Rib pain leads to PET scan????

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Aprilgirl5216
Aprilgirl5216 Member Posts: 1
edited June 2014 in Not Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastases but Concerned

Hello old friends, I am back for your help and reassurances! I spent many hours on this site when I was first diagnosed in 2009. (I had a different log-in name then-cant remember and had to reregister!) Anyway-I have just come from my onco office with a complaint of rib pain on my right side, just under the first incision of my lumpectomy-almost 4 years ago. I had radiation then and have been on Armimidex since. It was one of those-should I bother to go in and get it checked out or should I just wait until my next 6 mo visit. The nurse said to come in. To my surprise they ran the full gamit of lab work,"looking for markers" and scheduled a PET scan for Friday. Now I'm scared! I thought maybe an X-ray but a PET scan?? Should I be alarmed? Is this the usual protocal? Help me off the ledge please....

Lori in Minnesota

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  • doxie
    doxie Member Posts: 1,455
    edited March 2013

    Aprilgirl5216,  Your Mo is just being cautious.  We BC girls all get special treatment when anything seems amiss, even though with another patient it would be an "Oh, let's see how you feel in a month or two," or a "You must have just pulled a muscle or tendon.  Take a NSAID and you will be fine."  Better to get the full blood work and better scan to make sure they know exactly what is going on.  Better to rule mets out from the get go than to drag you through more and more tests.  

    Hoping all with be fine.  Deep breathe.  Trust that the Arimidex has done it's job and it is just a muscle, tendon or soft tissue issue.  

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  • TarheelMichelle
    TarheelMichelle Member Posts: 871
    edited March 2013

    Lori, I had a recurrence in 2011. It was in my bones and not my breast. The pain was intense, and I had to wait several weeks to find out because I DIDN'T get a PET first. For me, it was a mammogram/sonogram, wait for results, long holiday weekend, chest X-Ray, wait for results then finally a CT scan when something finally showed up. At least in your situation you don't have to suffer through preliminary tests that may not show anything. We all know that worrying about the unknown is so terrifying. You will get answers faster with a PET scan. It sounds like whatever the results show, that you have a medical team that cares about you and doesn't waste your precious time. A strong medical team is very valuable. I wish you peace during these next trying days. Let us know.

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