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bren3
bren3 Member Posts: 38
edited June 2014 in Not Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastases but Concerned

Hello ladies this is only my second post but I really need your opinions.  I finished my last chemo february 14th and have had lots of lower back pain and sciatic pain ever since. Because of this my oncologist has ordered a bone scan to rule out the possibility of bone mets but feels the odds are slim that I have any. Now saturday morning I woke up with pain in my left shoulder that I felt was due to sleeping on it funny. It was painful throughout the day but nothing too crazy. Well this morning at 5:00am I was woken up by terrible pain in this same shoulder and I could barely move it. I went to emerg and the doc immediately did a nerve block to help with some of the pain and ordered xrays of the left shoulder. He could tell I definitely didn't have any fractures but there was a shadow he wanted the radiologist to read. The report came back as follows. "on the lateral projection there is an area of lucency in the posterior aspect of the humeral head. Suggest a bone scan to exclude a lytic bone lesion. there is no soft tissue calcification". The doc said it was a possibiltiy it was bone mets. He gave me some pain patches and a topical cream and told me to keep taking my hydromorphine for break through pain. It is really painful still. Could any of you ladies tell me if this sounds similiar to what you have encountered with bone mets? Thank god I already have a bone scan scheduled and its only a couple days away. I really appreciate any thoughts,

thank you

brenda

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  • Joanne58
    Joanne58 Member Posts: 1,117
    edited April 2013

    Hi, Bren,

    You might want to post your question on this thread from the stage 4 forum. Lots of non-4 stage ladies have had their questions answered there by those who have mets.  http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/8

    Best to you in your test results, and I hope your pain can be managed so you can rest!

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  • Moiralf
    Moiralf Member Posts: 1,056
    edited April 2013

    Hi Bren,

    Good that you have the bone scan booked. Really it is the only way to be sure.

    The frustrating thing with cancer is that there is no clear path. Everything is possible. Your onc is doing the right thing is giving you the scans that will give a clear answer.

    You may need to have an MRI, CT scan and even a bone biopsy. That is about the complete range of tests it can take to get the answer. Not saying you will but be prepared for the possibility that you might not get a definite answer from one scan.

    Some bone mets cause pain and others don't. My first ones caused no pain at all but my second lot a couple of years later did but it started small and built to a constant and deep pain.

    What I have learned is to wait until you have all the info before doing anything. 

    Keep up the pain meds and try not to worry too much( impossible I know) Do you have any anti anxiety meds? Many of us find them helpful to keep balanced while we wait for results etc. Get some if you need them, don't think you have to struggle though this. 

    I can't give you any answers but I can tell you that there is many things to do if this does turn out to be mets but there is also just as much chance that it is not mets.

    Come to the stage 4 thread for questions for those not with stage 4 but questions by chrissyB.

    Good luck with the scan and hope you get the results quickly. Waiting is hell.

    Moira

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited April 2013

    Hi Brenda, Wanted to wish you luck with your scan. I am dealing with a similar situation. I am convinced the fear will last a long time, as I was diagnosed many years ago.

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