hope or denial?

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screech
screech Member Posts: 212
edited May 2015 in Stage III Breast Cancer

I posted this in the stage 4 forum, but I was wondering if anyone that uses the stage 3 forum could comment?  Thank you.

I am wondering if I am in complete denial, or if I am just optimistically hopeful.  I was diagnosed a year ago in March with BC-bilateral, one side they said probably stage 0, one probably a 3.  They did a PET which showed one tiny hot spot in the sacral region.  It was unable to be biopsied so it went unconfirmed.  Then did AC/T and was re-scanned.  PET showed complete response-no sign of where the spot was.  Just showed as healed/filled in.  Because of response they say it was a metastasis.  Then had a BMX (showing clean lymph nodes), then radiation.  Started on Zometa/Aromasin.  Had another PET at the end of March-NED!  Do you think it is impossible that this spot was not a metastasis?  Does anyone else have similar experiences?  Thank you.

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  • ElaineTherese
    ElaineTherese Member Posts: 3,328
    edited May 2015

    Hi!

    My first PET scan showed something near my hip. My MO said it didn't look like a met (whatever that looks like), but we'd keep an eye on it. After neoadjuvant AC/T, we did another PET scan. That same thing was near my hip, unchanged. But, the PET scan had shown no active cancer in the breast and nodes. So, it's not considered a met right now.

    I don't know if you're in denial. I'm also on Aromasin (but no Zometa). If it wasn't a met, would that have meant no Zometa?

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  • screech
    screech Member Posts: 212
    edited May 2015


    ElaineTherese-I think sometimes you get Zometa with Aromasin regardless.  I think it depends on the condition of your bones - osteoporosis, etc. but I don't think it would be monthly like I am.  I will go to quarterly at some point if all remains well.

    With the spot they saw on my first pet-the reason they said it was most likely a met is because it had a complete response to chemo-it's gone.  Had it still been there they wouldn't have worried about it.

    Thank you for responding!

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  • TectonicShift
    TectonicShift Member Posts: 752
    edited July 2020

    .

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  • Kicks
    Kicks Member Posts: 4,131
    edited May 2015

    'Things' can 'light up' on a PET. Any inflammation will light up rather or not it is cancer according to what I was told. When I had my PET before neoadjuvant A/C an area along my lower jaw 'lit up'. I was in for a biopsy of the area that afternoon and had the path. report the next morning - nothing there. That was 5 1/2+ yrs ago and still NED.

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  • screech
    screech Member Posts: 212
    edited May 2015


    Thank you all for replying.  Kicks - here's to NED for 5 1/2 and counting-Yay!  Tshift-Thank you for your closing comment and the reminder of the small percentage that are good to go!  I really mean that.  My surgeon has a stage 4 patient 10 years with no recurrence.  My radiologist has someone eight years stage 4 with no recurrence...they're out there!

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  • TectonicShift
    TectonicShift Member Posts: 752
    edited July 2020

    .

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  • Momine
    Momine Member Posts: 7,859
    edited May 2015

    Tshift is right about the oligomets. This makes sense to me as someone with a 3B DX. Some years ago, I would have been considered stage 4 at DX, and my treatment would not have been with curative intent. Somewhere along the line, docs decided they could probably keep people like me cancer-free and alive and the staging was changed.

    It used to freak me out, the thought that I very likely had active cancer in my body, just so little that we couldn't see/find it. But at some point I decided that if we can't see it or find it and I have no symptoms or trouble, then why worry. Your situation seems similar to me, in the sense that you had this spot. The spot is gone. It may have been a met, or not. Either way, it is gone, you do not have any others and you are well. So "pffftt!" to the spot.

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  • screech
    screech Member Posts: 212
    edited May 2015


    Tectonic-I think the numbers are going to get better year by year.  There are more meds available now than ever. 

     

    Momine-love your way of thinking!  I've wondered if at some point what is now "early" stage 4 will become something that is considered curable in some cases.  All I know is today I feel great!

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