Stage 2 now, but very small hot spot on spine

FRAN1222
FRAN1222 Member Posts: 2
edited June 2014 in Caring for Someone with Breast cancer

(I also posted this in "Waiting for Test Results" - not sure where it best fits.

My sister was diagnosed with BC just a few weeks ago.  She is in late 40's.  She had a small (<2cm) lesion in her breast and 2 nodes were positive - all at diagnosis and due to her self eval.  She has already had the tumor and nodes removed.  PET scan revealed a very small hot spot on her spine (doctor said less than 1/2 a millimeter if you can believe that) and the MRI confirmed this.  A couple days later she met with the oncologists who wasn't convinced it was cancer (sis had some minor wear and tear from her active lifestyle i suppose) but he mentioned that it is behaving like it is given that it showed up on PET scan.  He also thought it might be too small to do a biopsy.  Fast forward a few days and sis is going forward with a biopsy now, so we are in waiting mode - for the biopsy and then its results.  From what I gather, she is Stage 2, but this tiny lesion may move her to Stage 4.  She is Her+ and estrogen+.  I guess I would just like some info from some of you guys b/c sis is not talking so much.  What do we have going for us? Wonder how they will proceed if the biopsy result is inconclusive? etc..  Thanks for any help..a few weeks ago and there was no reason to question my sis' health - now she could be days away from being Stage 4.  This little booger is a mess.  Bless you all.

· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • DC197
    DC197 Member Posts: 371
    edited August 2012

    Oh, how very sorry I am that your sister must deal with this.  I don't know how her doctors will proceed with this, all I can do is offer my story.  It began with a suspicous mammogram in Sept 2010.  I had a gyn breast exam the month before, and the doctor did not feel anything. Biopsy confirmed BC. Surgery, with tumor and lymph nodes removed. 

    Ct scan and bone scan had conflicting results, so I went for an MRI which showed one lesion on my spine.  I don't know the size of my lesion, so I can't compare with your sister's small lesion.  I am hoping that your sister's biopsy proves that it is B9.

    In my case, I received radiation to the breast, axilla, and spine, and I'm now on anti-hormonals and Zometa (a bone strengthener).  Many of our bone mets sisters live many years and it is treated as a chronic condition. 

    I'm hoping that your sister will not receive the stage IV diagnosis, but if she does, do not lose hope.  We're all here to support her.

    (((Hugs)))

    Diane

     

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • ibcmets
    ibcmets Member Posts: 4,286
    edited August 2012

    Most of us are on anti-hormonals & Zometa if ER+.  I was diagnosed stage IV from the start with quite a few spinal bone mets in 6/09.  Still on Zometa & Femara.

    I did not get a biopsy of the mets as there were quite a few and they showed on MRI, PET scans & bone scans.

    Hope  and expecting that your sister does well on treatment.

    Terri

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • bhd1
    bhd1 Member Posts: 3,874
    edited August 2012

    i am sorry for your having to go thru this.  eventually you will know for sure.  right now you just have to get thru one day at a time.  i hope it is not mbc

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories