can't tell if it's mets or not!!!!

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ravdeb
ravdeb Member Posts: 3,116
edited June 2014 in Not Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastases but Concerned

Okay..had my routine 6- month visit with my onc. She felt something by my scar. She sent me for an US.

*radiologist searched for whatever she could find and didn't see anything but took a biopsy of the area.

*biopsy negative but recommended breast MRI

*both breasts appeared clear but a spot lit up below my cancer side on a rib..or two ribs.

*onc sent me for an x-ray and blood workup. Radiologist asked if I had had a fracture there. Answer to that is NO.

*blood tests are normal. Onc sent me to the orthopedic oncologist.

*Orthopedic oncologist showed me the lit up spot. Said the x-ray is unclear. x-ray tech said there was thickening on ribs 5 & 6. Ortho onc thinks it's lower than that.  He can't say one way or the other what it is.

*bone scan set up for this Monday, the 22nd. CT will be scheduled as soon as they can do it.

*Ortho onc said that even with these scans he may not be able to tell if it's mets or some other abnormality.

ANY THOUGHTS ON THIS? I'M GOING OUT OF MY MIND.

Thanks.

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  • Leah_S
    Leah_S Member Posts: 8,458
    edited August 2013

    Ravdeb, going out of your mind is a normal reaction to this situation!

    I'm so sorry you have to go through this. Lots of davening that it should be something else - something innocuous.

    All the best.

    Leah

    edited to add: my bone mets were found on a PET/CT.

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  • ravdeb
    ravdeb Member Posts: 3,116
    edited November 2010

    thanks Leah. davening in action since last week!!!

    If they can't figure it out with bone scan and CT, I have already decided I will push for a PET. I'm the kind of person who needs to KNOW!

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited February 2011

    delete

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  • Leah_S
    Leah_S Member Posts: 8,458
    edited November 2010

    Ravdeb, maybe instead of a CT ask for a PET/CT - it's both scans done together, one enhancing the other, and that way it's one test instead of two.

    All the best.

    Leah

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  • ICanDoThis
    ICanDoThis Member Posts: 1,473
    edited November 2010

    No thoughts, just love and concern. You were incredibly kind to me back when I was going through treatment, and I want this to just be old-lady bones!

    Sue

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  • Suzybelle
    Suzybelle Member Posts: 920
    edited November 2010

    Ravdeb, wishing you good thoughts and wellness...please let us know how you are doing.

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  • ravdeb
    ravdeb Member Posts: 3,116
    edited November 2010

    Thanks everybody.

    Leah..that would make so much sense to have a PET and CT together. But of course, the doctors are not making sense out of it and I think I would have a hard time getting the PET authorized by the Kupah (insurance). Probably the reason they asked for the CT..got the papers right away.

     HeidiToo... hmmm... arthritis not in a joint? That IS weird but then..what do I know! I will do some searching to see what that is about. You'd think the dear ortho-onc would have said it COULD be this, but noooooooo... thanks. I'll read up on that NOW!

    Sue..I'm glad I was able to help you out when you needed it. Thanks for the good words.I like that..old lady bones!!! YES..that must be it!!!

     Suzybelle..thanks. I'll let y'all know.

    Nice to have such wonderful support once again on BCO! Thank you so much!

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  • LRM216
    LRM216 Member Posts: 2,115
    edited November 2010

    Sending you blessings and all good thoughts.  I hate that you are going through this, it is all of our greatest fear.  Stay strong, Ravdeb, we are all here holding your hand.

    Linda

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited February 2011

    delete

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  • ravdeb
    ravdeb Member Posts: 3,116
    edited November 2010

    question...Heidi..was your clavical area painful?

    Have been doing some reading and indeed one could have arthritis on the ribs. but what I read was that it was usually quite painful. I have no pain. Nothing... No swelling anywhere... nothing!!!

    thanks for the lessons about the hooves. Should my hooves cause problems, I'll come to you!! LOL

    Linda..thanks. I'm a nervous wreck but other than that I'm fine!! LOL Trying to keep busy but my mind wanders to this topic!!!!Tongue out

    thanks again Ladies!

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited February 2011

    delete

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  • ravdeb
    ravdeb Member Posts: 3,116
    edited November 2010

    okay..interesting. both benign and malignant seem to present differently in different people anyway.

    I've stopped googling and speculating. My scans are completed except for my annual mammo and US which is next week. I'm less concerned with that and also less concerned with results. Too tired to be concerned with it anymore. What will be, will be. What they see, they see. Just waiting for results....

    thanks.

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  • LRM216
    LRM216 Member Posts: 2,115
    edited November 2010

    You are not waiting alone, we are waiting with you.  Good Luck!

    Linda

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  • ravdeb
    ravdeb Member Posts: 3,116
    edited November 2010

    thanks!

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  • karen1956
    karen1956 Member Posts: 6,503
    edited November 2010

    Ravdev....sorry to hear that you are having to wait on news....prayers for only good news!!!

    DD and I had a wonderful time in Jerusalem and the RFTC...we walked with Leah_S....she is a wonderful person.....

    Hugs

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  • Hattie
    Hattie Member Posts: 414
    edited November 2010

    waiting is the pits!  but no use in practicing worrying and suffering.  i like the "i have a plan and a test and what will be, will be"  attitude.  nice to see you againg!  except for the waiting and concern part.  hope you get the a-okay soon.

    take care,

    --hattie 

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  • Leslie1962
    Leslie1962 Member Posts: 233
    edited August 2013

    ravdeb - I had the same type of thing happen to me. I had MRI, CT scan and bone scan. CT and bone scan saw something but in the end they think it was something I was born with. I never had scans before in that area to know if anything was out of sorts so I have to go with, I must have been born with some slight abnormality.

    Edited to add that I also have degenerative disc disease and arthritis. Looks like age is starting to creep into all this.

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  • ravdeb
    ravdeb Member Posts: 3,116
    edited November 2010

    Hattie!! HI! How are YOU?

    Karen..I was at the Race for the Cure. Sorry I missed you there. My daughter and husband walked with me. We had a fantastic time. Glad you met up with Leah..

     Still waiting...

    Leslie.. I have had bone scans. Had one in 2005 when I was diagnosed, had one in 2007 when I had pains in my hip. Arthritis I'm sure they will find! LOL So..this is a new spot they saw on the ribs I'm thinking... Still waiting... I thought that after the scans I was feeling more relaxed. And I was. We went out to eat. My husband distracted me and we bought much needed new kitchen light fixtures after the scans which we will pick up after my mammo and US on Monday!

     But yesterday my day was not good and I felt so nervous and jittery I had to go to bed at 8 pm before I barked too loudly at anyone who came my way!!!!

    I hope that they will answers on Monday when I'm in the hospital but..yesterday I got a letter for an appt scheduled for Nov 16th which I went to..so you can see that they are way behind over there!!!! Frown

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  • caaclark
    caaclark Member Posts: 936
    edited November 2010

    Hi ravdeb-

    Just checking in and hoping that you are hanging in there.  I'm hoping that you get good news soon.  Waiting just sucks.

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  • ravdeb
    ravdeb Member Posts: 3,116
    edited November 2010

    yes..waiting sucks. Thanks for checking in ... Sitting here with a glass of wine and trying to relax.

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  • Marple
    Marple Member Posts: 19,143
    edited November 2010

    Ravdeb,

    I've been lurking in hopes of reading some good news from you.  I had to comment when I read about you having a glass of wine.  I thought OMG!!! it's quite early in the day......then I saw where you are from.  Cheers!!! 

    I wish you well.

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  • ravdeb
    ravdeb Member Posts: 3,116
    edited November 2010

    LOL  thanks Sharon... maybe I'll have news on Monday. I do better with knowlege..one way or the other...

    am tense and tired. Wine..made me a bit sleepy! LOL

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  • 3jaysmom
    3jaysmom Member Posts: 4,266
    edited November 2010
    ravdeb..i too, have been "lurking" waiting to see if you'd had some kind of conclusion. i hope it IS "old lady bones", and i'll throw one out, too. ive oticed around the incision site, and by my ribs are really sore.i also had allthe tests, and they're not worried. i have some..i forget the word they used, but half moon shaped spots above the ribcage that showed in scans. they assure me the surgeons had to move the ribs with surgery, and since i had a modified radical, there's just no padding there. it relieved my mind, mostly, but i am going to keep a closer eye on it than they want to. i a worry wart, though...   waiting and hoping for good results...3jays
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  • pupfoster1
    pupfoster1 Member Posts: 1,484
    edited November 2010

    Hi Ravdeb,

    Just saw your posts and am hoping you get some good news soon.  The not waiting is always the worst!  

    Another Sharon :)

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  • barbe1958
    barbe1958 Member Posts: 19,757
    edited November 2010

    Ravdeb, count me in as one of the lurkers! There's obviously as many of us here as those that post...! I, too, have been waiting to hear good news from you. I have bad rib pain that my doctor finallly decided must be Costochondritis as it is just arthritis to the rib, but VERY painful. I hope that's what you have, though not the painful part!!

    Still holding you in my prayers.

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  • ravdeb
    ravdeb Member Posts: 3,116
    edited November 2010

    wow thanks Ladies! You are all so supportive! I truly appreciate that.

    I have little if no pain 'cept when I press on that area but then again..if I press on another area it hurts to. My motto is to stop pressing! LOL

    Actually..I do notice sometimes that it hurts me if I'm just hanging around watching TV. Otherwise I don't notice it. But not a big pain and I have an extremely high tolerance for pain for has gotten me into trouble at times..not realizing, for example, that I need dental work done and just waiting for my reg appointment to come around. My dentist said I'm lucky it doesn't bother me but it's not good because pain is what tells us to have things checked out!

    At any rate..today is the first day of the week here in Israel and I'm making it a ME day. I will walk the beach, shop for some art materials and work a bit in my studio. tomorrow I go to the hospital for mammo and US and will see if my results are in!!!

    3jays...I don't know if you had radiation..but my ribs were sore after radiation which I had in 2006. and I had a lumpectomy and that is STILL sore and i had that over 5 years ago. It is not painful. It is sore when pressed..LIKE TOMORROW FOR THE MAMMO!!!!!!!

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  • Marple
    Marple Member Posts: 19,143
    edited November 2010
    I hope tomorrow brings answers for you Deb.  Meanwhile, bottoms upWink.  Hugs
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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited August 2013

    Nice thought--- you walking the beach in Israel, hitting the shops, working in your art studio.

    Familiar thought- pain at lumpectomy site, sore ribs...

    Even worlds apart there is so much commonality.

    Off for another ride today... Ibuprofen and whirlpool baths are keeping me going until I'm back in true riding condition!

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  • ravdeb
    ravdeb Member Posts: 3,116
    edited November 2010

    enjoy the ride!

    I didn't make it to the beach because a friend called while I was shopping for art supplies and we had a long needed girls chat over antipasta and tea. Loved it. Weather is so perfect here (too perfect..we need RAIN) and we sat outside.

    I'm off to my studio to try out my new pens..

     am restless and antsy about tomorrow. I hope I get results but they may not be ready yet... am soooo nervous AGAIN!

    thank you all for being so GREAT!

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  • ravdeb
    ravdeb Member Posts: 3,116
    edited November 2010

    I GOT THE ALL CLEAR!!!

     My scans show no cancer!!! Lots of arthritis and the spot on my rib is costochondritis and I have it on BOTH sides even though it didn't light up on the MRI. Interesting!

    Have new degenerative stuff on my shins. Will discuss with doctor my walking on the beach. I read that runners get this. I'm not a runner but was going to become a runner. hmmm..

     Mammo and US were clear as well. The doctor told me this on the spot! NEVER have they said a word to me before!!! she wanted me to go home with a good feeling after she saw on my records what I had been through recently. (had my second biopsy of the year in July and then the rest is history).

    I was also part of a study and did, aside from a reg US, a new type of ultrasound with a new machine. The only one in our country and it is still being researched and was given to this Women's Center. This is the second study I've been a part of in that Center. The panels show more at one time but this stuff hurts more than the mammogram. I need to google it. Just got home and wanted to report in to you all.

    THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING SO WONDERFULLY SUPPORTIVE AND POSITIVE AND FOR GIVING ME GOOD INFORMATION AS WELL!

    May you all be healthy, wealthy with good friends and family, and continually wise.

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