Help with my mom's CT results

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np312
np312 Member Posts: 76
edited July 2017 in Not Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastases but Concerned

History: Mom had stage 3 IDC in 2008 - six lymph nodes positive - did mastectomy, chemo, radiation, and zometa therapy - in remission since 2009.

Mom is having pain in her right rib area lately - the whole band that goes across and upper right shoulder (right side was the breast cancer side). Did bone scan - results came clear. Pain did not go away plus now she has hip pain (right side bottom where you sit) - Onc ordered CT scan and we had an appointment with Onc yesterday and this is what the CT results say (see below). Blood work was ALL normal. From the results Onc said she is not concerned at this point but would like to repeat scan in 3 months and we see her in 3 months. Radiologist suggested MRI but we cannot do MRI because Mom has ICD (defibrillator) - she has CHF due to chemo :-(

Please help me understand this results.

"Mild asymmetric increased sclerosis within the right femoral head - corelates with the 6/23/17 bone scan and appears more prominent than on CT from 2008. This could represent AVN, however early metastatic disease is also possible. Recommend consideration of MRI for further evaluation"

Since mom cannot have MRI, do we have other options? OR should we just wait and watch like Onc said. She also said early diagnosis for recurrence doesn't make any difference. Only early detection of cancer matters.

Any input is appreciated. THANK YOU!

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  • ElaineTherese
    ElaineTherese Member Posts: 3,328
    edited July 2017

    Hi!

    Can your Mom get a PET scan? PET scans are often used to detect metastases. In the past, it is true that early diagnosis of mets may not have made much of a difference, but I believe that that assumption is more problematic today. ((Hugs))

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  • np312
    np312 Member Posts: 76
    edited July 2017

    Elaine - I mentioned PET scan to Onc yesterday at the appointment and she said PET scan will not show anything more than what we know. I think she said something about it is more for tissues? (can't remember exactly what she said). She said since all her blood work is normal - she is not worried/concerned at this point.

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  • ElaineTherese
    ElaineTherese Member Posts: 3,328
    edited July 2017

    Hmm, three PET scans picked up something on my left femoral neck (hip bone), but then it wasn't picked up on an MRI and a CT scan, so my oncologist considered it to be a false positive. If it had shown up on an MRI, my oncologist would have ordered a biopsy. In short, it is possible to biopsy a hip bone, unlike some other areas of our bodies.

    I (personally) could wait three months because I'm not an overly anxious person. How does your Mom feel? Can she wait three months? If not, maybe she would want a second opinion?

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  • np312
    np312 Member Posts: 76
    edited July 2017

    Thank you Elaine. And yes my mom can wait - she does worry but is not anxious. I don't even understand what AVN is so I am trying to learn myself. She had chemo in 2008/09 - can she get AVN now (years later)? If not, then I would personally rule out AVN, know what I mean?

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  • ElaineTherese
    ElaineTherese Member Posts: 3,328
    edited July 2017

    Oh, well, AVN probably means avascular necrosis. (It also stands for Adult Video News, but somehow, I don't think that's what her doctor was talking about).

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  • np312
    np312 Member Posts: 76
    edited July 2017

    LOL Elaine. thanks for the laugh :-)


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  • KBeee
    KBeee Member Posts: 5,109
    edited July 2017

    AVN is a Avascular necrosis whoch can happen with biophosphonates. If your mom is ok waiting, then it seems reasonable to wait. If her symptoms drastically get worse, she can call for other otions

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  • np312
    np312 Member Posts: 76
    edited July 2017

    Thank you KBeee!

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