Anybody in the mood to talk me out of a tree???

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anitach
anitach Member Posts: 191
edited June 2014 in Not Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastases but Concerned

Just got back from a full day of appts. and scans to get into a drug trial for neratinib. I've never had any scans other than PET and other than the original in May '07 they've all been clear. I just had a PET in May. However, today I had my first bone scan and to say I'm a little concerned would be an understatement at this point! As I was coming out of the machine - where it was scanning my lower legs I guess? - I could see the image above my head. I saw my skeleton and then one very bright spot very low on the left side. It almost looked like it was in my groin!! I kept looking at it trying to figure out what in the world kind of bone would be in that spot. I wanted to ask the tech but as soon as she came out of the room the image disappeared. She told me to hold tight while she took my report to the Dr. to see if he needed any add'l. views. When she came back in she told me I was good to go. Not sure if that is a good thing or not??

Has anyone here ever seen there image while in the bone scan machine?

Very worried.... not feeling good about this :(

Anita

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  • lorieg
    lorieg Member Posts: 802
    edited November 2009

    Anita,

    I believe areas of concern/mets appear dark on a bone scan, not bright?  When you say bright I assume you mean like a brighter white??  Also a bone scan abnormality isn't necessarily mets.  I am sorry you are going through this agony.  Waiting for scan results is awful.  I just had a thoracic MRI looking for bone mts b/c of back pain.  When I was done the tech said "your images look good."  I over-analyzed what exactly that meant until I got my results. Next time I am just going to ask. 

    (((((Hugs))))

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  • anitach
    anitach Member Posts: 191
    edited November 2009

    Lori,

    It was a very bright spot.... I'm hoping someone else will come along and tell me the same thing about areas of concern being darker - that would definitely make me feel better!!

    We have a lot in common... I was originally dx Stage IV because of mediastinal lymph node that showed slight uptake on PET but now have been told that I'm actually riding the fence between IIIC and IV since the nodes weren't biopsied. I think I am finally starting to realize this cancer stuff is really not just black and white.

    Did your MRI come out ok? Thanks for the supportive words!!

    Anita

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  • Mazy1959
    Mazy1959 Member Posts: 1,431
    edited November 2009

    Anita,

     LOL I had to laff when I read your post. When I had my last bone scan, I made the mistake of looking up also and saw a bright spot. I worried for a week and was sure I had more mets. It ended up being nothing at all. I will never do that again LOL. I hope yours is nothing too. Hugs, Mazy

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  • Little-G
    Little-G Member Posts: 647
    edited November 2009

    This is a copy of a bone scan.  I think unless you know what you're doing, you really can't tell what's going on.  The uptake is dark, not bright.  So hopefully you just had some anxiety.  I'm wishing the best for you!

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  • yellowfarmhouse
    yellowfarmhouse Member Posts: 279
    edited November 2009

    HI.  I had a bright spot on my scan right after my mastectomy.  For 5 long hours I was convinced that it was mets.  Finally they called me and said it was an old bone bruise/fracture that had healed.  What also scared me is that right after the scan they ordered xrays. That was almost 5 year ago.

    Hope this helps.

    Wendy

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  • AnacortesGirl
    AnacortesGirl Member Posts: 1,758
    edited November 2009

    Interesting to learn that mets are the dark areas.

    When I got my scan the only bright areas were on my hands.  The good news was that she said it was probably the start of arthritis and nothing more.  The bad news is that she said it was probably the start of arthritis.  Oh well.  Normal wear and tear so it isn't covered under warranty.

    I was also left in the room while she had the doc look at the scans.  When she said I was free to go then I took that as good news.  If they found something I figured there would be further scanning.  Sure enough - final report was clear.

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  • caaclark
    caaclark Member Posts: 936
    edited November 2009

    I had an ultrsound on my remaining breast and was worried when I saw bright spots.  It turned out they were my ribs.  I worried for nothing.

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  • hollyann
    hollyann Member Posts: 2,992
    edited November 2009

    The bright spot could possibly be where the radioactive material has gathered in your kidneys to be filtered or your bladder to be expelled.....That is what the radiologist told me of my bright spot near my groin........Also arthiritis will show up as bright spots.....My hands and feet lit up like Christmas trees!..I was scared to death but turned out to be Osteoarthritis.........Sending you gentle hugs and well wishes....

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  • pip57
    pip57 Member Posts: 12,401
    edited November 2009

    I think that the suspicious spots show up bright white directly on the screen while scanning.  The films show it in dark, in reverse.  However, 'suspicious' spots can be anything from a childhood injury to change in bone density.  I would be sure to ask about it at your follow up appointment to put your own mind at ease.  

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  • lorieg
    lorieg Member Posts: 802
    edited November 2009

    Anita,

    Yes, I love the stage III/stage IV stuff.  We belong to a group of our own!  I never no where to post, stage III or stage IV?  Maybe you and I should start our own forum, ha!  My lymph node was biopsied so I know it is cancer.  My oncologist says that an axillary lymph node + for cancer but without a breast mass side is always treated as an occult breast cancer and is not that uncommon.  If I had that alone, that is what I would be diagnosed with, breast cancer.  Of course, because I have a known breast cancer on the other side the question is....mets or occult breast tumor on my good side?  I would much prefer bilateral breast cancer!  My onc says it is so rare for cancer to travel all the way over to the other armpit without hitting other spots along the way.  My scans at diagnosis were clean for mets, but I did not have a PET, only had bone scan and ct chest/abd/pelvis.  The MRI I just had done b/c of back pain was negative for mets, btw.

    Anyway, sorry for the tangent, back to you....I hope you get good news.  When do you get your results?  Let us know.  I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.   

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  • anitach
    anitach Member Posts: 191
    edited November 2009

    Good News!!! CT and Bone scan were both clear!! Apparently what I saw was maybe my bladder or kidney that had buildup of tracer in it?Does that make any sense? Either way.... I am so relieved. I will start on the neratinib trial next Friday.

    Thank you all so much for the info and encouraging words!! No one besides you ladies could understand truly how scanxiety works! I love you all!!

    Anita

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  • Mazy1959
    Mazy1959 Member Posts: 1,431
    edited November 2009

    Anita

    Yayyyy

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  • lorieg
    lorieg Member Posts: 802
    edited November 2009

    Anita,

     Awesome news!!!  Congrats!

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