Local recurrence concern/PET scan

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lemonee
lemonee Member Posts: 39
edited September 2019 in Not Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastases but Concerned

imageI had a followup PET scan because of an area that lit up three months ago on my scan. It was “very mild" at that time and now “mild to moderate." I can feel a hard lump. It's in the side I had radiation. I had bmx and implant reconstruction. No fat grafting. I'm attaching a snippet of my report. I have my appointment to go over the results this coming Wednesday. Any thoughts,

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  • KBeee
    KBeee Member Posts: 5,109
    edited August 2019

    I would discuss what close follow up will mean. Will they repeat PET scan, biopsy the area??? Hoping you get a plan to give you answers.

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  • Spoonie77
    Spoonie77 Member Posts: 925
    edited August 2019

    Just stopping by to offer a hug and agree with Kbeee. I'd also ask for some clarification.

    When do you see your MO? Have you spoken with then yet or were you able to just get these results from your patient portal?

    Waiting is so hard. Hang in there. Hopefully you'll have more answers soon.

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  • lemonee
    lemonee Member Posts: 39
    edited August 2019

    Thank you both. I haven’t spoken to anyone yet, just saw the results via the patient portal. I was supposed to see my MO for the results, but I had to reschedule and will see the NP Wednesday because my MO will be out of town. I rescheduled before I knew the results. I really hope they biopsy it. I’ve been trying not to worry, but you know how that goes

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  • Spoonie77
    Spoonie77 Member Posts: 925
    edited August 2019

    Sure do! Uggggh. Waiting as well, had to schedule an appt to see my Neurologist for MRI results on Thursday. They didn't say all is well this time on the phone. Waiting is just the worst.

    Are you like me and clean when trying not to worry? That's how im spending my weekend. Have any plans to help you stay distracted?

    Fingers crossed that they will biopsy things for you so you can reclaim peace of mind.

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  • lemonee
    lemonee Member Posts: 39
    edited August 2019

    I’m sorry you’re going through your own waiting game too. This breast cancer thing sure seems like the gift that keeps giving that nobody wants!

    I’m decorating my house for fall this weekend to keep my mind off it. My husband thinks it’s too early, but it’s what I need to do. My husband is out of town for work and my youngest daughter Is at a friend’s house. So, I’m going to have my granddaughter spend the night and have some girly time with her. I don’t want to home alone googling all the possibilities.

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  • lemonee
    lemonee Member Posts: 39
    edited September 2019

    I went in today to discuss the results of my PET scan. I saw the NP because I had to reschedule my original appointment and my MO was not going to be in town today. So, when I went in, I also found out that my MO is leaving! I felt like crying. She has been incredible throughout everything the past year and a half. They don't even have anyone to take her place yet. Her patients will be seen by a locum tenens until they find someone to replace her.

    As far as the results go, the NP said (I really like her too), apparently because of the location they can't biopsy the area. She felt the lump that I thought it might be and she said that it wasn't that, that it's deeper down. She thinks that what I'm feeling is a seam in the implant. She did confirm the area on the PET wouldn't be fat necrosis because I didn't have fat grafting. I had a subpectoral node positive when I was first diagnosed, which is so weird anyway because my axillary nodes were clear. I swear, everything about my cancer has been atypical. On the scan I had right after chemo, it had shown that area to be nearly resolved as well as my 5 cm tumor, which was wonderful, but it always bothered me that we weren't going to be able to remove that node during my mastectomy. They had said that radiation should take care of anything left there. So, anyway I guess it could be that or something new, or possibly just postsurgical changes (over a year out from surgery). The plan now is to just watch it closely and have another PET scan in 3 months and to stay on 3-month followup.

    I'm trying not to worry, but I feel a little lost with all of this basically non-information and with no one being at the wheel right now.

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  • KBeee
    KBeee Member Posts: 5,109
    edited September 2019

    I am glad it has not grown since prior exam, but the uncertainty is hard. Could you get a second opinion? Escpecially considering the fact that MO is leaving?

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  • pesky904
    pesky904 Member Posts: 402
    edited September 2019

    I'm so sorry, there's nothing worse than not getting any definitive answers. I'm sorry you have to wait another 3 months.

    Did they say why exactly they can't biopsy? Is it too close to the implant?

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  • lemonee
    lemonee Member Posts: 39
    edited September 2019

    Thank you. Getting a second opinion is a good idea.

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  • lemonee
    lemonee Member Posts: 39
    edited September 2019

    That's how I understood it, that because of the reconstruction they can't biopsy it.

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