so  much for the input - I am glad to hear it is very accurate.  And I like your attitude about accepting.  It is what it is, and we just have to do the best with it.  The "hot spots" should be interesting, since I also have arthritis  . . .

    All the best -

    Maria

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  • pk0199
    pk0199 Member Posts: 586
    edited January 2009

    Just going to jump in here, a bone scan always has an injection of a radioactive isotope. A bone mineral density test which is what I think dmh had done, is done using low energy xrays to determine the density of the bones. Both usually done in the Nuclear Medicine dept but are two separate tests. A bone scan finds "hot spots" which can indicate mets or problem areas like arthritis.

    For the bone scan, you will go in, be injected and come back about 2 hours later for your scan. Besides the needle poke it is painless.

    Best of luck with your scan Britt.

    penny

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  • Britt
    Britt Member Posts: 731
    edited January 2009

    Thanks, Penny - for your very thorough description of the process.

    And it doesn't sound nearly as daunting as an MRI guided biopsy!

    Have a great day and thanks for your good wishes -

    Maria

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  • henny
    henny Member Posts: 89
    edited January 2009

    Britt,

     I do bone scans for a living (I'm a nuclear med and PET technologist) and have had many bone scans myself and can assure you that they are very easy and you don't have any side effects from the small amount of tracer. Most people sleep through the scan (about 30 min) because it's so boring

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  • Britt
    Britt Member Posts: 731
    edited January 2009

    Thanks, Henny -

    VERY relieved to know that there are no side effects and that I can catch up on my sleep during the procedure!  Blessings, Maria

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  • pk0199
    pk0199 Member Posts: 586
    edited January 2009

    Hi Henny,

    I hope I described the bone scan correctly. I have in the past done bone density but gave it up as I was not doing them often enough to be proficient. Anyway nice to meet another tech, I am xray/mammo. Sorry we had to meet here though.

    penny

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  • kamico3
    kamico3 Member Posts: 90
    edited January 2009

    I had a bone scan prior to my lumpectomy and it was a piece of cake, nothing to it. Just a little boring. I think I snoozed through part of it, too!

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  • revkat
    revkat Member Posts: 763
    edited January 2009

    I did take a xanax because of mild claustraphobia, but I didn't really need too. The scanner comes down close to your face but their isn't anything on the sides so I didn't feel trapped.

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  • dlb823
    dlb823 Member Posts: 9,430
    edited January 2009

    Is a bone scan the same as or different than a Petscan?  I had a Petscan, and the amount of stuff they inject you with is like a timbleful -- maybe an ounce at most.  Also, I had to lie very still in a recliner for about an hour after the injection.  I wasn't allowed to move at all -- no cell phone calls, no reading, etc.  I forget why that was, but they were adamant about it.  But when you say a bone scan, I don't know if that's the same as a Petscan, or yet another of the endless things they find to do to us...    Deanna 

    P.S.  Mine was done prior to starting chemo, possibly because my tx had been dragged out more than some.

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  • Britt
    Britt Member Posts: 731
    edited January 2009

    Hi, all -

    Well, it appears I will not be getting a bone scan prior to the lumpectomy this Friday - they weren't able to schedule it on time - the contrast fluid injected for the bone scan would interfere with the contrast fluid injected for the SNB this Friday - now, couldn't they have figured that out prior to this decision?  Hmmmmm - so they are going to do it sometime after the surgery.

    Deanna, from what I have been told, it's a bit different than the Pet scan, but similar enough.

    So that's it.  Just have to wait until Friday for this to be all over with - for now!

    Thanks for everyone's input - I really appreciate it!

    Maria

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  • pk0199
    pk0199 Member Posts: 586
    edited January 2009

    Maria,

    Just wanted to wish you luck on your surgery Friday. I found the surgery to be very tolerable and I hope that for you. Keep in touch and let us know how you are.

    Penny

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  • Britt
    Britt Member Posts: 731
    edited January 2009

    Hi Penny -

    Thank you so very much for your good wishes.  I just hope my experience will as as tolerable as you found yours to be!  Take care and I will certainly keep you all posted apres surgery -

    Maria

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  • barbe1958
    barbe1958 Member Posts: 19,757
    edited January 2009

    Glad I found this thread as I'm going to get a bone scan. I would have panicked at the hot spots if I didn't know that they were my arthritis areas!

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  • Britt
    Britt Member Posts: 731
    edited January 2009

    Hi Barbe -

    How are you doing?  I didn't get my bone scan yet - have an appt with med onco this week and she is going to schedule the bone scan, PET scan, CT scan, etc.  As for the bone scan, it sounds like a piece of cake, actually.  I met some women who had it done and it is non-invasive and not nearly as much of a hassle as an MRI.  Good luck and take care!

    Maria

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  • barbe1958
    barbe1958 Member Posts: 19,757
    edited January 2009

    Maria, in Canada we don't even get close to a PET scan unless we are a celebrity sports player! The odds of me getting a CT scan are very slim as well. I had to ask for the bone scan because of everything I've read. My regular doctor didn't hesitate to order it. I should find out on Tuesday when it is. I don't get a onco as I don't need further treatment as long as nothing else shows up. One of the advantages of a double mastectomy. Except for the scar (and no boobs) my show is over!

    Sounds easy, I'm not afraid of tests. Core biopsy was the worst and I did it...

    Keep us posted on your process...

    Barbe 

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  • Bethie1
    Bethie1 Member Posts: 393
    edited January 2009

    I had a bone scan prior to my prospected lumpectomy that turned out be a mastectomy of the right breast. The injection of radioactive fluid will show the doctors where your tumor is. It doesn't hurt, but getting up after laying on the stretcher, your muscles feel weak.

     You're in my prayers

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