6 years out and now possible sternum cancer??

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KATE1974
KATE1974 Member Posts: 94
edited June 2014 in Not Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastases but Concerned


Hello, I am a 6 1/2 year survivor and started having sternum pain July 2012 playing basketball, Dr said costrocondritis. Ordered chest X-rays and labs all clear, fast forward 16 months and 4 more apt, dr says let's do bone scan. (Really now? Finally?) Results this AM show hot spot just in sternum but otherwise no action! Went for CT SCAN today now waiting for dr to call. Scared to death. Dr says it's either cancer or arthritis!!! Anyone suffer from the same fate?? Note, clear mommogram in other breast clear in June. Completed five years tamoxifen. Thanks guys!!!!

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  • bevin
    bevin Member Posts: 1,902
    edited December 2013


    Praying for you that this is nothing and the doctor is being a cautious doctor. Keep us posted and find some things you like to do to try and keep your mind at peace.


    hugs


    Bevin

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  • ziggypop
    ziggypop Member Posts: 1,071
    edited December 2013


    Have fingers and toes crossed for you Kate.

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  • LizA17
    LizA17 Member Posts: 159
    edited December 2013


    Praying for good results for you Kate!

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  • KATE1974
    KATE1974 Member Posts: 94
    edited December 2013


    thanks everyone!!! I will post my results tomorrow. Fingers crossed! :)

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  • Momine
    Momine Member Posts: 7,859
    edited December 2013


    Fingers crossed for arthritis! [Only cancer patients say shit like that :D]

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  • april485
    april485 Member Posts: 3,257
    edited December 2013


    LOL Momine...you are sure right about that! Praying hard for you Kate!

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  • TB90
    TB90 Member Posts: 992
    edited December 2013

    Momine:  You are so right :)  Since my diagnosis, I tell people jokingly that I no longer lay awake at night worrying about my work!!!

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  • farmerlucy
    farmerlucy Member Posts: 3,985
    edited December 2013


    Momine - Have I told you lately that I love you?!SillyHeart

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  • KATE1974
    KATE1974 Member Posts: 94
    edited December 2013


    hello ladies!! Well CT scan showed tons of scar tissue and one small mass so now biopsy and pet scan!! :/ my PCP said it looks like non calsified mass so that was positive. Nervous for pet scan!?!? :(

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  • KATE1974
    KATE1974 Member Posts: 94
    edited December 2013


    PCP* damn spell check!

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  • Momine
    Momine Member Posts: 7,859
    edited December 2013


    Farmer, lol! Continued crossed fingers for Kate.

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  • KATE1974
    KATE1974 Member Posts: 94
    edited December 2013


    well, I had my core biopsy today, ouchyyyyy!! Radiologist said it is 4 inches, and had eaten part of my sternum, results tomorrow! Scared, I assume it's malignant! :( we shall see!

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  • wyo
    wyo Member Posts: 541
    edited December 2013


    HI Kate


    We are all waiting with you- I imagine a core bx of the sternum would be a big ouch- bone is a lot harder than boob if I may say so.


    I wonder since he said it "ate" part of your sternum if it could be something infectious, bacterial/fungal etc. You also said you had scar tissue- did you ever bruise or fracture your sternum?


    we will stay tuned- deep breaths- I bet that might hurt but its good for your lungs and your anxiety.

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  • KATE1974
    KATE1974 Member Posts: 94
    edited December 2013

    Wyo, you make a great observation. No results yet but when my primary dr called about ct scan results he mentioned that he first thought fungal infection also. At the time I didn't know it was eating at the bone. Crazy!! I have not read anything about tumors eating away at the bones but I try not to read toooooo much, lol! I should know tomorrow!!! I will let u know! I owe u lunch if u r correct!! :)

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  • ziggypop
    ziggypop Member Posts: 1,071
    edited December 2013

    Fingers crossed for bone eating fungal infection?  Now that's really something only cancer patients would say ; ). 

    Kate, thoughts are with you.. hope this is whatever least bad thing it could be. 

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  • wyo
    wyo Member Posts: 541
    edited December 2013

    Well we have to appreciate our twisted sense of humor right? I absolutely have fingers crossed for anything "interesting" that is not associated with cancer.  Thanks for keeping us up to date it kind of feels like an episode of HOUSE except you are the star in this one.  

    Hang in there

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  • KATE1974
    KATE1974 Member Posts: 94
    edited December 2013

    well, it's BC that has metastasized to my sternum. Not much information yet! Not curable only treatable. In shock!!! Prayers please as I wait for remaining labs, reseptor info, chemo will be only thing they can do.... Scared!

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  • wyo
    wyo Member Posts: 541
    edited December 2013

    oh Kate- I have been thinking about you all day- I am sure you are in shock so much to think about and process.  Please keep us posted if you feel you want to stay connected. 

    there are so many wise women here on this site that will know about what the chemo is and what to expect etc.  I guess its considered bone mets to the sternum- I so very much was hoping it would be something "easier".  Regardless we are here for you and I am sending positive waves of support your way right now!! virtual hug

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  • belleeast
    belleeast Member Posts: 653
    edited December 2013

    Kate,I have been following your posting. In my prayers and hopes,your Drs develop a treatment plan to kick the mets to the curb and beyond!! There are a lot of different chemos and combinations for them to try! Don't give up hope,(((Hugs)))

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  • KATE1974
    KATE1974 Member Posts: 94
    edited December 2013

    thank you Belleeast!!!!! ;)

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  • Wren44
    Wren44 Member Posts: 8,585
    edited December 2013

    Kate, There are women on here who have had bone mets for more than 10 years. By the time that's up, they may have found the cure. (((((HUGS)))))

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  • farmerlucy
    farmerlucy Member Posts: 3,985
    edited December 2013

    Oh Kate. I'm so sorry. Prayers going up. Gentle hug.

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  • boobuddy
    boobuddy Member Posts: 9
    edited December 2013

    Hi kate,I am also 6yrs out I had bilateral mastactomy waited 3yrs had diep/tram flap recons.I developed a lump on my sternum also but the drs said it's just arthritis.Now I am wondering what the heck I was misdiagnosed for 7mnth to start with told it was just a cyst 6mm after two lumpactomies in 10days discovered it was almost 6cm big difference so I had to have mastactomy,6mnths chemo and six weeks rads 5yrs tomoxifen now I have been put back on the tomoxifen for 5 more years,I had an ultra sound two weeks ago for lump on my right breast and still no results I also have a chronic dry cough for over a year had a barium swallow three weeks ago still no results I am totally giving up on our medical system it's awful.Anyway Kate I will be sending you prayers and hugs keep your chin up God is good. xoxoxo

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  • KATE1974
    KATE1974 Member Posts: 94
    edited December 2013

    boo, so u still don't know if the lump is cancer ??? I also am frustrated in medical system!! Curious what the onc tells me Thursday when I see him. Let's keep in touch! Hugs!!

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  • KATE1974
    KATE1974 Member Posts: 94
    edited December 2013

    ok sooo I met with the chief of oncology today, here is my game plan. Tumor is er/pr+ so, I will be having a hysterectomy to make me post menopause, then.... I will have radiation to shrink the tumor and then hormone therapy. NO CHEMO!!!! I am very happy with my "plan"!! Does anyone have any advise or experience with hysterectomy and hormone therapy meds they can share with me? Thanks!!!!! :)

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  • jgbartlett
    jgbartlett Member Posts: 112
    edited December 2013

    Hi Kate, sorry to here of your progression. I had my ovaries out to make me post meno, I can't talk for hysto but the oomph wasn't too bad. Lots of hot flashes & emotionally it has taken some time to adjust. I'm now on arimidex and are coping with the side effects ok. For me the worst part is the bone pain which I'm managing with pain meds.

    Glad you've got a plan, even better that it doesn't include chemo. All the best.

    Julie

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  • Nettie1964
    Nettie1964 Member Posts: 759
    edited December 2013

    Sorry to hear all that you are dealing with Kate.  I'm only a  few months out from treatment and scheduled to start aromasin  in January. I  was just wondering what your symptoms were, I  can't seem to let my mind rest because of pain  that I'm told is from truncal lymphedema. No scans have been ordered,  and  I'm seeing  an OT,  but the pain is not getting better, but it's not getting worse. 

    Also glad you don't have to do chemo now.

    goodluvk

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  • LizA17
    LizA17 Member Posts: 159
    edited December 2013

    I had a hysterectomy in 2006 and have been on Arimidex since May 2013. I didn't have problems with either. Yes, Arimidex has caused warm flashes (they are few and far between) and some achy joints but overall I haven't suffered many SE. I hope the same for you Kate!

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  • ziggypop
    ziggypop Member Posts: 1,071
    edited December 2013

    Kate, very sorry to hear that the cancer has progressed. I am glad to hear that you have a plan in place that does not involve chemo. Sending you many hugs.

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  • KATE1974
    KATE1974 Member Posts: 94
    edited December 2013

    thanks ladies!! Nettie: my pain started about 16 months ago playing basketball, if u can believe that, and many trips to dr, oh u have costochondritis!!! Well, not the case. The pain is upon twisting and turning, that got better but then sharp pain that were like jolts started and the worst part is sneezing and caughing!!!! Horrible pain...... Sleeping only bothers me when rolling over and that's only occasionally. I find now the pain is worse starting about ten days before my period, hence my hormones!!! :) hope this helps and that u find relief ! 

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