Good scans -- I think!

Tina2
Tina2 Member Posts: 2,943
edited November 2017 in Stage IV/Metastatic Breast Cancer ONLY

I called my oncologist's nurse the day after my annual scans nine days ago. She gave me a quick bottom-line reading of "NED."

Today I finally received written reports from the new radiologist my once recommended. Here are his impressions:

1. Abdomen and pelvis: "Benign cysts in liver and both kidneys. There is no evidence for metastatic disease. There has been no significant change since the prior study."

2. CT of chest: "Pulmonary densities involving the right upper lobe and left lower lobe with some new densities in the posterior left lower lobe, possibly benign. No definite metastatic disease is seen."

The first report is clearly cause for celebration.

The second concerns me a bit. In the "findings' section, the doctor ventured that the new densities "may well be inflammatory in origin," but I'm not happy about their being there at all. However, I do have allergies, so maybe that's the cause.

Additionally, I am not a big fan of "possibly benign" or "no definite metastatic disease is seen" language. Is this weasel wording?

Thoughts, experienced friends?

Tina




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Comments

  • sueopp
    sueopp Member Posts: 1,541
    edited July 2017

    Tina my girl, Dr. Opp ansolutely believes that allergies can express in this way, and has told me so over and over, when my scan reports have messed with me in this way(while he peels me off the ceiling). We live with this kind of equivocation, don't we? (Sigh). Hang tough, girlfriend.

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  • stagefree
    stagefree Member Posts: 2,780
    edited July 2017

    Dear Tina,

    My last entire body MRI report read "all findings are in parallel to my illness" .. that's it! And I thought they were joking.

    I have never been interested in the number & positions of my mets, focusing more on getting rid of them right from the start. Yet, spending almost an hour in that wormhole machine, one expects more info.. sigh..

    We will be checking my TMs this week which have been reliable so far.. my pregnant looking belly is still the same.. taxotere took my hair instead of the belly :/

    I am convinced MOs cannot be definite in concluding on what they see, be it a PET or a mere x-ray. These c-buggers are still mysterious in many ways.

    Well, it is left to us to focus on the better rather than the dark thoughts, thans to Xanax and Lexapro.. :)))

    Hugs & love

    Ebru


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  • AmyJM
    AmyJM Member Posts: 665
    edited July 2017

    Tina,

    It sounds like good news to me! I'd run with it! I think Sue and Ebru are right - sometimes they can't be 100% sure. But it sounds like the radiologist was inclined to think it was benign. So happy for you!!!

    Love and hugs,

    Amy

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  • pajim
    pajim Member Posts: 2,785
    edited July 2017

    Tina, that's the best news you'll ever get out of a radiologist in the American lawsuit world. They always hedge their bets. Don't want to be accused of missing anything.

    I'd call that report NED and go out and celebrate! Congratulations!

    Pam

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  • Blume
    Blume Member Posts: 62
    edited July 2017

    that certainly looks like good news, congratulations, so happy for you ☺

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  • NancyHB
    NancyHB Member Posts: 1,512
    edited July 2017

    Tina - congratulations on your continued relationship with NED! Like you, though, I also understand wanting to know what all these little words really mean. My last two bones scans have come back with "no significant change" and so I remain stable for now, but I want to know the significance of "no significant"! I'm learning to stop trying to read between the lines and be happy I have another 3 months of stability (for now). My hope for you is to enjoy these summer days and sunshine without worry

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  • Kandy
    Kandy Member Posts: 1,461
    edited July 2017

    Congratulations Tina, the report I feel like is good. I can understand your frustration when you read reports and they are somewhat vague. I am sure you do wish they weren't there at all. But the way he wrote it doesn't sound like he is very concerned about it. There are certain things a radiologist looks for that are red flags indicating for sure that it is cancer, yours must have not had the red flags so he is alerting your MO that they are there. Now it's up to your MO as to rather he wants to further evaluate it or to watch it and rescan to see if it's changed. But overall I think the report is good, go celebrate

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  • DivineMrsM
    DivineMrsM Member Posts: 9,620
    edited August 2017

    Tina, I have no experience reading reports. I can understand how you feel wondering, gee, what *Exactly* does this or that mean. I am the same way. The comments from everyone here, tho, make logical sense to me. I am glad for the good scan reports for you.


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  • Tina2
    Tina2 Member Posts: 2,943
    edited August 2017

    Thank you, all! I've stopped quibbling and started quaffing. The celebration's on!

    Tina

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  • Brendatrue
    Brendatrue Member Posts: 1,830
    edited August 2017

    Tina, CHEERS!

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  • ShetlandPony
    ShetlandPony Member Posts: 4,924
    edited August 2017

    What pajim said. The hedgy-sounding words are just radiologist-speak.

    Raising my glass (of ginger tea) in celebration with you, Tina!

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  • artistatheart
    artistatheart Member Posts: 2,176
    edited August 2017

    So fantastic Tina!!!!

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  • AnimalCrackers
    AnimalCrackers Member Posts: 701
    edited August 2017

    Tina - love your comment "stopped quibbling and started quaffing"! Cheers to you!

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  • exbrnxgrl
    exbrnxgrl Member Posts: 12,424
    edited August 2017

    Woo hoo! Great news and congrats. I'm up tomorrow, which I don't mind, but waiting for results, ugh

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  • Heidihill
    Heidihill Member Posts: 5,476
    edited August 2017

     ThumbsUp, ThumbsUp, Tina

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  • pwilmarth
    pwilmarth Member Posts: 235
    edited August 2017

    I would say they are monitoring you closely and watching for changes. My RO walked me through my latest MRI and showed me the spots he is monitoring. It was pretty cool to see what he's following and the sizes of the things he's watching. The computer gave readouts like 1.0 mm X 5.0 mm. Take out a ruler and look at those measurements. Those are tiny spots. He felt like these are "slow growing" and gave my MO the option to change treatments. I will have another MRI in about 6 weeks to ensure that there isn't any significant changes in these spots. But spots that are this small will not have any symptoms and I feel good with lots of energy. I don't think I can ask for anything more.

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  • Tina2
    Tina2 Member Posts: 2,943
    edited August 2017

    I discussed my recent scans with my oncologist today. He's going to schedule a scan in three months to check on the new sightings in my lung and determine if they've changed. He talked with the radiologist who read the chest scan. They both feel it could have simply been a case of new (different) equipment picking up an area that the previous scannner/s had not.

    Whichever, I'm glad I'll be getting some kind of quasi-definitive answer in three months rather than twelve!

    Tina

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  • Tina2
    Tina2 Member Posts: 2,943
    edited November 2017

    New scans today. Of course, I happen to have a head cold/fall allergies. I trust that the radiologist will be able to distinguish between mucus and mets!

    Tina the Gross

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  • artistatheart
    artistatheart Member Posts: 2,176
    edited November 2017

    Hope they are great Tina!

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  • Kandy
    Kandy Member Posts: 1,461
    edited November 2017

    Tina, praying your scans has a good report. Keep the faith. If the radiologist can not distinguish between mucous and mets, they need to be fired. Best of luck to you.

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