Having a scan? Waiting on results? The waiting room is open!

I'm glad to hear the good results from recent PET scans as well. Congrats Ladies. Hope this continues.

Terri

I didn't think I'd be in the waiting room so soon, but I'm here and I'm a wreck. At my last onc appointment, he commented that he wanted me to get a mammogram and breast u/s of my remaining breast. I questioned if this was necessary as my PET at the beginning of September showed NED and my brain MRI at the end of the month was also clear. He said he believes in being cautious, especially since I'm doing so well. Well I had my mammo and u/s this morning. I feel like the tech spent a lot of time during the u/s and my heart is in my stomach. I don't think I'll get the results today, as the tech commented that they are down a radiologist today and running behind. It's going to be a terribly long weekend. I'm scared, but trying to be rational. My PET, my tumor markers, my brain MRI all good...why would something be missed by those that is caught by a breast u/s, right?

but good news Goodie! Congratul

Congats on all the good news

Suems, sorry for your progression. Are you on a bone builder like aredia or zometa? They're supposed to help, I'm on aredia 4 weekly. You may go onto something else, at least there are more hormonal treatments to try like femara. I went on that after tamoxifen (along with zoladex to shut down ovaries).

You're right tho, it's an embuggerance (I'm reading The Shepherds Crown right now...)

I just finished 6 rounds of THP three weeks ago, and had my first post-diagnoses PET-CT today. Since it is Saturday in Miami... I won't be seeing any results until next week. I am also going out of town next week, and am thinking of not answering any phone calls from my ONCs office until I get back. I see him Oct 21 for my first round of H&P 4ever. Based on my tumor markers and the lack of "lumpiness" in my breast and lymph nodes, I am pretty sure that THP has knocked out a lot of tumor activity. It is possible that there is still some activity in my lymph nodes and liver, but I have no way of knowing until I get the results. I plan to drink a lot and eat the forbidden smoked salmon and raw veggies next week!

RonnieKay - I heard that smoked salmon was one of those "not fully cooked," foods to avoid while on chemo. Not quite sushi, but a little too raw. I also heard honey was a little suspect.

Leah

Standing beside you. Handing you a blankie and teddy bear. I experienced progression on lxempra. Now on gemzar.

New treatment plan is new hope.

Hang in b/c you just never know how new treatment will help.

Diana

So I'm out of town, and my oncologist knows this. Nonetheless - he posted my PET-CT test results in my online records last night. And - it looks like I might have had a complete response to treatment! It's hard to say with absolute certainty (the test is written in a language that is nearly incomprehensible), but it seems that "ONLY MILD RESIDUAL LOW LEVEL UPTAKE WITHIN THE RIGHT BREAST LESION" is present, all of the lymph nodes are "resolved" and about my liver, which had a bunch of small lesions they said: "PREVIOUS SMALL FOCI OF ABNORMAL UPTAKE WITHIN THE LIVER IS NO LONGER SEEN."

I'll know for sure when I talk to my oncologist next Tuesday, but it looks good. "IMPRESSION: OVERALL POSITIVE RESPONSE TO TREATMENT," the summation read. So I am happy and hopeful. For the record, I am one of those HER2+++ patients (no ER and almost no PR) who received the Cleopatra protocol.

Here's hoping for good news for all of my fellow Stage IV sisters.

Great news, suersis! May all of your SUVs register below 3!

Well, the verdict is now in. The jerk I didn't like handled himself quite well, so I have decided to stick with him for a while longer. So, I have a second met on my ischium, and a new one on my 9th rib. The one on my femur doesn't appear to have changed much.

Tamoxifen has obviously failed, so has been stopped. (The question of course is did it ever work in the first place, since this is my first round of scans since diagnosis in Feb).

I am now on Arimidex, and will start on Bisphosphonate infusions monthly once I get clearance from my dentist, and have a port put in.

I am also being referred back to the Radiation Oncologist to have my hip zapped for pain relief. And a CT just to ensure nothing else has cropped up as well. Then it will be December, and time for a mammogram on my remaining boob, "Poor Old Lefty".

I feel like I'm back at square one, with everything starting up at once. This roller coaster ride feels more like a merry-go-round, I'm going round in circles getting nowhere. Let's just hope I don't fall off!

So, now I'm waiting for all the appointments to roll in, waiting to see what the CT shows, waiting to find out why my LE arm hurts so much.... I think I'm beginning to understand why they call us PATIENTS!

Grrr... still waiting. I just found out that my CT has been ordered, but will not happen for 6 weeks! There are only 2 machines in this region, and a major shortage of radiologists, so the queues are horrendous. Non-urgent people have to wait up to 6 months, but I thought cancer was a good queue-jumper. Apparently not.

But, in the long run, I know I have progression, and my drugs have been changed, so will anything change if the CT shows up anything? Is the treatment different from Bone mets to say, lung or liver?

Now, everyone - repeat after me: "I am a patient patient, patiently waiting" And try not to scream!

Oh Leah...I'm sorry you couldn't take your trip...soon, I hope...and that you have a new tx plan in place.  I am praying for healing.

Aoibheann...praying for calm feelings going into scans next week!  I know the feeling of getting past "time markers."  I had 2nd dx 2 yrs from 1st dx, then had 3rd dx 1.5 years later. It'll be 3 YEARS since last dx in Dec!!!  So, I'm sayin you're going to wave adios to that 6 month marker!!!   

Scrunch....happy dancing with Terri!!  My guess is your dr posted results because he was sure it would be welcome news!!  

Suems...I can't imagine how you handled your onc's "news" about results you already had. I would've had a somewhat sarcastic comment...maybe something on the line of..if it were your wife/mother/daughter, would you mind if the dr didn't call w/results?  And...if he'd have made contact earlier, would your wait time be 2 weeks instead of 6?  Just wanting you to get the attention you deserve!!!  

Artist...So hoping your scans show good results...and it can be a joyous Thanksgiving!!!!  

Wishing strength & healing to all my sisters!!!

Artist.. hope you got good news

RonnieKay, thanks for your kind thoughts. I had my nuclear bone scan today and though tech said it would take approx 30 mins it took an hour. Didn't say anything to my family but am starting to quietly freak out. CT tomorrow then a long wait to hear results. We don't have results posted on line here. Instead we have to phone Daycare Onc after a couple of days and then wait for the onc registrar to ring back. These are junior docs serving a rotation who know nothing about you. Often their english isn't the best. Onc only rings if results are concerning. And I'm going private...

well went for a ct scan last monday which showed everything was stable except they seen low density in my liver so yesterday went for a mri on the liver so scared my anxiety is through the roof cannot even eat so nervous asked my dr if i could get the results today and he said he doubted it since the radiologist was going away and they were only reading the emergency's first

Patti

I completely understand, Artist.  I'm going for an echo this am...thought 9 am & then checked...oops-8:20, and Seattle traffic is awful, so with DH driving, I'm trying to keep my heart calm, and it's only an echo.  Just thinking now that I'm only on herceptin, my heart needs to stay strong...wish our minds didn't have to work overtime but this disease requires it.  Peace to all.