Rib investigations - worried!

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Hi,

I'm back up to the hospital tonight. Phoned Breast Nurse yesterday about my rib pain and she's got me in tonight.



While I'm really grateful for such a quick appointment, I don't know what they could do at this clininc. I thought I'd see the Oncologist and be sent for a bone scan. Has anyone started bone investigations with an x-ray?



Worried!

Comments

  • leggo
    leggo Member Posts: 3,293
    edited October 2009

    Hi Alloway. Often bone mets investigations are started with an x-ray and they continue from there. Please don't jump to conclusions....rib pain can be so many things. I break ribs all the time and I don't have mets in my ribs. I broke one sneezing the other day. Even if something does show up on the x-ray and they order a bone scan, it could still be something as simple as an old injury that's acting up. I sincerely hope that's the case for you. I'll keep my fingers crossed.

  • Alloway
    Alloway Member Posts: 32
    edited October 2009

    Thank you so much Gracie! It's such a relief to have this site and be able to "talk" to people who really understand our paranoia!

  • leggo
    leggo Member Posts: 3,293
    edited October 2009

    No problem. I know just how you feel. Did you find out anything yet?

  • diana50
    diana50 Member Posts: 2,134
    edited October 2009

    i had four broken ribs...within a period of 6 months.  they started looking with an x-ray...then ct scan.  no mets; my oncologist believes from radiation and weakening of bones from arimidex.  this was 5 years AFTER treatment.  if you have a broken rib be careful as i was picking up a large bag of cat sand and one of the ribs punctured my lung and i had a partially collapsed lung with a tube placed.  all healed up now tho.....things we deal with, eh? hang in there. good luck/

    diana50

  • Alloway
    Alloway Member Posts: 32
    edited October 2009

     Had a thorough, wince-inducing physical exam and having both a chest x-ray and a bone scan "to be on the safe side"! I was asked lots of questions about what I'd been doing or if it hurt when breathing, so I think he eliminated a broken rib.Bone scan is tomorrow morning but haven't heard about the x-ray yet. I've been Arimidex for 2 years, 9 months (not that I'm counting!) and have other pains in my back that were discounted last October by MRI but you still worry...

  • mhill29
    mhill29 Member Posts: 1
    edited October 2009

    I hope it goes ok for you.

  • leggo
    leggo Member Posts: 3,293
    edited October 2009

    Good luck. The bone scan will give you a definative answer at least. I have bone mets, so if you need to talk after your scan, please feel free to pm me.

  • GracieM2007
    GracieM2007 Member Posts: 1,564
    edited October 2009

    Good luck to you.  They never did an xray with me.  Onc sent me for PET scan first, then bone scan then tomorrow I have a dexa then I see the onc again Tuesday.

  • Alloway
    Alloway Member Posts: 32
    edited October 2009

    Goodness Gracie M2007 you have been through the mill!

    Had both bone scan and chest x-ray today so all that's left is the lovely waiting for results.

  • Alloway
    Alloway Member Posts: 32
    edited October 2009

    Good news! Both chest x-ray and bone scan are clear!

    Dexa scan shows deterioration so I think they're starting treatment for that.

    Thank you lovely ladies for keeping me going through this and I wish for good results for anybody waiting.

  • JacquelineG
    JacquelineG Member Posts: 282
    edited October 2009

    Wonderful! so happy for you!

  • Pat634
    Pat634 Member Posts: 271
    edited October 2010

    I have a pain in 1 or possibly 2 ribs nearly at the sternum only hurt when palipated and was originally found by my lymphedema massage therapist.  So I am just curious as to what were some of the symptoms of ladies bone or lung mets?

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