How Were Your Bone Mets Found and Confirmed?

GoldenGirls · January 2013

After multiple scans and 2 biopsies over the last 7 weeks, my mom still doesn't know if the lesions on her bone are bone mets or not. We have noted on here that many women's bone mets were diagnosed using only scans while others had biopsy. I was wondering if others could share how their bone mets were first discovered and then confirmed?

Thanks you all!

swimmom3 · January 2013

Mine were diagnosed both ways. A bone scan and CT scan showed 2 lesions on my spine. My onc confirmed they were mets by having a bone biopsy done on one of the lesions. The biopsy also gave the pathology of the mets which had changed slightly from triple positive to ER+ PR- HER2+. Hope you get some answers soon and prayers said for your Mom.

CherylinOhio · January 2013

I wonder the same thing, after reading many posts it seems that some people get them discovered by accident. They go in for a scan for something else and find the mets. I have an onc appt next Friday and will discuss with him my rib achiness. I had 2 bone scans and 2 xrays last year because I was having back pain and hip pain, think it was from the tamoxifen. Last scan in July was clean. I dont know how quickly mets would appear and cause pain after a clean scan. I have read that bone mets are a "long term" pain not just short stints of pain and the pain gets worse over time. If I am wrong, I stand corrected but I have read that around this board somewhere. I hope the best for your mom!!

exbrnxgrl · January 2013

Bone met discovered during PET done for unrelated reasons. Confirmed by biopsy. Never had any pain but did have rads to the area, femur, and lesion is now necrotic.

Moiralf · January 2013

Hi canadagirl,

I remember you coming at the beginning asking for your mum.

I can't believe the scans and the biosopy haven't shown a result.

What did the docs say about the biosopies. Usually they confirm or deny the scan results?

I'm not even sure what else they do use to try again.

Mine were found with bone biopsies after scans and MRI not sure but seeing something.

How very frustrating and worrying for you all. It's bad enough having to go though this but to still not have a definite answer must be so stressful. I think my anger level would be rising by now and maybe a tantrum would have been thrown in the docs office. I'm not at all patient and hate waiting for results but your case is getting ridiculous.

What do they suggest or is it wait and see and try again a bit later

Moira

GoldenGirls · January 2013

Hi Moira,

She had a bone biopsy done on Dec. 20 and still has no results because the oncologist's office is closed for the holidays until Janurary 6th. I really thought that he would have arranged to have someone call her or even call himself before then, but it's not looking that way!

The original CT showed the 3 bone lesions with the one on the right clavicle showing some 'invasion" of the sternocleidomastoid muscle. Then when the pre-biopsy ultrasound was done, they told me they "found nothing to biopsy" in that area as far as tissue goes. Then they biopsied a supraclavicular lymph node on the opposite side (left) which came back clear. The onc then told my mom that she would need a bone biopsy of the bone lesion on the right to "find out what caused those 3 bone lesions". That is the one that we are still waiting for. I don't currently know what the result of her bone scan was, but it was done before the biopsies which makes me think that it didn't provide them with enough answers I guess? I thought the bone scan coupled with that original CT would have made it pretty clear. I want to believe that this is all a good thing, especially as her pain and swelling is pretty much gone, but it isn't easy.

Moiralf · January 2013

I hope you get good news on the 6th then. I think it would be OK to call them wouldn't it? That is a long wait even with the holidays thrown in.

Only my own experience, but the scan showed something, the MRI showed something and the bone scan was declared not cancer. The first two were funny but not conclusive for cancer and the bone scan was ok. It was the biopsy that did the final answer.

I'm liking the sound of the way your mother's pain and swelling has gone. That sounds very positive to me. I would hold onto that too. Remember, even worse case senerio it is very treatable when it is so small it is hard to find. That's what my onc told me at the time.

Moira

HLB · January 2013

Mine were found by my ca27-29 going up, so we did a bone scan and ct. I never had a biopsy. He said with the tm numbers going up and the spots on the bone scan we can assume that's what it is. After 2 months of treatment the numbers went way down. I guess if the tx didn't work he would have maybe done a bx. The cancer spots were very dark, like the way your bladder shows up on the bone scan, and looked very different from the arthritis areas so it was pretty abvious. I never had any pain and he said the spots were tiny. It seems weird that she has pain and the spots don't show up as obvious. Maybe that is good news.

anamerty · January 2013

My bone scan was moved up to this Thursday. I have'nt had a dx of bone mets yet, but my onc. says it looks like it. I had 2 ct scans for pneumonia,dec 7 while in hosp. and dec24 after release. they were looking at my lungs, but on both scans they saw a spot on my 3rdright rib.Nothing was done and I wasn't even told, found out accidently,long story. It was the radiologist who just contacted my onc to asked if I was followed up yet.I was in shock, so called onc next day and grilled him. He straight up said he thinks its cancer, but finds it very odd that the first scan was un mesurable because it was small and that the second scan showed healing and spot was smaller, he said he cant understand why it would be smaller when I had not gotten my chemo between the tow scan dates, and all the antibiotics and steroids that hosp. gave me wouldn't have shrunk the cancer, but he still thinks its cancer!!Has this ever happened to anybody else?

exbrnxgrl · January 2013

Anamerty,

My met was discovered by accident too. I had a PET scan to check out some fluid around my heart. They discovered a collapsed lung and a suspicious spot on my upper femur. The lung was an emergency situation but while I was being treated for that, two oncs felt it was probably not a met. After I recovered from the collapsed lung I had a biopsy which confirmed the met. I had an MRI somewhere in there as well which simply confirmed the need for a biopsy. Wishing you the best.

Caryn

PS: the fluid on the heart turned out to be nothing! Amazing what it lead to.

anamerty · February 2013

well I did have the bone scan, it was moved up to Jan31. It came back showing nothing. I thought it was over when my GP called to tell me. But then my oncologist called 2 weeks after the bone scan!!He says he's never seen a case like mine???I said in all his years as a dr. he can't figure this out.CT scans show spot bone scan nothing. Anyways he still thinks it is mets and reason for it shrinking in 2nd ct scan was because I probably had it before chemo, as I had no scans just chest xray prior to surgery,now all he can come up with is that the chemo had shrunk it while we didn't know it was there!!Thats what I had come up with even before bone scan cuz thats all I could think of.So now he wants to wait and see when I have my ct scan March 20th..I'm wondering I guess theres not much chance he's wrong and its something else?Sounds like he knows what cancer mets looks like on a ct scan and he still thinks it cancer

bevin · February 2013

Dear Anamerty,

Was hoping for better news for you. I don't think Onco's tell you they think its mets when it's not. They would tell you if they thought it was just bone repair or something. I know March is a way off when you're waiting, but it sounds like you're under good care and will likely know more about that spot after th next scan. Good luck and keep us posted.

How Were Your Bone Mets Found and Confirmed?

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