When does mets show up? Months or years?

Unfortunately there is no time frame. Some people were more than a decade out and they developed recurrences, including mets. You are recently diagnosed and your anxiety is still high (been there, done that). Try not to worry about things you can't control, and like your doctors say, the possibility of you having mets is extremely low. The anxiety and worry do get better with time! Soon you'll hardly think about cancer!

Moag, I have rapidly advancing osteoarthritis from the AIs, with a ton of issues because of it. I tried all three, they all gave me excruciating pain, the oncologist took me off of them after 4 years because of it. You should still push for an MRI, for peace of mind. Generally the rule is, pain that doesn't go away in two weeks warrants further exploration,especially pain that is consistent, doesn't come and go.

Hi moag, it is the intermammary nodes. A small one in the axillary. The lymphnodes lit up on the PET and the biopsy showed tnbc again. They told me metastatic breast cancer. I had stage 1, clear margins and no node involvement in November 2017. I’m still shocked.

For badluck, we use the term 'mets' as shorthand for metastases, meaning breast cancer that has spread to distant sites in the body - most commonly bone, lung, liver or brain. Some refer to it as stage IV.

A mammogram will not detect this kind of disease but your doctor will ask about cough/shortness of breath, frequent headaches or dizziness and perhaps do blood tests to follow enzyme and calcium levels.

Aromatase inhibitors can certainly have the side effects you mention plus increase cholesterol! I found tamoxifen much easier to tolerate. To minimize joint pain, the usual suggestion is to exercise which will also help keep diabetes away by controlling weight. I like to go in a warm water pool for my work outs...

I had a macro-met in the sentinel node. 3 mm tumor. Still considered stage IIb.

Hi Moag,

I can totally understand your feeling as I am now experiencing the same. I was diagnosed in Dec last year and had my operation done 4 days after the diagnosis. Did a whole body bone scan after the surgery which was clear. I did not do chemo as my oncologist said it won't do me any good (Oncotype score 20). Right now I am in radiation treatment (4 weeks done, 3 more weeks to go). I have lower back pain since 2 weeks...never felt this kind of pain (maybe the anxiety has worsen it in my mind) before... I pushed for a lower back & pelvis MRI and will get the result next Monday. Now extremely frightened and nervous... I am still "new" to this Cancer fight and thus emotionally still vulnerable and sensitive to any little discomfort in my body.

I think doing a new scan for your would put your mind in peace. And perhaps consulting helps with the anxiety. I hope it will turn out to be fine for all of us!

Best,

SnowFlower

I was 6 years out, developed some major lower back pain. Waited about 2 weeks, didn’t go away. PCP and I thought Mets. He sent me for MRI. Turned out to be a lot of bad things, BUT NOT CANCER. Push for the mri, you will feel better knowing what is, or isn’t going on.

great news and thank you for sharing!! I hope your pain resolves with exercise soon 🌷🌷

My friend, who had similar diagnosis as me but with more node involvement, had terrible back pain too... she couldn't even walk properly, was not able to sit... she was so worried! Fortunatelly her doctor made a scan soon and personally showed and explained her the results - absolutelly nothing there, not even a herniated disc. Apparently muscular causes. Her pain eased gradually and now she's a year without it. (and cancer-free too)

Great news on the clear scan!