Diagnostics: CAT, PET, bone density, blood tests .....?

I'm sorry you've had to join us here.  (edited to add) I had a mammo first thing and was told it was good then a month and a half later, I was dx with a biopsy, then the tests started....MRI of chest & PET to determine stage.  Then did a Muga, port placement, ALN biopsy and blood test before chemo.  I'm sorry to say I have heard of some being dx at IV with no symptoms.  I hope you feel more in control once you meet with everyone and have a plan of action in place....I did.  Let us know how it goes.

Hi Diana,

Sorry to hear you've had to join us here, but man, you will find the best ladies (and men ) that will help you through your journey.

I can tell you are really anxious, and that's natural.  One thing about cancer is that you are going to hear multiple answers because no two cases are alike.  I always tell new people it's like learning a new language, one you never wanted to learn in the first place, and without a teacher!  Take it one step at a time and soon "most" of it will make sense.

If your doc is saying you are not Stage IV then you are not.  PERIOD.  Put that into your mind and believe it!   I did have an MRI and a PET scan before surgery then a bone scan shortly after if I recall correctly.  Funny thing is nothing lit up in my PET for my 13 freakin positive nodes, and my BS said they aren't all that acurate.

Also you didn't mention, did you have chemo before surgery?  If not if there were any lingering cells that and rads should knock the crap out of them.

Hang in there and take it one step at a time.  We'll be here for you.

Sharon

Here you go ...

I was sent from Gyn's office directly to hospital for a mammogram.

After the mamo, I was told to wait because they wanted to do a sonogram during the same visit.

The Radiologist came in after the sonogram and asked me if I had any family history of breast cancer.  I remember this moment as if it were yesterday.  I told her there wasn't any family history that I was aware of and her response was ....

"It really doesn't matter.  We're definitely looking at cancer."

It was so difficult to pull myself together and walk back to the waiting room where my husband was.  I didn't even have to say the words.  My teary, red eyes said it all.  Sorry, guess you didn't need all that.

After meeting with a surgeon that was highly recommended by a friend, things went like this ...

1. Core biopsy

2. Initial consult with Medical Oncologist

3. Breast MRI

4. Brain MRI

5. Breast MRI again due to technical problems with the first Breast MRI

6. PET Scan

7. Meeting with Medical Oncologist team to outline chemo plan and get results from all the scans.

When the doctor told me that all my scans came back clean I honestly thought they were lying to me. That's another moment I'll never, ever forget! 

I've had three mugas in order to make sure my heart could tolerate and continued to tolerate Herceptin.

I also had a PET scan at the end of one year of treatment for re-staging purposes and another PET in December to rule out mets due to concerns my doc had with hip and back pain.

In the years to come, my oncologist believes in doing yearly chest xrays and will only send me for more diagnostic tests if symptoms indicate serious concerns.

Hope this helps! 

I had yearly mammogram,then repeat .

Saw surgeon,had stereotactic biopsy,2 core needle biopsies (I had a dcis and 2 idc's).

Then had 2 mri's and a PET/cat scan. PET showed suspicious area in shoulder,and ? nodes,?sternum to chest wall.

In all this mess went to Dana Farber for second opinion. Had cat scan guided shoulder biopsy that showed bone mets.

I am 65 .My tumors were all ES/PR strongly pos and her2 neg.  Since it has already spread to bones,I was started on letrozole daily,and zometa monthly.

No surgery,rads,or chemo  As the anti hormonals stop working,will switch to another. When all fail,as a "last resort" will have chemo.

My ca 27/29 has gone from 135 in July to 35.8 in December,and the 2 idc's have shrunk a lot.

Here's my run down in a nutshell:

Breast symptoms

Diagnostic mammogram requested by me and received the next day (never saw any doctor to look at my breast first, just called to get the script and this is what I would recommend to anyone in a position where they feel things are "not right")

Stereo-tactic biopsy of numerous calcification's that day, and then strong verbal diagnosis of cancer that day

Biopsy of numerous tumors the next day with ultrasound, biopsy of one enlarged lymph node (node came back negative)

Blood work (15.3 was 22 and is still around that number)

PET Scan, CT Scan, MRI of breasts, MRI of brain for staging, no seen evidence of spread

Mastectomy one month later, extensive DCIS, numerous tumors but largest 1.6cm (what they go by), four positive nodes.

Another month later, chemo TCH six cycles followed by 33 radiation treatments and one year of Herceptin (given with chemo and after chemo)

Close to 19 months since diagnosis at this time. RBC is still low and WBC is also a bit low at the moment.

Yes, I think it is possible to be stage IV and have no symptoms from the start. I "felt" fine while this cancer was growing in my body. I also think its possible to actually be diagnosed at an earlier stage when in fact you are really stage IV if there are no tests to clarify this. I also think its very possible to be a late stage with no visible cancer but also be stage IV because the growth is too small to detect at the time of scans. All any of us can do is hope for a long, long remission that brings us into old age. There is no "cure" for breast cancer. There is no cure for cancer.  But most of us will have this long remission into old age. I hope all your scans are clear! 

Yay! Congrats....glad to hear it.

It ain't fun going through all those scans and waiting but, Wow!, is it wonderful when they come back giving you the all clear.  Congrats!