If you are not Stage IV but have questions, you may post here

Maryjv...I was 38 and had idc and dcis. It was in my lymph nodes. They gave me 3 months to live. That was November of 2009. Have hope! Have faith! You have a wealth of knowledge in the ladies on this site. And you have soooooo much support here too. Please try to just think about today. I know. It’s hard. But worrying about it is taking so much good energy from you that you could be investing in your 7 year old. I promise, you’ll be ok. There are ladies on here who are survivors 20+ years! Hold on to the end of that rope! And know...you are not alone!! Welcome

thank you for your encouraging words, I do try to stay positive and I know I am in Gods hands🙏 Happy Thanksgiving getting ready to enjoy this day with family

Hi all, I'm posting because I'm trying to find the link to a study or thread that someone posted somewhere on the forum earlier this year. It was an article about the different way that gastrointestinal lesions appear with ILC. I have a colonoscopy coming up and would like to print it out so I can be prepared to "educate" the doctor if needed. I've been searching but cannot find it, though I clearly remember someone posting about it, possibly in a stage IV thread.

If you know what I'm talking about, could you kindly direct me? I'm learning that we have to be on our toes as far ILC is concerned.

ShetlandPony, thank you so much for the redirect. That does sound like what I'm looking for, though I don't remember lurking on that particular thread, lol. Might be that it was mentioned elsewhere as well. I'll have to PM EV11 and see if she'd be willing to share.

Can a brain met present with visual issues? I have what appears to be a retina issue (floater, some flashes) but just wondering about reporting it to MO.

Spoonie, my understanding is that ground glass opacities are not a common presentation of breast cancer mets, but they do sometimes show up for a type of slower-growing lung cancer. They are also often associated with sclerosis and inflammation. Your profile says you have MS, and you are allergic to ovarian suppression, so I'm wondering if they can be caused by an overactive immune system (I know they can happen in autoimmune diseases like lupus). I've looked through some of your other posts, and I'm floored by the amount of suffering you've been through. I hope that you get your long overdue break soon and that 2020 treats you much better than 2018-2019 did.

Santabarbarian, I am not a doctor, but from my readings I gather that the vision symptoms from brain mets are more frequently double vision, narrowing of field of vision, decreased ability to identify colors and such. Floaters and light flashes can be a symptom of eye metastases, although, as you said, they are more likely to be a symptom of a retinal problem. An ophtalmologist should be able to tell the difference through an eye exam, but it wouldn't hurt to bring it up to the MO. I hope it's nothing sinister - although it feels wrong to be hoping for a retinal tear....

SantaB - my ophthalmologist said flashers can be a precursor to retinal problems & I should call her immediately if I had those. As for floaters, I have one in each eye and she's not worried about those. Please do let us know.

may be just one of those things- something always happens for the first time at some point often for no apparent reason but ageing or accumulation of issues or just randomly ..

Floaters and flashes are very common and also relate to the aging eye. Unfortunately they are also occasionally symptoms of something worse. But retinal detachment causes a lightening storm. Not just the occasional flash. I know Google is often seen as the enemy here, but it brought great relief to me with these symptoms. Better yet, visit your eye dr. But do NOT panic. I did and ruined a vacation in Mexico. Damn I wish I had had access to Google in Mexico.

"Spoonie, my understanding is that ground glass opacities are not a common presentation of breast cancer mets, but they do sometimes show up for a type of slower-growing lung cancer. They are also often associated with sclerosis and inflammation. Your profile says you have MS, and you are allergic to ovarian suppression, so I'm wondering if they can be caused by an overactive immune system (I know they can happen in autoimmune diseases like lupus). I've looked through some of your other posts, and I'm floored by the amount of suffering you've been through. I hope that you get your long overdue break soon and that 2020 treats you much better than 2018-2019 did."

Thank you so much for the kind reply, Piggy99!

I really appreciate the support for a better 2020. I sure need it. It's been a VERY VERY rough year, plus with my 4 year old kitty dxd with Gastric Lymphoma last month, I'm doing the best I can just to hold it together. IF I have to add Lung Cancer to the mix in 2020, I really don't know what I'm going to do. That would be Cancer #3 in under 2 years. Le Sigh.

Hoping there will be a more positive explanation somehow for these newly appearing GGO's that have begun spreading in the past few months. I have a appt scheduled with my RO to see about her thoughts on whether or not this can "safely" be considered RADs scarring. Seems odd that it would be extending into my Right lung. I trust her opinion tremendously so I'll feel much better after hearing from her.

I did eventually find some helpful information on GGO's here, "Management of Ground Glass and Subsolid Pulmonary Nodules".

I'm also seeking a 2nd opinion from a Pulmonologist in Jan. I just really don't want to miss anything and sometimes I think our Breast Cancer team gets too focused on just BC and not other possibilities. When I read that GGO's in women who are Non-Smokers, in my age range of mid 40s, with previous lung scarring (RADS) being at higher risk than the average population for Lung Cancer (adenocarcinoma, BAC, AAH), it definitely makes me want to get a few heads in on the game so to speak.

Like you mentioned, which I hadn't really thought of, it makes sense that my MS could be playing a role in this. That is one of the differential diagnosis that can be seen, now that I've done more research. I see a specialist for my new dx of MS in FEB and will get their opinion in regards to my first PET Scan results. Hopefully I can chalk these GGO's up to one of the more benign reasons asap.

Thanks as well for the info about METS to lung not usually presenting in this manner, that was a huge relief to read. I'll take whatever good news I can, that's for sure. I'm on antibiotics right now to rule out possible bacterial/pneumonia/etc reasons for this uptake on my PET. I will be extremely happy to hear someone tell me that this isn't early/slow growing Lung Cancer! Fingers crossed that will happen in January!

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The lung section of my PET Scan report:

"Cluster of abnormally increased number of small to upper limits of normal left mid and upper anterior mediastinal lymph nodes which have low uptake. .... Mild pure ground-glass opacity in both lungs, greatest in the upper lobes, especially in the left upper lobe and lingula. Linear atelectasis and fibrotic change in the left upper lobe and lingula could be in part related to prior radiation treatment. Current involvement of right upper lobe and lingula not seen in prior imaging.....Mild nonspecific ground-glass opacity in the lungs could be inflammatory.... Mild fibrotic change left upper lobe and lingula may be related to prior radiation treatment. Follow-up imaging in 3-6 months recommended to monitor for progression or consolidation."

santabarbarian- I had happen exactly what you describe in 2016 and flew to an ophthalmologist. I forget the exact diagnosis, but it is a normal occurrence as one ages. So, no worries. The flashes will go away and you will adjust to the floaty and not notice it. Hugs, Mary Jane

Has anyone had "arthritis" show in an X-ray but turn out to be mets?