Anyone else have scans this week?

Options
finallyoverit
finallyoverit Member Posts: 382
edited December 2020 in Stage IV/Metastatic Breast Cancer ONLY

Scanxiety has set in for me.. I’m staying well hydrated in hopes that they can get the IV in with little trouble. Last time I was stuck 4 times and was close to tears.

It’s such a weird feeling.. on one hand, I’d love confirmation that all is well, but I’m terrified of finding progression. I’ve done well on Ibrance/Femara, but as we all know, the other shoe could drop at any point.

Ugh.. nervous and just want it over. <sigh>

Wishing anyone else facing scans this week, peace and an “all stable”.

· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
«1

Comments

  • candy-678
    candy-678 Member Posts: 3,950
    edited December 2020

    In your pocket for your scans. What day?

    I am having scanxiety now. Mine is on the 21st.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • finallyoverit
    finallyoverit Member Posts: 382
    edited December 2020

    Thanks, Candy-678. My scans are tomorrow. 😰

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited December 2020

    Sending love and good wishes to you both. With you both as you await results.

    --The Mods

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • 50sgirl
    50sgirl Member Posts: 2,527
    edited December 2020

    Finallyoverit and Candy, I do not have scans this week or even this month, but I know exactly how you feel. I had scans a few weeks ago, and I told my dh that I didn’t want to go. I liked believing that everything was fine and didn’t want to be told that it wasn’t the case. I guess it an example of ignorance is bliss. Of course, when the results are good, it is reason to celebrate.

    Finallyoverit, it makes things even worse when the IV is so problematic.

    I will be thinking of both of you as you go for scans. Please report back here and let us know the results. I look forward to doing my happy dance to celebrate for both of you.

    Hugs and prayers from, Lynne


    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • finallyoverit
    finallyoverit Member Posts: 382
    edited December 2020

    Thanks, Mods and Lynne.

    @Lynne ~ my poor arm is just beat up from all of the IVs. I’m limited to 1 arm because of the removal of lymph nodes on the opposite side. I’m going to ask my MO about it. I certainly don’t want LE, but if my veins are crap, I don’t have much of a choice. I’ll show up tomorrow.. I don’t have to be brave, I just have to show up. That’s what I’m telling myself anyway.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited December 2020

    Finallyoverit - in your pocket for your scan tomorrow, and Candy, in your pocket for your scans on the 21st!

    Scanxiety is really hard and when I have it, I find comfort from all of you who know what it is like. XOXO

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Lee64
    Lee64 Member Posts: 184
    edited December 2020

    Finallyoverit and Candy, Good luck with your scans. I have one scheduled for Dec. 14 so I have been getting more anxious every day. I just don't want bad news to spoil my family's xmas. Wish I would have asked if I could wait til Jan.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • finallyoverit
    finallyoverit Member Posts: 382
    edited December 2020

    Thanks again, everyone. Just saw my CT results from this morning. All stable. I’ll return in about 2 hours for the bone scan.

    A small sigh of relief.. praying the bone scan is also stable.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • 50sgirl
    50sgirl Member Posts: 2,527
    edited December 2020

    WOOHOO for the CT scan results. Stable is great I am praying with you for good results on the bone scan.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • candy-678
    candy-678 Member Posts: 3,950
    edited December 2020

    Finallyoverit- Woohoo on stable !!!!!!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • nopink2019
    nopink2019 Member Posts: 329
    edited December 2020

    Scans next week. I hadn't thought about how the Zoom Christmas gatherings would take on a different tone if results are negative. I might say "something might be bad and they'll rescan next month." Will have to make a plan so DH doesn't contradict.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • finallyoverit
    finallyoverit Member Posts: 382
    edited December 2020

    Bone scan is also clear. The results came in on my way home.


    Huge sigh of relief.. now to deal with the saline infiltration. Damn it huet

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • 50sgirl
    50sgirl Member Posts: 2,527
    edited December 2020

    WOOHOO!!!! I am doing the happy dance for you. Hopefully the saline infiltration will clear up quickly.

    Now try to rest, relax, celebrate, enjoy.

    Hugs and prayers from, Lynne


    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited December 2020

    finallyoverit- woohoo ! Both scans clear is fantastic news!

    Hope the saline infiltration clears up quickly.

    Lee64 - in your pocket for you scans on 12/14, and Nopink2019 in your pocket for your scans next week . Mine will be coming up mid January !

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • lehrski
    lehrski Member Posts: 94
    edited December 2020

    I’m two weeks out from my first scan after diagnosis. Things are really good. Spine met is gone. Collarbone met is shrinking. Hip met is stable. Lung lymph nodes Mets have shrunk. Lung mets are stable. Axillary met is 1/3 of original size. Phew!! Doc says no more scans unless my tumor markers go up or a year passes

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • finallyoverit
    finallyoverit Member Posts: 382
    edited December 2020

    Thanks, everyone! Now, I can exhale.. well, for 6 months anyway.

    I’m with everyone having upcoming scans.. scanxiety is definitely real and no fun. Know that you are not alone.


    Yay @ lehrski on the great first scans! My MO has told me that the first ones after diagnosis are the ones they worry the most about. Given that you are responding well to treatment is a great sign

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • moth
    moth Member Posts: 4,800
    edited December 2020

    congrats everyone on good scans!

    I need to discuss scan frequency with my MO. Was on q 8 weeks during trial & had lung progression show between Aug and Oct scans. I'm off trial now and they usually recommend q 12 weeks. Not sure how I feel about going 12 weeks. Cannot imagine 6 mos or yearly!!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited December 2020

    I know Mel is on yearly at this point, but shes been on the merry-go-round for 4.5 years now, lehrski - that is pretty incredible that he feels comfortable to wait on tumor markers. Are they normally really accurate for you?

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Chico
    Chico Member Posts: 196
    edited December 2020

    Just leaving hospital after my 6 monthly MRI hopefully results tomorrow. I also have 6 monthly CT scans therefore a scan every 3 months. I am over 4 years in with very extensive bone mets but so far stable

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Lee64
    Lee64 Member Posts: 184
    edited December 2020

    Chico, hoping for good results on your MRI. I have CT scans every 3 mos.;that time flies by so quickly that it seems I'm anxious all the time. My next one is Dec.14 and I'm wishing I had asked to have it postponed until Jan. Sure don't need bad news for Christmas.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited December 2020

    Lehrski - great news about your response! That is such a relief. I am scanned quarterly, just now am 1 year at stage IV (last 2 scans showed NEAD... next scan in January. Chico - in your pocket for your scan results, hope you get them tomorrow...the waiting is hard!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Chico
    Chico Member Posts: 196
    edited December 2020

    Onc rang earlier to tell me that I am stable which is fantastic news and means I continue on I/L which I have been on for over 4 years. Good luck and Happy Christmas/Holidays to you all

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited December 2020

    Chico - excellent news !

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • finallyoverit
    finallyoverit Member Posts: 382
    edited December 2020

    @Chico ~ That’s awesome news! Such a relief as we head into the holidays. Enjoy every moment

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • finallyoverit
    finallyoverit Member Posts: 382
    edited December 2020

    I saw my MO yesterday to have blood work and discuss my scans. He’s over the moon happy with both.. even called them “badass”. 😂 I love him.. always tells it like it is. He said I’m doing amazing so far and that he “has a lot of things up his sleeve” if/when I need them. In addition to seeing patients, he also teaches as a very well known teaching/research hospital. I feel that I’m in very good hands. I told him yesterday that I’m planning on being around another 50 years.. he smiled and just said “ok, let’s do it”. It’s amazing to have an MO that feels like your partner through this mess. I am grateful to be a patient of his.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • lehrski
    lehrski Member Posts: 94
    edited December 2020

    I’ve only had my first scan. The tumor markers went down as did things in the scan. So so far it looks like they’re correlated. My scan cost me about $2100 (not covered by insurance) so the doctor so I could wait a year or until I have symptoms. The doctor said he was comfortable with this given the strong initial response. My kind brother paid for this scan. I’m going to put some $$$ aside so that I can have more frequent scans if I’m feeling uncomfortable about things.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • moth
    moth Member Posts: 4,800
    edited December 2020

    lehrski, I'm honestly shocked that your insurance would not cover the initial or repeat scan for a metastatic patient. Even Canada, which imo is sometimes stingy with some imaging, covers scans every 12 weeks once you're dx as stage IV. I was told you could go longer if you'd had a long period of stability or if you were palliative care only, but otherwise, things can change very quickly for the metastatic patient.

    Sadly, often our treatments just don't work very long. One study reported for breast cancer " mean first-line treatment duration of 163 days compared with a mean fourth-line treatment duration of 130 days." https://ascopubs.org/doi/full/10.1200/CCI.20.00008

    I really hope you're able to get scans more frequently. hugs

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • lehrski
    lehrski Member Posts: 94
    edited December 2020

    My oncologist did a physician’s consult and tried fighting the insurance company but didn’t win. I can get more frequent scans if I pay. I’ve had friends and my brother offer, but that feels like a lot of $$ to ask. I’m actually a Canadian citizen, but no Canadian health care now because I’m a US resident. Maybe I’ll see if I can split the cost between a.close friend, my brother and myself in 3-6 months

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • BevJen
    BevJen Member Posts: 2,523
    edited December 2020

    Lehrski,

    Lurking on this thread, but saw your most recent posting.

    Have you looked into the healthcare marketplaces to get insurance? You may be able to qualify to get insurance coverage that way (Obamacare) even though you are a Canadian citizen. I think it's also available to U.S. residents. It might be worth your while to check it out. Each state has their own "marketplace" but I think you can determine that by looking at healthcare.gov.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • lehrski
    lehrski Member Posts: 94
    edited December 2020

    I have what is usually good insurance (Anthem Blue Cross PPO) through work, but whatever reason they have decided that scans are medically unnecessary and won't pay. I don't have a clear idea how insurance works, but I don't know whether there is secondary insurance

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories