Did your doctor order all of these tests?

After surgery and before chemo I had head to toe CT, bone scan and MUGA. My Onc did it as a base study. Needed the MUGA because of the Herceptin. Make sure to get all your technical copies of your reports.

This is good your doc is doing all these tests!

Sounds usual to me.  I had  bone, CAT, MRI and PET scans and an EKG (some have MUGA).  My PET 'lit up' on an area along lower jaw so had a biopsy done  but no problem.  Sounds like your Dr is just 'covering the bases'.

My ONC told me there was no need for me to have scans or MRIs or ultrasounds done. I think that's a good thing in that the probability of the cancer spreading was low. The Path report drives these tests. My sister has to have them but she has ILC- I have IDC. Her's tends to travel; mind does not. Doesn't mean it won't but they are using info from my Oncotype test to determine the likelihood and will not order those additional tests to preserve my piece of mind. Frankly I can't handle more tests to get nervous about so I am content to live for the moment. Doesn't mean I don't get anxious before my mammogram because I do but that's life. Probably never be the same since my DX because once it happens you are branded. 

Diane 

I was just talking about this subject recently on a different thread. I had a Breast MRI, Bone Scan (scintigraphy), CT scan, and ultrasound during staging. I went to an NCI CCC and they told me it was standard to do all of the imaging that they did; I was Stage I. Perhaps it was standard for all breast cancer work ups, or maybe in young women (I was 34)--that part I don't know. I know 3 other women who were early stage and pre-menopausal like me who went to the same center and we all got the same imaging, with the exception of one who was HER2+ who got an additional MUGA scan due to Herceptin. I think they're just being cautious since breast cancer can be sneaky.

clairinaz - MUGA is not always done before chemo or when it is known that nodes are involved.  I did not have a MUGA, just an EKG before I started neoadjuvant A/C.  It was known that I had positive nodes as the first 'sign' had been an wnlarged node which was biopsied and it was positive for IBC.  Even though I was 63 at DX, I was in excellent health with no issues to worry about so an EKG was all called for.  Had 'something' showed up on it then more testing would have been ordered but nothing did.

There is no 'One Size Fits All' when it comes to imdividual TX plans.

Nancy, I'm very sorry that you have this worry. I know it's hard, but try not to worry until and unless there's confirmation of something. Since you have previously injured your spine, that could be what's causing the area to show up. Please let us know what you find out.

Nancy - how did the pet/ct go?