Bone scan today and having meltdown

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Denali
Denali Member Posts: 347
edited June 2014 in Not Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastases but Concerned

I've been having hip and leg pain/aches at night and reported them at 2 regularly scheduled dr appts yesterday.  Primary dr said sounds like arthritis and normal to feel it more at night when at rest.  WooHoo!

THEN I went to my 6-mo oncologist appt and she says let's have a bone scan to rule mets out.  I felt like saying, Oh, let's not!  This is exactly what I was afraid of, so I quickly had a meltdown on my way to the car.  I feel like such a wimp.  But I'm so scared of mets.

It all started when I decided to foster a pregnant resuce dog who had 9 (!) puppies last Jan.  Lifting those pups and constantly cleaning up after them through March did me in.  There's a reason puppies are so darned cute!  My legs and hips have hurt since then.  It's gotten slightly better, but I still ache many nights and have to take Advil every morning.

Dr said she'd call me the day after the scan with the results, but of course that's Saturday so I'll probably have to wait until Monday.  I've canceled all plans for the wkend (even a quilt show!) as I'll be busy with my pity party and worry.  I just need some support from the wonderful, understanding people on this board.

They say both mets and arthritis lights up on a bone scan.  How can they tell the difference?? 

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  • NancyD
    NancyD Member Posts: 3,562
    edited July 2011

    Linda, I'm here, holding your hand. I'm not exactly sure how, but there does seem to be avisual difference between some bone mets and arthritis on scans. I guess it takes a trained eye showing a med student the differences, but they do learn to tell one from the other in most cases.



    Notice that I used disclaimers, though, because I've heard of a few bone mets being missed. Personally, I think those were bad scan readers, not bad scans.



    Here's hoping it's just a touch of old age.

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  • reesie
    reesie Member Posts: 2,078
    edited July 2011

    Like Nancy said, it's the trained eye. BUT don't be surprised if there are false positives and they send you for more definitive testing (CT).  The tests show different things.

    Thing is it could just be the extra work you've been doing - if it's muscular it definitely won't show on the bone scan, so there would be no sense doing the additional testing.  And if there are no pops - again no additional testing necessary.

    Here's to old age!

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  • MRDRN
    MRDRN Member Posts: 537
    edited July 2011

    Linda this is a good question and would like to know what you fine out...good luck and thanks for posting- also I wonder how it compares to a pet scan.

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  • snuziq
    snuziq Member Posts: 107
    edited July 2011

    Denali -

    I'm there with you.  I had to have a bone scan earlier this week for back/hip pain.  Glad I did it, but waiting for the results is frustrating.   We can hold hands and comfort each other.  Here's to clear scans!

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  • mmm5
    mmm5 Member Posts: 1,470
    edited July 2011

    Denali

    Odds are that it is not mets. There are exceptions of course but the odds are in your favor, you are stage 1 with a year of Herceptin under your belt (I assume). The stats for stage 1 gals with a year of Herceptin are above 90 percent for DFS.

    I had a similar problem and had convinced myself it was mets last year, could not relieve the pain. Bone Scan was clear as was MRI! I have been where you are so many times more than I can count, Symptoms, Mind gaming myself, going to the Doc looking for reassurance and they order a scan, I hold my breath and wait for the bad news, stopping life and nearly keel over from panic, it has not happened yet, I thank our Dear Lord for that! After I hit my 3 year mark I felt a lot more confident but still panic at times. You will get through this and breathe again.

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  • Celtic_Spirit
    Celtic_Spirit Member Posts: 748
    edited July 2011

    Are you taking an AI? I'm on Arimidex, and it makes my legs, feet, and sometimes hips ache something awful, esp. at night. Hands and neck/back sometimes, too. My onc said that anywhere you have arthritis, it will amplify the aches. Strenuous physical activity, like a long hike, makes it worse. Could this be what you have going on?

    I don't know how, but yes, arthritis and bone mets show up differently on bone scans. I had a bone scan just prior to chemo (and was a nervous wreck/popping xanax until the results came in!). Even though I've never felt it, my onc told me exactly where I had arthritis, which she said was normal for a woman my age (48 at the time). Two of the areas I have arthritis are my feet/ankles and hips. Here's hoping your aches turn out to be just a sign of mileage!

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  • KerryMac
    KerryMac Member Posts: 3,529
    edited July 2011

    Linda! My fellow February Fury....this is NOT what I like to read.

    I am so sorry you are going through the stress of a bone scan, really, even thinking about having one gets my tummy in butterflies.

     My money is on it being just good old wear and tear and/or AI and/or chemo residue. 

    Hope you have some good distractions to get you through the weekend. Let us know!

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  • Denali
    Denali Member Posts: 347
    edited July 2011

    Thanks so much for all your support.  I have no idea what I'd do without you wonderful sisters!  I went in and had the injection and will return after a few hours to get the scan.  The tech who did the injection was called from another dept to help out, so just happened to be assigned to me.  She mentioned that she's about to undergo provphylactic mastectomies and I told her about this forum.  While she hasn't had cancer, the threads on surgery and reconstruction could help her, so she was very grateful.  Isn't it funny how people cross paths at meaningful times?

    I'm on Arimidex and am hoping that's part of the cause for the aches/pains, along with the fact I'll be 63 next month.  I can't tell you how much I appreciate your responses! 

    Kerry!  Look at the runner--love your photo!

    It helps so much to know that I'm not completely wacko and that many of you have had similar experiences.  I just might have to take one less Xanex today as a result of all you taking the time to respond and share stories.  THANK YOU!  I'll let you know when I hear the results.

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  • carcharm
    carcharm Member Posts: 486
    edited July 2011

    I am 51 and have been in pain since chemo. 2 years of constant chronic-some type of pain.I pray it's arthritis. Having cancer really sucks and I hate fighting with doctors who basically don't want to get personally involved with you. UHH excuse me but I have just been dx with a killer dz and you can't get personal? I've become so cynical because I envy anyone who walks pain free. Touch my hand and let me show you the pain I've endured.(if only I were telepathic)

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  • Parentof1
    Parentof1 Member Posts: 43
    edited July 2011

       Hi there.  I am right there holding your hand with you.   The waiting, and not knowing is the worst part of any testing for me.  I find most of the time my mind works over-time, when it comes to tests.  When I have time on my hands and, my hands are not working...my mind sure makes up for it!

       You are in my thoughts.  Let us know what you find out. 

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  • snuziq
    snuziq Member Posts: 107
    edited July 2011

    Denali, I'm passing you the four leaf clover. Found out today that my scan just showed arthritis and a bone spur. I will keep my fingers crossed that your news is as good!



    Suzi

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  • Denali
    Denali Member Posts: 347
    edited July 2011

    Good news for me too!!  My dr called yesterday afternoon --just hours after the scan and said NO CANCER!  but they did find slight Scoliosis (hmmm....just finding out at age 62!) and degenerative disease of the joints from aging.  A big WHEW!!!

    I'm so happy for you too Suzi!  I absolutely do not know what I'd do without all of you.  My grown kids think I freak out much too easily, but they just don't understand like you all do.

    Thank you, thank you, thank you.  For each and every one of you who took the time to write, I'm wishing you something this wkend that puts a big smile on your face--whatever that might be! 

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  • mmm5
    mmm5 Member Posts: 1,470
    edited July 2011

    so happy for both of you....enjoy your weekend!

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  • KerryMac
    KerryMac Member Posts: 3,529
    edited July 2011

    Wonderful, wonderful news!!!!

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  • NancyD
    NancyD Member Posts: 3,562
    edited July 2011

    That's so great! What a wonderful way to spend the weekend...celebrating!

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  • diana50
    diana50 Member Posts: 2,134
    edited July 2011

    good news..i am happy for you.

    i was armidex for 5 and half years.  my last bone scan; i totally lit up...hips...shoulders...pretty much everywhere i had a joint.  at one point, i really thought i had mets to my right hip.

    good news is this; i am off the arimidex....(for 2 and half years or so) and the pain in my joints is GONE...your body will recover after you stop the armidex.  i told my onc that arimidex was "a nasty drug"  and she said.."yes, but it keeps you around"  what a concept,

    i am happy for you that your scan was clear*

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