Upcoming PET scan after hip pain...

Runmommy
Runmommy Member Posts: 13
edited December 2017 in Not Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastases but Concerned

Hi all,

I don't usually post, but am needing some reassurance... next week I'm having my first "routine" PET scan since completing treatment for a recurrence, and I'm super stressed that the cancer has already returned. I had a recurrence last year in 2 axillary nodes on the opposite site of my original cancer, about 2 years after completing my initial treatment. My team treated this as a new cancer, and I had chemo, surgery and radiation of my entire chest and all remaining lymph nodes. I finished chemo in May. I'm taking Herceptin and Perjeta, and will continue this indefinitely - I feel lucky that my oncologist is very cautious and is aware that my situation is pretty unusual.. she's made a case that it makes sense for me to continue the H+P even though they are not treating my recurrence as metastatic.

Anyway, in September and early October I had 2 separate instances of sharp pain in my left hip. Both lasted for about 1-2 days and then went away. No pain since but the area feels very slightly off at times. Unfortunately, it's the same area that slightly lit up on a PET scan when my recurrence was first detected, but it was noted as "probably inflammation" (and it was gone in a PET scan after chemo). So as much as I try not to be concerned, I continue to stress that this could be cancer in my bone. I know that I won't be able to function in the days post-scan and before getting the results. My oncologist didn't seem worried, but I just have a really bad feeling about it. I'm 38 and I've never had arthritis... I don't even know what my question is, but any words of wisdom would be appreciated. :)

· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

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

    Hoping you are able to stay distracted between now and the scan. Hoping the scan isclear. Thinking of you.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • ElaineTherese
    ElaineTherese Member Posts: 3,328
    edited December 2017

    Runmommy,

    I'm no expert on bone mets, but my MO has told me that if you do have them, they are more likely to cause persistent pain than pain that comes and goes. I also had something on my left hip light up on a PET scan, but MO couldn't find it on a CT scan or an MRI and she considers it to be a false positive. Remember that PET scans pick up all kinds of things that aren't mets. Good luck!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Meow13
    Meow13 Member Posts: 4,859
    edited December 2017

    I might be right behind you. But my pain seems like a muscle cramp. It can be uncomfortable lying down also I had a charley horse across my DIEP donar site yeeowa. This is 5 years post surgery, I think I pulled something.

    Pain is like a muscle strain not too bad but I should probably have it checked.

    Let us know how it turns out.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories