Need PET scan help please

spendygirl
spendygirl Member Posts: 231
edited June 2014 in Not Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastases but Concerned

Hi ladies - Nine months ago I was dxd with 1.8cm, node negative, HER2- IDC, treated with wide excision and radiation.  Started tamoxifen therapy, had a TAH/BSO in November and have been on Arimidex since then.  Six weeks ago I developed a pretty large mass on my collarbone and of course thought of recurrence.  Since then, I've had a negative chest x-ray, negative CT scan and then my surgeon ordered a PET scan.  It was mostly clear except in the prior treated breast.  What a surprise. 

The report lists a spiculated density measuring 2.5 cm in the left breast with an SUV of 2.3.  I do feel a lump there, but thought it was scar tissue.  The CT scan does also mention a finding in the same place.

Do you think this is a local recurrence?  I've read and read online but there is so much information, it's hard to take it all in.  So I'm looking for input from those of you who have had a similar experience or local recurrence.

Thank you so very much in advance, Tracye

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  • Valgirl
    Valgirl Member Posts: 187
    edited April 2011
    bump
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  • bevin
    bevin Member Posts: 1,902
    edited April 2011

    HI Spendygirl.

    I am not a doctor, and dont want to cause any alarm, but I do know any FDG uptake over 2.0 is looked at to see if it could be malignancy. However, that being said, other things like inflamation can also raise your FDG uptake in an area.

    When do you see your Doctor/ Onco and was there any finding with the mass in your collarbone area? 

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  • spendygirl
    spendygirl Member Posts: 231
    edited April 2011

    Bevin, thank you so much for your reply.  The mass on the collarbone shows no abnormal activity, and that's what I was worried about!  It's big too, about 2 inches wide along the collarbone and then comes down about an inch.  Maybe a lipoma?

    I wasn't expecting anything in the breast.  I guess what really makes me nervous is a 2.5cm spiculated density.  The word 'spiculated' really concerns me.  I see the surgeon who ordered the scan on Tuesday, thank goodness.  I hope he'll want to biopsy as I don't know if I can play the "watch and wait" game.  Thank you again.

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  • bevin
    bevin Member Posts: 1,902
    edited April 2011

    Good luck tomorrow with the Doctor. Let me know what the Doctor says.  If you're uncomfortable watching and waiting, make sure you share that with him/her. Hopefully they will take your stress and peace of mind in consideration when determining next steps.

    One thought - Could the mass in the collar bone area, just be a pulled muscle. Glad that area didnt show uptake anyways.

    Well - hope all goes well tomorrow.

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  • spendygirl
    spendygirl Member Posts: 231
    edited April 2011

    Hi Bevin!  Thanks so much for asking.  Of course I had myself convinced it was definitely a recurrence, etc., etc.  Surgeon says he thinks it's old blood and healing.  He's the expert, so I guess I'm okay with that for now, although he did do a fine needle aspiration.  He said if that's inconclusive, we'll do a core biopsy next.  He doesn't know what the clavicle mass is, but holy cow, he did a biopsy and I almost came off the table.  This is gross, but I swear I felt that needle just go deeper and deeper...wow!  So another wait for biopsy results, follow up in two weeks.  Thanks again for checking, I so appreciate it.

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