I have a "possible" metastasis

Hi seashel -

I've not been in your situation, but just wanted to reach out and let you know you've come to the right place.  There are many women here who are super helpful, and probably someone with a similar situation to yours who can help.  I would just hope the oncologist would do a complete workup before jumping to any conclusions about your spine.

I do hope you are not in too much pain, or at least they're giving you meds to treat that.

Keep us posted on how things are going!

The fact that your oncologist knows your history and is skeptical sounds like a good sign.  He probably has much more experience with bc recurrences than a general radiologist.  While I suppose anything's possible, it sounds like you were at an extremely low risk of a recurrence, and if you had aggressive treatment at a highly rated facility in  '07, it's unlikely that they missed something.

Sorry you have a wait for that scan, but I'd put my money on your oncologist's opinion.  And I'm glad you've found BCO for support while you wait.    Deanna    

If you onc is skeptical...my thoughts would be in that direction - I think you would have to have some raging aggressive crap to have mets in the spine already if things have been clear thus far - and I think that would be unlikely...prayers that it is overly cautious referral! 

Hi seasheleyes,

When I was diagnosed last year, I had a 'staging' bone scan.  The radiologist who reported it said probable met in R upper arm bone.  I went on to have an x-ray and MRI, both said 'possible for metastasis'.  I was freaking out at this and proceded to have a bone biopsy of my upper arm (ouch!).  This confirmed that it was a benign cartilage growth, which can sometimes 'light up' on other imaging.  I can understand the major anxiety you are going through but just remember scans are NOT always diagnostic....

I had a PetScan done on August 10, which was after the BC diagnosis.  This was probably one of the most difficult days of my life.  I had told the doctor's office not to call me directly as I could probably have a heart attack if they told me that the cancer had spread in other organs, etc., although while being tripple negative, my node was clean. 

So having to wait for UCSF doctors, must be like a nightmare for you and I can totally feel the overhwelming feelings with you.  I have a feeling that this is not metastasis since you seem to have a really low grade cancer which didn't seem to be invasive.   I am praying that this is nothing but just a fracture, which just needs checking.  And you aren't even tripple negative, but hormone receptive, so this doesn't make too much sense why it would metastasize.  I don't have much knowledge on metastatis, but just feel hopeful for you, don't think it is anything.  Keep yourself busy and pray. I will most certainly pray that it is nothing.

Hi, I fell in June and hurt my back.  After a visit to a chiropractor in which he said I had a broken rib, my husband said I should call the oncologist  and tell her.  Her office then said I needed to go have a bone scan (can't remember which kind) to determine if it was a broken rib or cancer.  It was four broken ribs lined up in a vetical row.  I agree once you have cancer you are looked at differently and it is "prove it is not cancer".  Just goes with being a cancer patient or survivor.