PET Scan on Wednesday

PlantLover
PlantLover Member Posts: 622
edited June 2014 in Stage III Breast Cancer

I had my 6 month onc visit yesterday - Pamidronate infusion and a two hour wait for the doc.  Grrrrr!  I really like him but the wait time is very frustrating.

For months, I've been having a lot of lower back and hip pain.  It hurts really bad at night and when I sit for awhile.  When I first stand it takes me a few steps before I can straighten up without pain.  Movement seems to make it feel better. 

I really hesitated telling my doc about it because I didn't want to seem like a hypochondriac - it's probably just side effects from treatments.  Anyway, I told him and I'm now scheduled for a PET scan tomorrow morning.

I haven't googled anything about bone mets until this morning.  I'm a bit confused by what I found.  Does anyone know if a PET is the best diagnostic tool for ruling out bone mets?

I'm trying to remain positive but after googling, some of the symptoms of mets to your spine sound a lot like what's going on.  That's EXACTLY why I try not to google these things.  Well, guess I'll find out soon if it's side effects or not.

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  • MaxineO
    MaxineO Member Posts: 555
    edited November 2011

    I can't answer if it's the best, but when I was diagnosed, the doc threw every test at me, including PET scan and bone scan.  I wonder if the bone scan might find bone mets better (otherwise, not sure why he ordered both?). 

    I am hoping for you that it's just side effects. Thinking of you. Please keep us posted!

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  • PlantLover
    PlantLover Member Posts: 622
    edited November 2011

    Maxine - thanks!

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  • SharonMH
    SharonMH Member Posts: 353
    edited November 2011

    Hi,  Wishing you the best for your scan tomorrow. ShaonH

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  • Elizabeth1959
    Elizabeth1959 Member Posts: 346
    edited November 2011

    Please let us know what the results are of your scans.  Fingers crossed for benign findings.

    Elizabeth

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  • jacksnana
    jacksnana Member Posts: 168
    edited November 2011

    Oh how I understand that need to do the google thing - I am the worst about it, but I hope you can take a break from it and just wait for your scan.  Easier said than done for sure.  Hope everything goes well, please keep us posted.  Saying a prayer for a benign result...  Veda

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  • PlantLover
    PlantLover Member Posts: 622
    edited November 2011

    Veda - I do stay away from googling as much as possible.  Heck, I didn't even google Stage III odds until I was 1/2 through my first 6 rounds of chemo.  I was at work and ended up on the phone with my sister and in tears.  That taught me that sometimes there are things that you simply don't need to know.

    Thanks for the best wishes, the crossed fingers, and the hope!  Doc said I should get the results by the end of the week.

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  • Bugs
    Bugs Member Posts: 1,719
    edited November 2011

    PlantLover,

    Prayers for a clean scan!  A friend of mine had a routine PET and something lit up on her spine and she was sent for an MRI for better detail.  Turned out to be arthritis.  Don't panic if something lights up...PETS have a lot of false positives. 

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  • PlantLover
    PlantLover Member Posts: 622
    edited November 2011

    Thanks bugs!

    Scan is behind me, which by the way was a PET/CT scan.  The results should be to the doc today and I should hear something tomorrow or Friday.  As we all know, waiting is the hardest part!!!

    One highlight of the procedure was having an excellent nurse.  She even made my day when she told me she thought I was about 36.  I just turned 50 in September. She might have just been trying to be extra specially nice but I'll take it. :-)

    Edit: 

    Oh my ... I wrote I turned 50 in Nov. ... edit to correct it ... September.  I think I'm losing it!

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  • PlantLover
    PlantLover Member Posts: 622
    edited November 2011

    I just posted this on the Waiting for the Results forum but wanted to share it with my Stage III sisters ...

    Well it took two calls to my doctor and one to the hospital to confirm that they had fax'd the results on Wednesday.  Finally the PA called this afternoon ...  I didn't have the nerve to tell her that I just couldn't wait any longer and had gone to the hospital, about an hour 1/2 drive (round trip) and picked up my report ...

    To say I'm happy with the results is probably the biggest understatement I've made in a long time.  Nothing showed up.  Other than some shadows on my lungs from the radiation everything looks good. I can learn to live with the pain. :-)

    Btw, I just have to say if you are having a lot of pain in your back/hips/etc ... you should take it seriously and talk to your doc. and get scans to check.  Just remember, even if it's severe pain it could just be side effects not mets.  I've never had hip and back pain like this in my life and it's been going on for months.  I was very scared.  I hope that made sense. Thanks for listening!

    Also thanks to those that were keeping me in your thoughts! 

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  • jacksnana
    jacksnana Member Posts: 168
    edited November 2011

    Wonderful news - so happy for you! 

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  • 1Athena1
    1Athena1 Member Posts: 6,696
    edited November 2011

    Wonderful news Plantlover. Phew!

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  • Bugs
    Bugs Member Posts: 1,719
    edited November 2011

    Great news, Plantlover!!

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  • jennyboog
    jennyboog Member Posts: 1,322
    edited November 2011

    How did I miss this...sorry I'm so late.  I'm glad to hear your scan was ok, that is awesome news.

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  • SharonMH
    SharonMH Member Posts: 353
    edited November 2011

    Hi,  So glad that everything is good with your scan.  SharonH

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  • Racy
    Racy Member Posts: 2,651
    edited November 2011

    This type of good news makes me very happy. I love hearing it!

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  • ma111
    ma111 Member Posts: 1,376
    edited November 2011

    Plantlover,

    Sorry to hear. Pet/ct can pick up bone mets. A bone scan can also, however it can also pick up arthritis as hot spots. If it is in the bones, they also want to look everywhere, thus the pet. I will say a prayer that this is arthritis and that nothing else is going on.

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  • jennyboog
    jennyboog Member Posts: 1,322
    edited November 2011

    I've never had a bone scan but have done a few PET's....my dr's told me that PET's pick up any inflammation, hence the false positives but that explains why it find arthitis.

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  • MaxineO
    MaxineO Member Posts: 555
    edited November 2011

    Fantastic news! So relieved!

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

    Just want to clarify to all that there are two kinds of bone scans. The one that they use to look for bone mets is a nuclear bone scan. Then there's s bone density scan that is used to check for osteoporosis. That would be one you'd have every couple of years as you get older, especially if you are on an AI. It doesn't show bone mets, though it might lead your onc to look closer at spots that are weakened. More likely used to support treatment with a bisphosphonate like Zometa.

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  • ma111
    ma111 Member Posts: 1,376
    edited November 2011

    NancyD,

    It was a nuclear bone scan that sees my arthritis. Arthritis shows up as hot spots also and then recommends different testing to rule it out, such as plain films or PET/CT.

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  • lexi4
    lexi4 Member Posts: 1,074
    edited November 2011

    Great news PlantLover!!

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  • AnacortesGirl
    AnacortesGirl Member Posts: 1,758
    edited November 2011

    Wonderful news!  And I understand about getting the results yourself.  I'll be sneaky if I have to!

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  • PlantLover
    PlantLover Member Posts: 622
    edited November 2011

    Thanks to you all!  Seriously, it means a great deal to me!

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

    Ma11, arthritis shows up on many scans. It's always a concern of mine on how my scans are read since I know I have arthritic areas...had them for years before bc. So I have tried to use the same radiology center for any scans so they can easily compare the new to the old, see that there's no change, just the same old wearing away of cartiladge.

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  • kenyohunt1
    kenyohunt1 Member Posts: 53
    edited December 2011

    Plant lover

    Great to hear about your scan. I also try to get my reports before I see the doctor, I know its probably crazy., but I am not a person that cries or shows alot of emotion in front of people other than my family and some very close friends, so I don't want to find out certain news the first time in front of the doctor. Silly I know but that is just how I am made.

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  • kenyohunt1
    kenyohunt1 Member Posts: 53
    edited December 2011

    By the way I am getting ready to go get my pet/CT scan now. Appt for results is this coming Monday.

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  • PlantLover
    PlantLover Member Posts: 622
    edited December 2011

    Good luck, Kenyohunt1!

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