Every had an x-ray that showed something NOT mets?

CoolBreeze
CoolBreeze Member Posts: 4,668
edited June 2014 in Not Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastases but Concerned

I have had a problem shoulder since my reconstructive surgery two months ago.  I went to an orthopedist today, and he took x-rays.  And, nothing showed up on the shouder, but there was a spot on my arm that is concerning and now I need an MRI.

The shoulder, he thinks is a labral tear, which would require surgery to fix.  But, obviously, I'm a lot more worried about that spot.

Fortunately, by happenstance, he is an orthopedic oncologist so he has expertise.  He said if it was cancer, he was the guy to fix it.  And, he's cute. :) 

I want to know what else appears to be mets on a x-ray?  I've never broken my bone before.

I only finished herceptin 6 weeks ago.  

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  • 208sandy
    208sandy Member Posts: 2,610
    edited January 2011

    Coolbreeze:

    I had a couple of things show up about six months ago - there was something on my skull - turned out to be nothing, a spot on my spine that turned out to be degenerating discs and a spot on a node in one of my lungs that turned out to be what they now think was an infection clearing up so don't panic (like I did) it may be nothing and I'll pray that it isn't.

    Hugs, Sandy

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  • CoolBreeze
    CoolBreeze Member Posts: 4,668
    edited January 2011

    Excellent, that's what I want to hear.  It's on my upper arm.  They caught it incidentially when taking films of my shoulder.

    I am assuming it isn't some sort of stress fracture or the doctor would have diagnosed it.  (He is a orthopedist oncologist).   But, I didn't think to ask him what else it could be and am now left wondering what happens on bones that is benign.

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

    CoolBreeze and Sandy -

    This post is helping me tonight. I just had a call from my onc a few hours ago to say that my baseline bone scan showed something "incidental" in my skull - apparently in my sinus region behind my nose. I was worried about it because the tech who did the scan asked me that day if I had a sinus infection - to which I said no but have had lifelong deviated septum trouble and had sinus surgery in 2001. That was unsuccessful, I stil can't breathe properly through the left side of my nose.

    Anyway, I've been upset most of the last 6 hours since the phone call, thinking I have bone or brain mets or some other kind of tumor there.

    So, an x-ray/bone scan can show something not mets?! Glad to hear it. 

    Like you Cool, I have to have an MRI to give the onc more detail. Back to the terrorizing roller coaster ride - and here I thought I was on level ground for a while before chemo starts.

    I'm still very scared, but reading this gave me a glimmer of hope that this is nothing.

    Thanks sisters!

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  • EmilyInOntario
    EmilyInOntario Member Posts: 626
    edited January 2011

    I have been on the " is it mets or not" road since early December. Bone scan said no mets, CT scan said mets ( according to one radiologist but another questioned that) MRI said no mets where CT scan said mets and mets where CT scan said no mets. I am getting a bone biopsy Thursday. I have researched this ALOT and bone mets are often difficult to diagnose because there are many other bone problems that can appear to be similar. I also have no pain in the suspicious areas, normal tumour markers and normal calcium. ( alone these are not guarentees of no cancer but can be helpful with other tests)

    Having said all that an orthopedic oncologist sounds like the right guy to be evaluating this and I'm sure if he has any doubt he will do a biopsy. The waiting to find out  is NOT fun.

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  • EmilyInOntario
    EmilyInOntario Member Posts: 626
    edited January 2011

    By the way I was TOLD I had bone mets for sure and then told later they weren't sure. You might be able to imagine how I feel about that one.

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  • CoolBreeze
    CoolBreeze Member Posts: 4,668
    edited January 2011

    I know what you mean, Michelle.  I finished herceptin December 2nd, after 16 months of treatment - six rounds of chemo, a year of herceptin.   My reconstructive surgery was November 18th and that's when I had this shoulder injury.  I finally feel normal and well for the first time since August of '09, but I have this shoulder problem.  :( 

    I really would like to have some time to feel normal before dealing with possible mets.  Or even the fear of mets.

    Hopefully, that spot is nothing, the surgery on my shoulder is quick and I can be done with medical stuff for a while!  I'm SOOOO ready....

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  • YramAL
    YramAL Member Posts: 1,651
    edited January 2011

    I have no personal experience with this, but I have a student that had some suspicious spots on her arm when it was x-rayed because of a break. There was some suspicion that the spots might be cancer, but they were not. I can't tell you what they were, but they were not cancer. 

    I hope this gives you a little peace of mind while you are waiting.

    Mary 

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  • CoolBreeze
    CoolBreeze Member Posts: 4,668
    edited January 2011

    Wow, Emily, that's just sickening. 

    I hope that your biopsy is painless and shows NO METS.

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  • CoolBreeze
    CoolBreeze Member Posts: 4,668
    edited January 2011

    YramAL - did your student have breast cancer before the spots were found?

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  • YramAL
    YramAL Member Posts: 1,651
    edited January 2011

    No. She's only 12. I guess I wasn't thinking about that part of the story. Sorry. Embarassed

    Mary 

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  • LRM216
    LRM216 Member Posts: 2,115
    edited January 2011

    Emily:

    Jeez, they are really putting you through the wringer and I am so very sorry.  I pray you find out conclusively just what the heck is going on and I hope your news is that it's NOT mets.  Will be thinking of you and please let us know.  This has to be a nightmare for you - yes it is, not it's not - that's a horror!  Hang in there, Emily - we're waiting with you.

    Linda

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  • Shrek4
    Shrek4 Member Posts: 1,822
    edited January 2011

    CoolBreeze, what kind of reconstruction did you have?

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  • CoolBreeze
    CoolBreeze Member Posts: 4,668
    edited January 2011

    I had TE.  Got my implants November 18th this year.  Why?

    The MRI is Saturday morning.  Whatever it is, I'll know next week.

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  • YramAL
    YramAL Member Posts: 1,651
    edited January 2011

    Ann-just read your blog. Glad to hear that you don't have mets.

    Mary 

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