PET scan report

Hi Lemonee,

I was diagnosed with IDC/grade 3 in July 2017 and within two weeks had a mammogram, ultrasound, biopsies, PET scan, port placement, and my first AC chemo treatment. Your post regarding subpectoral nodes is the first one that I've read on here about those nodes (there may be others that I've just not seen yet) and my PET scan report also mentioned them. My report said "minimal increased activity is seen in these regions - there is a left axillary or lateral thoracic lymph node which measures 16mm and is at the lateral pectoral margin with SUV of 10. Medial left subpectoral enlargement is seen and there are at least two lymph nodes in question the largest measuring 7.6mm with SUV of 7."

From the end of July to early November I completed chemo, 4 AC and 4 taxol treatments and this Monday I start radiation. I also had a bilateral mastectomy on November 30th with Sentinel node biopsy. The pathology from the surgery said nothing was found in the three lymph nodes removed. I questioned the surgeon about my nodes and one explanation was on the PET scan they could have been showing as reactive nodes, meaning reacting to the recent biopsies I had and didn't contain cancer at all. When I questioned about the subpectoral lymph nodes and why more nodes weren't removed during surgery the surgeon gave the explanation for the Sentinel biopsy (which I already knew) - if cancer isn't found in that node, or nodes, there is little chance it's in any of them. I said that I've read a lot about people having tons of nodes removed and why did I only have 3 taken out, meaning why weren't my subpectoral nodes removed also? She said having a lot of nodes taken out doesn't improve survival and all it leaves people with is a big arm due to severe lymphedema. She said that studies have shown that chemo and radiation are the best options to get rid of the cancer. So I left her office thinking ok, I got rid of the possible bad node on the side of my breast, but am I walking around with cancer still in my subpectoral nodes?

On another note, I also found out I'm stage 2b and now triple negative. After my original biopsies I was ER+, PR-, and HER-, but my medical oncologist wanted the hormone receptors checked again after my mastectomy. The estrogen went away and after radiation I'll be doing a 3-4 month course of Xeloda. And good thing I told the surgeon I wanted to have a bilateral mastectomy (after she said that wasn't necessary) because they found low grade DCIS in my right breast that was undetected on my July mammogram and PET scan.

My PET scan also showed that I have a rather large fibroid in my uterus that I didn't know about - so other things can definitely show uptake activity other than cancer - this could also be the case with your pelvis and seems to be what they are leaning towards with the wording on your report mentioning a ureter.

I'm going to talk more in depth about my nodes at my appointment with the Radiation Oncologist on Monday. Please let us know whatever you find out about your test results when you meet with your doctor again. Sending good thoughts your way!

Can anyone interpret my PET/CT scan? My surgeon told me it was all good except for the known cancer in R breast. I dont understand all of it. Especially the colon section

Well physilogic means normal, "no abnormal...activity" sounds good, and no evidence of metastatic disease (spread of the cancer) is certainly exciting! So that looks pretty good to me as a layperson.

georgia1 and vedeer14 -Thank You. My surgeon said no big deal but he didnt explain it to me.Thanks for sharing your kniwledge.