Denna and Pajim,

Thanks for your input. I actually have never spoken to a doctor about this issue. I booked physiotherapy on my own. My physiotherapist thinks that I did something to my lower back (he never gave me a diagnosis) which is causing pain in both of my glutes. I happen to be seeing my radiation oncologist next week for a regular check up and will mention this to her.

Pajim, my issue also feels very muscular, which is why I never mentioned it to a doctor.

Hope you are both doing well and thanks again.

Stephanie

Rosabella, it's going to vary quite a bit depending on the meds a patient is on. Ibrance, as you may know, is notoriously expensive -- around $11,500 (retail) per month, depending on what state you're in and pharmacy used, and the problem some patients run into is that Medicare "donut hole," or the gap in coverage. Other than the donut hole, with an "F" plan, you should be pretty well covered.

If you haven't already, you may want to also ask your question in the forum that deals with insurance issues, as well as using the "Search" feature to see if anyone else has asked the same thing recently. I'm suggesting this because I think your question will get more attention if it's a new one about Medicare coverage, rather than kind of buried in this particular thread.

Hope this helps some, and here's a link to that other forum. https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/113

Hello - just popping in with a wee question.  Am I keeping my head in the sand by not contacting my specialist just because I feel dreadful.  I have no persistant pains - things that just come and go as you would expect given the nature of the beast. I am on Letrozole and Blood pressure meds both of which when I look up their side effects - I pretty much have them covered. Or have I just hit a road block after 2 and a half years of fighting and am a bit weary.

Did anyone have bone mets that a PET/CT missed but a bone scan found?

I had an 18F-FDG PET/CT in May that came back negative for bone mets (I hear 18F NaF PET/CTs are more specific for bone mets but we werw looking for metastasis in general), but a recent MRI shows increased vascularity in my sternum and the radiologist recommended a bone scan. I understand doing an 18F NaF PET/CT is probably off the table because it would be too soon after the previous one on terms of radiation exposure but would a bone scan really see something that a PET/CT didn't?

I'm slated for a BMX and reconstruction soon but if it's stage IV then I would probably choose a different surgical option.

Hi everyone! I felt a lump under my armpit (same side as I had breast cancer 5 years ago) last week and called my Dr. and had a CT scan done yesterday and have a ultrasound scheduled for coming monday. My Dr. said that she is very concerned about the lump and infact she could feel 2 additional small lumps. I'm very nervous and having a very hard time waiting for all the reports to come in. Has anyone else gone through this? Are these lumps symptoms for recurrence or of lung cancer?

4love, very scary time for you. Hopefully you will get test results ASAP so you know. When I felt my lump second time round I knew it was going to be bad but mine was in the breast. Lymph nodes come up with all sorts of infections so don't assume the worst.

Best wishes for negative test results soon.

Amica, the following paragraph was copied from parathyroid.com

High Blood Calcium

High calcium in the blood is called hypercalcemia, and is almost always due to parathyroid disease. It is almost never due to cancer. All causes of high calcium are discussed on this page, including what tests will determine the cause of the high calcium.

.........

Tang&Chris - I would definitely see a dermatologist. Nothing against PCPs, but it sounds like you need a specialist. If they're going to remove, I would recommend Mohs surgery, where they remove the 'growth' and send it to the path lab while you are there to make sure they got it all before they stitch you up. Especially since it's on your face. It' local anesthesia but does require special training to do this surgery. I have gone to a derm plastic surgeon for 5 basal cell surgeries at the recommendation of my regular derm doc.

Below is an article about Mohs surgery from Cancer Connect.

https://mavendoctors.io/cancerconnect/treatment-ca...

maybe it's a lipoma? I had one show up in 3 mo. Just got it removed on tues by my bs who is a general surgeon. It was almost 3 inches long which in the lipoma world is big. Read up on lipoma, which is a fat pad.

tangandchris, I could be wrong, but I think skin mets from bc tends to show up where the original lesion was -- usually on the breast. But I agree with MinusTwo that this is something for a dermatologist to evaluate. I'm guessing it might be a basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer -- both fairly harmless as long as you catch and have them removed quickly.

Hey friends! In 05/2016, I was diagnosed with stage II, grade B (I know my profile says A), triple positive breast cancer. I had a lumpectomy, followed by chemo, bilateral mastectomy (in 01/2017), radiation and completed Herceptin in 08/2017. I did have cancer in 2 of my lymph nodes, which were removed but have not had any issues with lymphadema. In 01/2018 I had my expanders switched out for implants and in 05/2018 I had fat grafting surgery. About 2 weeks ago, I noticed slight pain on my rib. It feels like maybe I pulled something. Or maybe bruised it. It is located on the side on my original right breast, breast cancer. It is to the right of my right breast. The pain area begins begins just below my breast, but slightly to the right of the breast. It's my 2 inches of "pain." I don't even know if pain is the right word. It's not a constant feeling. It's when I reach certain ways, or sleep on my side or when I press on it. Which, of course, I do often now because I am paranoid. I contacted my oncologist and he recommended I put a heating pad on the spot for a week. I am on day 5. Still having the sensation. Side, note, the heating pad caused me to get a little burn on breast. Oops. Skin sensitivity after radiation. This is all I can think about this week. I am not having any other symptoms or pain anywhere else. I would say I over the summer I started a new heart burn medication and noticed some dizziness and irritability and maybe feeling anxious. I stopped that about a month or so ago and the dizziness is much better. Still anxious. I've never really been an anxious person. Maybe that just comes with going through something like this. I'm sure being anxious and irritable has nothing to do with this "pain," I'm describing. Anyway, just trying to give all of you the full picture. Has anyone else experienced this? Thanks!!

Hi mama2bc. I had a similar pain, kind of right under my breast and into my ribs. At my last check up they told me it was from the radiation, kind of like scarring I guess. I've had recent scans and there's no disease there. It has improved with time. If it doesn't improve in a couple of weeks though, I would ask them to check it out. It is worth while even just for your own emotional well being.

I know every time I have an odd ache or pain I keep poking and prodding it. Then I'm not sure if I'm causing the pain by constantly touching it.

I hope you get some answers soon to put your mind at ease.

Ally

I have, what sounds like, the same pain. I’ve had it a few months now. They’ve done xrays and ct w/wo contrast and say they don’t see anything and that it might be just bruised cartilage around my ribs. I see my onco next month and I will definitely be asking for an mri/pet. I already have a bone scan scheduled the first week of January. I have also developed knots under my arm on the side the bc was. I saw a surgeon this week and they’re sending me to the women’s specialty center where I was first dx for an ultrasound guided wire insertion for the surgeon to take biopsies. Here’s hoping you get answers also!🤞🏻Hugs..

Lisa, I am so sorry you are dealing with this. It must be horribly scary. Hoping you can seek multiple opinions. Are they not biopsying the liver site? They need to know if it is ER+. and/or HER2+ so they can make sure that your treatments are appropriate. Ask to be seen at a large academic medical center. If you already are, then ask to see someone at another center. Thinking of you.

funthing42, I'm sorry you're in this situation. I have often felt that I might not want to do the IV chemos again either. They made me too sick, and they weren't even very effective on my cancer.

You may be able to do Xeloda, which is a pill chemo, and easier to tolerate for most people. My MO said it's the mildest chemo as far as side effects go. I'm on Xeloda now, and I can live a fairly normal life on it. My hair is even growing back! It also doesn't affect your counts as much either, which is great.

If you are still HR+ you may be also be able to do Ibrance, or something similar.

Hugs and best wishes to you. Please keep us posted on how you're doing.