I have a "possible" metastasis

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I have a "possible" metastasis

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  • seasheleyes
    seasheleyes Member Posts: 10
    edited August 2010

    This is my first day on this forum. I fell two weeks ago on a stone floor and fractured a vertabrae. They did an MRI and now I am facing a possible metastasis to my spine. Has anyone else here hurt their back and been referred back to their oncologist? My oncologist is skeptical, but worried. I was a Stage 1, low grade cancer patient. I've been at a highly rated breast cancer hospital. This doesn't seem possible, but it is.

  • MrsNice
    MrsNice Member Posts: 258
    edited August 2010

    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!

  • Kate0574
    Kate0574 Member Posts: 120
    edited August 2010

    Hi,  I have not personally but that is scary... I was also diagnosed in 2007 and if I just now was told about bone mets found due to fall I would be very worried.  Did you have to have pet scan or mri when first diagnosed?  wow... keep us posted sorry I cannt help but I can say.. GL to you and your new journey, hope its nothing!!!  Kate

  • seasheleyes
    seasheleyes Member Posts: 10
    edited August 2010

    I had never had an MRI before this fall. I am scheduled for a PET scan on September 7 in San Francisco. I'm totally hoping that the radiologist who read my scan is a doofus!

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited August 2010

    I had a very similar experience last year and after a consultation with another specialist it was determined to be just an anomaly.  Absolutely scared the crap out of me.  Sometimes radiologist just mis-read big time.  Keep us posted.

  • dlb823
    dlb823 Member Posts: 9,430
    edited August 2010

    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    

  • perky
    perky Member Posts: 241
    edited August 2010

    Just before my mastectomy I had an x-ray of my lower back because I said I get a lot of pain there. It was read as abnormal and I was sent for an MRI. I was told they were looking for cancer (I was also low grade). What they found was a slipping disk. Apparently cartalidge can't be seen on x-ray. I really hope you have the same sort of thing.

  • Lowrider54
    Lowrider54 Member Posts: 2,721
    edited August 2010

    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! 

  • j414
    j414 Member Posts: 321
    edited August 2010

    I also had a stage 1, low grade tumor and have asked my onc the mets question 100 times. He always says the same thing - it's certainly possible, but not likely.  Of course you should follow up with your onc, but in all likelihood the radiologist who did the spine MRI is (in the venacular) covering his butt.  If he didn't send you back to your onc, and if on the off chance it was mets, you would have a case for malpractice against him.

  • TreadSoftly
    TreadSoftly Member Posts: 192
    edited August 2010

    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....

  • seasheleyes
    seasheleyes Member Posts: 10
    edited August 2010

    Thank you for all of your responses. I'm still waiting for the evaluation by the UCSF doctors to my MRI. My oncologist has already set up a PET scan for September 7.

  • Lovelyface
    Lovelyface Member Posts: 674
    edited August 2010

    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.

  • JacquelineG
    JacquelineG Member Posts: 282
    edited August 2010

    I had been having hip pain for some time and finally had an MRI recently. Hip was clear (just tendonitis from running) but they said there was a 'spot' on my femur and suggested a bone scan to rule out possible metastasis. My oncologist was skeptical and called the radiologist who said he thought it looked like normal bone marrow but like someone said up above, if they can't be 100% of what it is, they need to cover their behinds and write it down. My onc said this is typical of radiologists - they will always suggest more tests when they are not 100% sure. She said if i hadn't had BC they wouldn't have looked twice at that spot, but when you've had BC everything is a red flag. I decided not to even do the bone scan. Don't fret - i'm sure it's nothing and the PET will be negative! Sorry you have to go through that anxiety and wait...

  • seasheleyes
    seasheleyes Member Posts: 10
    edited August 2010

    I am having a roller coaster weekend. On Friday I let it all go- went to BUNCO, laughed and had fun. On Saturday I went on a limited shopping trip. Today the anxiety hit again. I think it's because I know that the doctors will be back tomorrow and may call me with news. YES I want good news, but NO I don't want anything else. Geez this is the hardest thing I've gone through, including the breast cancer diagnosis and subsequent treatments. I never thought I could have a reccurance or metastasis. I'm so scared.

  • squidwitch42
    squidwitch42 Member Posts: 2,228
    edited August 2010

    Julia,

    Not sleeping either?  glad you had a good weekend and are able to "compartmentalize."  I'm watching Threes Company, which is my escape. Hang in there...I know how tough this is!

  • seasheleyes
    seasheleyes Member Posts: 10
    edited September 2010

    I am still in a holding pattern here. I had another MRI with contrast and there is still some suspicion- so now I have to do the PET scan and a bone biopsy. This has been a nightmare. I guess once you've had cancer everything that happens has to be checked much more completely to rule cancer out. I'm just drained by it all.

  • BarbaraA
    BarbaraA Member Posts: 7,378
    edited September 2010

    I feel your anxiety and am sending {{{{HUGS}}}} because CANCER SUCKS!!

  • katsOK
    katsOK Member Posts: 142
    edited September 2010

    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.  

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited September 2010

    I am sending good thoughts to you.  I wish you could "fast forward" and get through this faster.

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