PET CT Scan tomorrow - anxious!

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hopeful08
hopeful08 Member Posts: 5
edited October 2021 in Diagnosed and Waiting for Test Results

Hello everyone, I am a new member. I'm posting for my 57 y/o mom recently diagnosed with breast cancer. I've been reading through a lot of threads in this forum and I'm just so glad I found this place filled with wonderful, supportive women (and caregivers)!

So yeah... my mom's PET CT scan is scheduled tomorrow and I'm quite nervous. The doctor ordered it as part of her workup before surgery. She's estimated to be Stage 2A - on ultrasound she has no lymph nodes and her mass is around 1.9cm. The thing is, she recently started feeling some back and hip pain. They're mild and we both hope it's due to stress... but I'm worried nonetheless. I know a de novo stage 4 diagnosis is not so common, but I'm still so scared. We're not from the US and treatment options in our country are quite limited & not covered by insurance. :(

They said we'll get the results in about 2-3 days... Sigh. Praying for good results. Please pray for us, too :(

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  • AMG2
    AMG2 Member Posts: 130
    edited October 2021

    I'm so sorry for what you're both going through, and am hoping for a clean pet scan for your mom. I totally understand and empathize with your fears. Don't know if it helps or not, but as a fellow 57 year old - our parts have aged, and do start to wear out. I had back and hip pain a few months prior to my cancer diagnosis. I had also lost 20 lbs at that point so am really grateful for the order in which these things occurred. Still no idea why the weight loss. By xray, the spine and hip issues were diagnosed as arthritis and a slipped disc. It can be, and I really really hope for your mom that it is something more ordinary that she is dealing with.

    Hang in there, and we are here to support you both whenever you need it, no matter the stage. If you are up to it (and we do understand if you are not), please keep us posted. We will be worrying for her with you.

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  • hopeful08
    hopeful08 Member Posts: 5
    edited October 2021

    AMG2 - thank you so much. I really hope it's just arthritis or some musculoskeletal problem... My mom isn't physically active (I should get her to exercise more...) and she also had history of some sort of hip arthritis which eventually resolved. Really hoping for a clean scan! We'll get the CD and printed images within the day, but I don't think I have the courage to try and look at it before the reading is out. Will definitely update once we see the report. Thank you again!

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  • edwards750
    edwards750 Member Posts: 3,761
    edited October 2021

    Sorry about your mom. I’m guessing the doctor ordered the pet scan because of her back and hip pain. It’s good he’s being thorough.

    Keep the faith and keep us posted.

    Dian

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  • hopeful08
    hopeful08 Member Posts: 5
    edited October 2021

    edwards750 - Yes, I think so too. He explained the different options we have for the work-up, and the alternative to a whole body PET CT scan is a combination of chest and abdomen CT plus bone scan. I think that's the standard of care in our country. We decided to proceed with the PET CT to get everything done at once. I also found that it has slightly higher sensitivity compared to CT (although it also comes with more false positives).

    Will definitely update once we get the results. One more day of waiting...

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  • hopeful08
    hopeful08 Member Posts: 5
    edited October 2021

    Oh my God, we have the results! They emailed it earlier than expected. Based on the impression, they found multiple subcentimeter nodules on the lungs, as well as some subcentimeter axillary nodes on the OTHER side... Both are very small, and the report says these could be inflammatory vs metastatic. At first we didn't know what to make of these results, so we just relayed the report to the surgeon. Well, he replied immediately and said that he sees no problem, the results look alright to him!!!! THANK GOD. Our doctor's plan is to monitor the lung nodules and left axillary nodes for now. I think the lung nodules may be from the bad pneumonitis my mom had several years before. Still not sure about the left nodes, but I'm just relieved the right nodes (the side of the mass) are clear. Turns out, mom's back pain is completely unrelated too. Her bones are all clear!

    At least we can breathe a sigh of relief for now. Hopefully the lung nodules and axillary nodes turn out to be benign findings. Hugs to everyone!

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  • AliceBastable
    AliceBastable Member Posts: 3,461
    edited October 2021

    So happy to hear this.

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  • 2019whatayear
    2019whatayear Member Posts: 767
    edited October 2021

    Glad you got good news!

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  • hopeful08
    hopeful08 Member Posts: 5
    edited October 2021

    Thank you, everyone! Our next hurdle will be the mastectomy, scheduled around 10 days from now. Praying that everything goes well!

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  • DutchieGirl
    DutchieGirl Member Posts: 103
    edited October 2021

    Great news, hopeful! I have had ongoing CT scans for my lungs since my diagnosis. Lungs are tricky things but after almost 3 years Of scans, my thoracic surgeon has “broken up” with me. He said there’s no longer any reason to have follow up scans. I have had so many scares - one radiologist reported that one of my nodules was likely a metastasis. That was 2 years ago; turns out it was nothing. Best of luck to your mom

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