Just Told My breast Cancer might have spread

think positive. Those machines are very sensitive. They pick up all kinds of things that when they are probed further turn out to be nothing bad. If you had a lumpectomy and nodes were clear chances seem good those spots might be unrelated.

My sister had 3 findings on her lungs (ex-smoker). They monitored them and after 3 or 4 years, stopped monitoring since nothing was happening (no growth). She's never had issues.

Doctors and scans can be wrong. I was told my MRI image was not cancer; it was. I was told my tumor would be 7mm; it was 1.8cm. They do not know what they do not know. I think it is great that they want to follow up and not simply dismiss any findings, but to assume those findings are cancer even before they are in the dish is a little unnerving.

Your tag-line doesn't tell us what you started with, how far out you are, size, type, etc. so it is hard to even guess what they are looking at.

I'm sorry to say that we have all been here, not knowing and stressing and imagining the worst. No matter how much someone tells you that worrying won't help, it is unavoidable. How do you go on living? Ask for help. Doctors can Rx anxiety meds; family can hold your hand and let you know they will support you; science can provide treatment where options are available. No reason to give up even before you have any news. For all you know, the lung mass is an incidental finding (my friend just got a liver scan and there's a cyst...but it was always there they were told) and the spine spot can be arthritis or inflammation. Try not to die before you have to!

praying for you pippy. About when are they expecting to have results

Pippy, I hope you get your results soon. I agree that the waiting is terrible. It’s so hard to know whether to hope for the best or prepare for the worst. It sounds like your dr is preparing you that the spot on your lung is cancer? Thinking good thoughts for you

Pippy1963: My heart goes out to you. The waiting is the worst. It is so cruel I think.

I had nodules in my lungs found on an xray that I had for bronchitis about 8 years out of my first BC dx. I was told it was likely BC mets too. But they didn't biopsy. I had CT scans every 3 months for quite a while ( a little over a year) until my family GP said no more CT scans because they were not changing. Its been 15 years since my first BC dx and I am considered NED from that still. And now there is no trace of nodules in my lungs. Go figure.

I remember when I was going thru that what a wreck I was too. And then it turned out to be nothing in the end. I wish they had of biopsied right away... the anxiety from every scan and the exposure to radiation from every scan wasn't good for me. It would have been better to know one way or the other by a biopsy right from the start.

I am holding you in my prayers and thoughts that it turns out to be benign. Hugs to you.

wallan

I have been stressing for a week. Brain scan came back clear (which we thought it would). Had the pet/ct today and was told doc would have the results this afternoon. Called his office when test was done. Called again at 3 and told he is out of the office. I can't handle the waiting. My mind goes to all the wrong places

The irony is that sometimes the wait is just a wait and other times because they double check a GOOD result. My BS told me that... like if the tissue shows no signs of live cancer they might take a few more slices of it to analyze, to make sure they aren't missing it.

The waiting is the WORST. Lots of empathy and hugs for anyone hanging in suspense. Hoping for good results SOON.

I think they are truly MORE cautious to deliver a good result hastily. I was terrified by my incredibly long waits for post neoadjuvant chemo imaging and my post lumpectomy pathology-- and BOTH were due to good results that needed double and triple checking.

How frustrating. Hoping you get an update soon!

pippy I loved this comment:

"I wish I lived close to you so I could give you some anxiety meds."

You are a good person!!!

pippy I agree... waiting in suspense is HORRIBLE, and it is ridiculous how long it takes just to get results back! I agree: you have a lot of girls trips to take! And: stay pissed! My dear friend who has Non-small-cell lung cancer calls cancer cells "the little assholes." And she is currently NED on a biologic agent, after being stage 4 at diagnosis in 2014!

I hope you get a firm diagnosis and a plan of action soon, as in YESTERDAY. Hugs to you.

PalBuddy, so sorry to see this is something you are dealing with.... I hope it's nothing but even if it is, a lymph node is not necessarily stage 4, but rather "locally advanced"... crossing fingers!