Bone scan shows spot on sternum

Options
bottkota
bottkota Member Posts: 285
edited January 2016 in Not Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastases but Concerned

bone scan results show spot on sternum, which would explain some of the pain I have been experiencing lately.  Can anyone tell me what to expect?  I will probably have to have a CT/PET scan but don't know for sure until the oncologist calls me back today.  Should I be concerned?  The report said that they couldn't say it was metatsis cancer but that further testing would need to be done.  Is there something else that could be causing this spot?  the CNP told me today it could be inflammation or reflux.  I am grasping at anything right now.  I have been cancer free for 4 1/2 years now, could it really come back after all this time????  Wouldn't this have shown up in my blood test every 6 months when I was seeing the doc?  Does cancer show up in your blood if it comes back?  I was told that it does.  Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • saint
    saint Member Posts: 1,877
    edited October 2009

    HUGS

    First-breathe............it is ALL do-able!

    Try not to jump to conclusions. I will give you some answers to your questions:

    yes, it can come back many years later.

    there can be other explanations for the spot.

    more testing will be done.

    Tm's (tumor marker blood tests) CAN show an increase if bc comes back, but not necessarily. With bc tm's don't work the same way for everyone & they are looking for your  own personal trend--it can take a long time to establish (or may not apply to you)

    A good doc will be thorough & test to be sure,but that can be frightening if they are not keeping you informed-----ASK your doc to keep you abreast of what is being done & why....

    Let us know what happens----we care! Be well & stay strong 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • nash
    nash Member Posts: 2,600
    edited October 2009

    Funny enough, I just got a copy of my bone scan in the mail a few minutes ago, and I have a spot on my sternum, too. Specifically uptake at the junction between the sternum and the manubrium, so mine may be different than your spot on your sternum, but my point with this is that my onc had said my bone scan was fine over the phone, and didn't even mention what the radiologist said.

    In my report the radiologist said that the uptake needed to be correlated clinically by some other imaging method, and they used a breast MRI that I had done in February to do that. They said there were no definitive abnormalities on the sternum on that imaging study, and left it at probable arthritic changes. Not sure I feel better about the whole thing, especially since my CEA was out of the normal range last blood draw, but my onc has a lot of experience, so I guess if she's not worried, I won't be either. Undecided

    To answer you questions, like Saint said, yes, the cancer can come back at any time, and your blood work may or may not reflect a recurrence.

    Keep us posted on what your onc says and what s/he orders for you next. Fingers crossed that your spot is arthritis or something like that.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Lovegolf
    Lovegolf Member Posts: 513
    edited October 2009

    Yeah the same report is flying around.  I ahd double mx 5/1 and yesterday had chest x-ray...having pain in my chest.  Have set surgery to cut away "dog ears"  Now am told today there is spot on a vertabrate .....Had MRI in april pre-MX and now there is something.....Am geting bone scan hopefully Friday. 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • saint
    saint Member Posts: 1,877
    edited October 2009

    prayers for lots more golf in your future, lovegolf!!

    Hang in there! It is do-able tho none of us would choose this path!

    Be well & stay strong 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Lovegolf
    Lovegolf Member Posts: 513
    edited October 2009

    Thanks  am getting bone scan today and my Dr said she would call me so I will know.  No matter what the waiting is the worst part.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • bottkota
    bottkota Member Posts: 285
    edited October 2009

    Still no word from my oncologist office.  called yesterday and his nurse told me he was still trying to figure out a next action.  REALLY????  this is ridiculous.  I saw the OBGYN yesterday for my ovaries and since my ultrasound is clear she is wanting a PET scan done to rule out a recurrance of my breast cancer since my CA 125 is elevated for the 2nd time in 3 months.  Should I grow some horns and start demanding?  or do I just wait.  Could this mean that the doctor is not concerned that this is cancer recurring?  or what???  i have never had this much run around when it came to my cancer the first time.  should i just sit and wait, or start demanding things be done?  I am no longer worried about what the outcome will be.  It is what it is and there is nothing I can do to change the course that has already started.  lovegolf, what did your bone scan show yesterday?

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • saint
    saint Member Posts: 1,877
    edited October 2009

    Only YOU can make the final determination, but if you trust your doc I would let him have his head. Sometimes by pushing them we take away from the thought process. He MAY be trying to do something specifically for YOUR case & not just follow some standard protocol...but it would not be unfair to let him know you would like a heads up on WHAT he is considering......

    A few days/weeks should not make a huge difference in what your cells are doing at this point.....deep breath & try not to let your mind go to those dark places in the middle of the night--they are usually MUCH worse than the reality will prove! You are in my prayers----WAITING SUX! But bc has made me MUCH better at it! LOL

    Hugs--be well & stay strong 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Chelee
    Chelee Member Posts: 513
    edited October 2009

    I just went through a bunch of crap with my own onc.   I WAS stage IIIA, Her2/neu, 3+++, 5 pos nodes so I was always getting copies of my CA27.29 (Tumor markers) to follow them closely.  (Not that they always work for everyong.  But for me they are a good indicator I reccently found out.

    The point being my TM'ers had been inching up for a year!  I insisted to have then ran every 3 months.  I let my onc know the entire time my concern about them rising but she just said there are lots of benign reasons for markers to go up.  (Which is true.)  But I wanted a PET/CT asap to see if it showed anything since my markers just kept creeping up and NEVER down.  It was a long drawn out battle with her...but like you...I just got the run around.  Listen to your gut.  Just nicely call you onc...or make an appt and express your concern about your rising markers and the bone scan results.  Explain this is stressful to you and you need answers.  After what I went through I would not wait too long.  These onc's say it doesn't matter if you find mets early or late but I personally disagree with that.  The sooner the better IMO. 

    My markers were going up for a reason...I kept at my onc for a year and she blew me off.  I should of been more demanding.  I did have a recurrence and it could of been dealt with a year ago...and possible NOT spread to so many places.  I agree with YOU...this IS ridiculous!  These oncologist just don't understand what it is like to be in OUR shoes.  This is scary and we need answers asap.  Its not like we just stubbed our big toe.  I am in no way saying attack your onc...but don't let him drop the ball on you...be very pro-active in your care...you have to be.   And this does not mean for sure you have recurred...there are many false positives on bones...and tumor markers can and do go up for alot of benign reasons.  But I would make it known you want to move on to the next step to rule out any possible recurrence because you need peace of mind if nothing else.   I wish you all the best. 

    Chelee

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Lovegolf
    Lovegolf Member Posts: 513
    edited October 2009

    Passed on bone scan!!!!!! Not sure what was on Xray but it is not cancer......

    This stufff has us looking over our shoulders too mch.  I have found that being very active in your care is the best way to go....I recall the old joke What do you call the person who graduated at the bottom of their med school class????Doctor.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • bottkota
    bottkota Member Posts: 285
    edited October 2009

    THANK YOU ALL for those encouraging words.  I got the call this morning from the oncologist's office.  I am seeing him this afternoon to go over bone scan results and what the next plan of action is.  I do know that they are already scheduling another scan (what kind I don't know that).  am going to finally have some questions answered by the doctor himself.  I am confident that this is not breast cancer as I am feeling great (with the exception of the pain) and that the pain seems to let up a great deal after taking some over the counter pain relievers.  Today I am virtually pain free and haven't taken anything for it.  have been exercising the last few days and that has made a difference in the pain also.  could be any number of things and not just cancer.  i am glad that something is moving forward and hopefully by week's end, I will have a final answer.  One question is the cancer easily treatable in your bones versus it moving to my lungs, brain or liver?  I am a stay at home mom and I homeschool my children.  If my cancer has recurred, is the chemo so bad that I would have to put my children back in "regular" school or is the treatment still doable along with being with my kids all day long??  I am being positive and not going to the "my cancer is back" arena.  My cancer is still gone, I am holding onto that belief and that is what my prayers are specifically being directed toward.  Saint, you are right, the waiting SUCKS!!!!  but I will wait as long as it takes to get the answers that I am so desperately seeking.  I will keep you posted.  thank you again for all those encouraging words.  it helps a great deal!!!  prayers are always welcome so keep them coming Saint, I appreciate it!!!

    Cathi

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • saint
    saint Member Posts: 1,877
    edited October 2009

    My best advise---DO NOT BE A GOOD patient! Make a lot of noise if they blow off something YOU feel is important----never be embarrassed about your fears or the questions you want answered.

    As for bone mets........ it has been said, "if you have to have mets, bone mets is the one to shoot for." It seems many of us with bone mets can be kept stable for long stretches with AI's  (tamox, femara, fasoldex etc) & zometa or a similar once a month infusion. I have had bone mets for over 5 years & STILL don't know what bone pain feels like!!!!! Remember: all mets are do-able! Lots of sisters here prove it!!

    Hang in there & keep coming here----be well & stay strong 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • regalbee
    regalbee Member Posts: 11
    edited October 2009

    I had a spot on my lumbar spine that showed up on a bone scan.  It turned out to be arthritis...the bone scan cannot differentiate between a tumor and arthritis.  So they do further testing.  Hang in there!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • bottkota
    bottkota Member Posts: 285
    edited October 2009

    I am still trying to digest what my oncologist said to me this afternoon.  He is pretty much convinced that my cancer has come back because of the spot on my sternum and the fact that my tumor markers are elevated.  But he is going to test and test some more and biopsy until we get to the bottom of this.  My PET/CT scan is scheduled for Wednesday @ 2pm.  I am very clastrophbic (I totally misspelled that word) so I think I am going to go ahead and call back tomorrow and have them put an order in for a relaxant.  My husband is going to drop me off  and then pick me up when it is over with while he takes our kids to their various activities.  I am staying strong and keep the faith that this is just a small bump in the road and that all will be well once we get the testing done and find out for sure.  I just don't want to go through it again.  I am praying for a complete healing or arthritis.  I am doing well all things considered......I will be coming here much over the next few days.  Thank you again for the words of encouragement Saint, they are comforting to me!!!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Aridge
    Aridge Member Posts: 2
    edited October 2009

    Hello Saint...it is encouraging reading your posts.  My mother in law has also been diagnosed with Stage IV ER+ / PR+ and HER2-.   She was diagnosed March 2009 and has bone mets (it has not spread to any other organs).   She has been on Femara (1 pill a day) and has been doing the bone strengthning treatements.   She also had radiation done on her hip and elbow.   She had a bone scan today and the onc said she sees additional spots on the bones; however it still does not appear that any cancer has spread to her organs.   The oncologist said she could start chemo now or wait 3 months on a new medication Faflodex to see what that does.  Have you needed to do any chemo or have the medications alone kept the bone mets under control?  Please advise.   We are trying to help her in making her decision on whether to start chemo now or wait.  Thank you and God Bless you and everyone else suffering with cancer.  

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Cjs47
    Cjs47 Member Posts: 61
    edited January 2016

    Hi there,

    I had a bone scan a week ago now doctor says there was small uptake in my lower lumbar area and wants an MRI. Could this is mets or arthritis? Any answers would be appreciated.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • MusicLover
    MusicLover Member Posts: 4,225
    edited January 2016

    This thread is over 6 years old, I think you may want to start a new thread to ask your question.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories