Arthritis vs. Bone Mets
Comments
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Hindsfeet, your onc is doing the right thing in ordering the bone scan and you would be wise to have it done. What you are describing is consistent with bone mets so it needs to be checked of for no other reason than to rule them out.
The radioactive isotope that is given is very small and is gone from your system in twenty four hours. If you were constantly having scans I would be a little more wary but few and far between gives your system time to cleanse.
Hoping for you that it is something other.
Love n hugs. Chrissy0 -
Chrissy, thanks for responding. I've been back and forth about the bone scan. I've decided to go ahead and do it for peace of mind. I never suspected more than general arthirtis, but once someone puts it in your mind as a possiblity, it needs to get out of your head. I really hope it's nothing to worry about.
I read somewhere that when you go in for the scan that you need to let them know of injuries you've had so if there are hot spots they will know it's nothing more than old injuries. I've had no lower back injuries, but have had a broken wrist, frozen shoulders and elbow injury.
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Hindsfeet, yes, they will ask you if you have had any implants, broken bones, arthritis etc so they know should your scan light up they will not report a false positive. It can be a good thing to have a baseline scan for future reference should you need it.
Good luck and please let me know what your result is.
Love n hugs. Chrissy0 -
Chrissy, it will be 2 years in October when I was dx with high grade idc, her2+++ . I've had scans. My oncologist had me then do a PET scan before my mx. Following the mx, my oncologist had me do a bone scan, a ct scan (brain) just for a baseline. It's been awhile since the scans other than annual mri' and mammograms for the one remaining breast. I've had lumps from the fat injections from the implant, which scared me at first. I'm still seeing my oncologist every three months although now I think it might be every six months. You sorta get comfortable that cancer is behind you, and I hope it is.
I didn't think a lot about the scans until I read the radiation from the bone scan could give you cancer. I wonder if there is a better way to find out if you have bone cancer. I'll let you know how it goes. Hopefully nothing worrisome.
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Hindsfeet I think if you were to have a bone scan on a very regular basis then you could be in dagger from the radiation but the same can be said from a normal everyday X-ray. Docs are very aware of these dangers and take them well into account when ordering scans etc. well they do over here and I'm sure it's the same over there.
Unfortunately for me, cancer will never be behind me but I have learned how to live with it and find live to be super sweet and full.
Still hoping that what you are feeling is nothing to worry about.
Love n hugs. Chrissy0 -
Chrissy, I had my bone scan today. It was different than the one I had before. The one a few years back (almost) I just went in an got a scan...not sure if I had an IV. This time I went in and they gave me the radioactive serum (IV) and said to come back in 3 hours. The tech also said to drink a lot to make sure it got into my bones. He gave me a cup of water and I gulped it down. I bought a few large water bottles and gulped them down and did a few errands. They said it would take 30 minutes to do the scan. Mine was 1 hour and 30 minutes. The tech said the pictures were like a teenager, nice and clear. She also said she saw trouble spots. She went back and forth to the radiologist and took a lot more pictures of neck and sternum. Apparently the lower back looked ok. Hmm...that was my area of concern. After it was all done they sent me in for regular X-Rays. The tech said I had the senior radiologist and he's very good. She said if she had pictures he's the one whom she would have read her pictures. She too went back and forth to the radiologist. She said, he had 4 large monitors looking at my pictures every which way. She said, he said, it's looking good. "Whew" But, I won't know until later as he's still looking at pics.
The tech did say they spotted something in my neck and sternum. So, I figured, if it looks good, it's probably not cancer. I've read on these forums women years later are dx with bone cancer. It will be 2 years for me in December since my last dx. It's still early. I'm hoping this is behind me, and I can again move on. With that said, I know it will be a few more years before I can completely feel confident that the cancer I had is truly behind me. For now, I can enjoy being NED.
Scans make me nervous. Now that it's over, I'm optimistic. Thanks Chrissy for carring...not just about me, but for other women who struggle through all this.
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Yay Hindsfeet! That's terrific! I'm so glad they really took the time to give everything a really good look.......thoroughness is so important. Keeping my fingers crossed that the report is as good as the verbal.
Love n hugs. Chrissy0 -
Has anyone been diagnosed with metastatic disease in your foot? I have a new sore swelling on the top of my foot. They took a regular xray and it showed soft tissue swelling over the joint, so they say that it's arthritis. I'm having other arthritic problems, too such as in my knees but that's chronic. I talked to my med oncol and she said that it would be extremely unlikely that BC would metastise to the foot. But I've been on the wrong side of statistics before. What do you think?
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It seems a bit far flung for a first metastasis. I understand your worry, though as I have arthritis in one foot (and my back) both of which have gotten worse since taking the AI's- so I worry.
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It is very rare indeed that BC mets to bone below the knee or elbow so I wouldn't worry too much about what you are feeling as arthritis can be just as painful. I have it in just about every joint including all the little bones of my feet and they can get extremely painful to the point I can't bare to put my weight on them.......those days are hell! Thankfully they don't come too often.
Love n hugs. Chrissy0 -
Hey Chrissy, just wondering; I had bone scan last week that showed arthritis to pelvis and no signs of mets. Yippee! However, just wondering....I had x-ray a month before that showed abnormalities on right clavicle (where I have hard lump) amd also on right shoulder. I originally went to BS due to fatigue, SOB and lump on clavicle. If no abnormality showed on bone scan, would this be more accurate than the x-ray?? I am very happy that no mets are apparent on bone scan, but just don't feel happy about the hard lump on clavicle. It is still there and it is painful to pull tops over my head. I don't know.....I just feel a bit uneasy.... thanks in advance. I will call BS next week (she is away until next week, so nurse told me resuluts over the phone and admitted that she wasn't too clear on the terminology etc.) and maybe get a referral to arthritis specialist or something. Any thoughts or advice welcome!
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Rowan an X-ray will show fractures, cracks etc where as a bone scan will show increase or decrease of metabolic bone process indicating tumor, fracture or any other abnormal processes. If your bone scan is clean other than arthritis well I would consider that a good thing. Have a talk with your doc when you see her next week but it sounds pretty good to me.
Love n hugs. Chrissy0 -
Hi everyone! Looking for some advice, some reassurance. Been having some lower back pain, into butt area with some discomfort down left leg. Saw general doc on 8/28 after having pain about a week. He gave me some anti-inflamitory med as well as prescription for vicodin. Have been taking the anti-inflamation as directed, twice per day and the vicodin on an as needed basis, most at night. Pain has remained the same. Went to physical therapist on Weds and had a full work over, massage. Did not change pain level. Have a follow up with doc on Monday as he wanted to see me back if no change in pain level. He would then schedule an X-ray. My question: would an X-ray show bone mets? Is this bone mets or possible se of arimedix or just plain arthritis? Have some known arthritis in knees, have had bursitis in elbows. Should I be overly concerned? What tests should I request to alleviate these concerns. I am not due back to Onc until 10/24. Should I see onc as well? Thanks.
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Dear Sherry, I'm glad you're being checked out. To me , I had similar pain as you described and it was my sciatic nerve. They can treat it many ways, including physical therapy. I ended up having epidural injections that worked like a charm. Hope this is all your pain is as well.
http://www.webmd.com/back-pain/tc/sciatica-topic-overview
Hugs
Bevin
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Sherry an X-ray will show if there is something there that needs further investigation including arthritis but the pain you are describing does indeed sound more like nerve pain than anything else.
Hope your doc visit goes well and you get some definitive answers.
Love n hugs. Chrissy0 -
Thanks everyone. I will report back after I again see doc tomorrow. Best to all!
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Hi BC friends,
I am new to this thread but not to this site. I finished rads on 7/29. I felt good for about 4-5 days after then whammy it all started going down hill. It started as low back pain, then sciatica, then every joint started chiming in. I had a bone scan done because couldn't sit in chair longer than 10 minutes. Doctor was only going to do low back even though I told him my neck hurt. Come to find out, with history of cancer they automatically do whole body scan. Anyway, the scan showed arthritis in most of my joints with an area in my neck that was more pronounced than the scan I had in 2008. The radiologist who read the scan said he thought arthritis but couldn't rule out osteoblast lesion. He wanted comparison xrays to rule things out. So i had follow up xrays and he said it was just arthritis. So went to see my onc because the pain got pretty bad in all my joints. She had her nurse find results of bone scan and xrays from other clinic and got them after I left. The next day, her nurse calls and says she wants me to have an MRI of my neck for further checking. Having that done this Wednesday. So now I am scared. Also, I can't function without vicodin. I am just too achy. I am still working but finding it harder each day. Onc thinks I have chemo induced arthritis. Every joint pops and cracks with each movement. How long will this arthritis pain last? Should I be really concerned about MRI? What can they do if it is an osteoblast? Any help is appreciated.
Thanks,
Sandy0 -
Saw doc today for follow up on back pain. He prescribed 10 days of predisone and referred me for Xrays. Had Xrays done and will get results late tomorrow afternoon. Doc felt confident that back pain was NOT bone mets, but just sciatica damage, acting up. But if he sees anything suspicous on Xrays I will then get MRI to take a closer look. Hopefully, it will turn out to be nothing more than overworked back which resulted in sciatic pain. Sure hope the predisone kicks in and works, cause I'm really tired of being sore.
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Sherry I'm so glad the doc doesn't think mets.......sort of makes you let go of the breath you've been holding. Prednisone will kick in pretty quickly and ease you pain.
Love n hugs. Chrissy0 -
Finally got results of Xrays. I do NOT have bone mets. YAH! But I am experiencing spondalosis of the lumbar spine. I sure hope the prednisone does the trick, but obviously so happy it is normal age related issues.
Now if I could just get my hair back. Its been a year since my last chemo treatment and my hair is soooo thin. My scalp is extremely visible and I feel I still must wear a wig. I hate it. I recently attempted to try a wiglet hair piece to cover just the top of my near bald head, but it was worse. It looked fake and I thought aged me. So I guess its back to the wig. Anyone have suggestions would be so appreciated. Thanks everyone!
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Yay Sherry!!!! That is really good news! I think we can put up with pain and discomfort so long as we know its not cancer related.......lol......just old age creeping up on us. Mind you, as far as me and old age is concerned, I think it forgot to creep as its coming at me at a full run!!!
Have you tried biotin? It's a suppliment that help hair and nails and might be worth a try to encourage new growth for you. No harm done it it doesn't work but its worth a try but like all naturals you need to give it a few months to really see if its working for you.
So happy about your news!
Love n hugs. Chrissy0 -
Sherry, I had the same chemo as you and am also on Arimidex. I have the same hair issues and I am 4 years out from chemo. I have tried everything under the sun including Biotin and Minoxidil and have seen doctors who specialize in this problem. Unfortunately, nothing helps. I found a great hairdresser who specializes in women with thinning hair and she has styled the "wiglet" hair piece so it looks very natural and youthful. I HATE the fact that I have lost most of my beautiful thick curly hair.
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ChrissyB and hrf
Thanks for you suggestions. I hate that I've lost my once full lush hair. I've been on biotin since second chemo treatment. Also using minoxidil since last March. Using Nioxin cleanser shampoo for thinning hair. Nothing seems to make a difference. My hair is at most about 2.5 inches long and extremely thin. Grew in completely straight and white as could be. I've colored it to blend with wig when wind blows wig up on the sides. I've been trying to change over to a wiglet to cover just the top of my head where it is very thin, but as of yet have not found one that looks or fits right. Have appointment this weekend with my stylist who shaved my head last June. Hopefully she will have some suggestions that may help.
Back pain has lessoned, so the predisone must be working. Thank goodness. That pain was a real pain in the ass. LOL
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What I found in research re hair regrowth prior to my own chemo: Biotin and N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC). Turns out that NAC has also been shown in studies to prevent the spread of cancer - a bonus.
I took both in between chemo sessions and then regularly after chemo was done. My hair come back curly and actually thicker than it was prior. I still take both almost daily. There are no side effects and no overdose issues. NAC is beneficial to skin also.
Kathy
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chadsworthgirl,
Have not heard of N-Acetl Cysteine. What dosage do you take? 500 mg, 600 mg?
My hair stylist also recommended BioMax which thickens the hair making it appear fuller, to cover the scalp better. It's bit expensive but a bottle will last a good six months or longer.
Onc is on vacation until Thursday, but will see him re back pain. Pain in lower back has diminished, but I have some serious pain in my left hip area. Hurts to walk, sit, stand, painful to sleep. Going to get it checked. Optimistic its just side effect of arimidex.
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Saw onc this week regarding the ongoing hip pain. Anti-inflamatories and prednisone seemed to make no difference in pain/discomfort. We discussed the possibility of bone mets, but he didn't feel it was that. I did the blood lab workup and he will have results next Thursday. If that shows any elevation at all, he will have me proceed with PET scan. However, as we all know the PET scan will highlight every arthritic point in the body, and I know I have numerous. My gut tells me it is not cancer reoccurrence. I am just completing first year on Anastrozole and as I understand hip pain is a common, frequent SE. If lab results do not indicate anything, I am going to discuss perhaps changing to Aromasin. I also need to have a bone density screening done as its been a year and I was ostopencia when last tested. My mother suffered from hip degeneration and had both hips replaced. That may be in my future. So many questions/concerns. Staying optimistic and will let you all know how I'm proceeding when I see onc again on Thursday.
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Sherry, Anastrozole was very hard on me and I was moving worse that my then 84 year old mother. Luckily at that time there was a small progression so my doc changed me to Femara (Letrozole)..........I so wish I had started with this drug as I have have very few SE and what I have had have been easily dealt with. Aromasin has a steroid base so for me I would prefer to not use that one as my weight is not good now so I would hate to think what it would be like if I was using a steroid.
Good luck with your blood results and if they are elevated, hope the PET shows only arthritis. Keeping my fingers crossed!
Love n hugs. Chrissy0 -
Blood results were elevated, so I am scheduled for a PET scan on the 30th. I just felt it was more than just SE effect of Al or arthritis. My left hip hurts all the time. I know its mets. I made it through the first go round with the breast cancer, but this one I have to say has me scared. Its only been barely a year since I completed chemo for Stage II. I was feeling pretty good that I had caught it early, hit it full blast with double mastectomy and 6 rounds of chemo and have completed 1 of 5 years of Al. But NO, its back. UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH I want to fu**king scream. WHY? WHY? What did I ever do to deserve this? I'm pist. Its friggin bad enough to endure this once but not again. I feel like I've been hit by a truck. Haven't wrapped my head around it yet. Can't yet. Still digesting.............
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Sherry what a bummer! Please don't let possible mets bowl you over.........I've had the jolly things for four and a half years and been stable for three. I live a pretty normal life and the things I can't do I get someone else to do them for me........lol. It's not a nice thought but it is still possible to have a reasonably long, productive life.
Keeping my fingers crossed that its still only arthritis and not mets
Love n hugs. Chrissy0 -
Hi everyone,
Good News! PET scan was inconclusive so underwent an MRI of hips and pelvis. Got results of MRI and I do not have bone mets. I am suffering from femoral acetabular impingement syndrome, which can be corrected with hip surgery. I expect that will be my next course of action. I am so relieved. I really jumped the gun and freaked out. Hang in there and thanks to everyone for your support.0
