If you are not Stage IV but have questions, you may post here
Comments
-
hi mavericks,
I had soreness after radiation in the ribs and thought the same. Chest X-ray and recent scans show me clear for bone mets. I like to go with the two week rule. Anything that is persistent for two weeks and no sign of improvement should be checked out.
Good luck X
0 -
Yes, in my case the soreness in ribs was costochondritis, not cancer.
0 -
Hi all, let me begin by saying that this thread has been such a wonderful tool for so many of us. Your openness to discuss the issues is very much appreciated! I was wondering if anyone has experienced ascites? If so, what kind of pain (sharp, dull ache) did you have?
I have had very sharp pains that moves in all four corner of my abdomen that comes and goes, maybe once or twice a day. My stomach is larger but not hard (seems like mostly mushy fat hopefully just due to pre-menopause). Going to the GP tomorrow and so worried. I just don't see what else the pains could be! I can't pinpoint the area.
Thanks for reading my post.
0 -
Hello all. I have some questions about my symptoms - not sure if this is the place for them, but I'm giving it a try. Right about the time I completed radiation (March 2018) my left eye became blurry - I've been to ophthalmology a half a dozen times since then with no explanation. They've treated me with eyedrops. It has not gotten better and recently, I feel like it has gotten worse.
About 9 months after completing chemo (6 mo after rads finished) I started to get what I think are ocular migraines.These are triggered by light (I think) and also seem to happen when my eye is 'blurriest.' I've had two MRI's in the past year (June and January). I don't understand the reports (below) and when my MO saw it he said "not sure what it is but it's not cancer." Good, but, umm, okay. Any one know what to think of this report and if all these things linked are something I should worry about, or chalk it up to post cancer treatment fun? Thanks.
MRI 1 - June 2018
Findings: Age-appropriate craniofacial structures. The orbits, skull base and pituitary fossa are within normal limits. Normal intracranial anatomy with no evidence of extra-axial fluid collection, mass lesions, midline shift, hydrocephalus or brain herniation. A few tiny scattered foci of increased T2 signal are noted in the deep white matter of the left hemisphere. No evidence of acute ischemia or parenchymal hemorrhage. Following gadolinium administration, no evidence of abnormal parenchymal or meningeal enhancement appreciated. - Impression: Nonspecific left hemispheric white matter signal changes. No evidence of enhancing intracranial lesions.
MRI 2 - January 2019
Acute: No hemorrhage, herniation, or hydrocephalus. No evidence of recent infarct. Brain: Stable scattered approximately 5 punctate T2 hyperintense foci in the deep white matter of the left hemisphere are nonspecific. Brain parenchyma is otherwise within normal limits in signal and volume for age. No suspicious enhancement. Vessels: No abnormal intravascular signal to suggest thrombosis. Bones: No suspicious lesion in the calvarium or skull base. Other: Extracranial soft tissues are unremarkable. IMPRESSION: 1. No suspicious mass or enhancement. 2. Stable approximately 5 nonspecific punctate left hemispheric T2 hyperintensities.
0 -
hello everyone,
I like to ask my question again. Can you get bone Mets from chest rib that's near the radiated breast area. I had the left side MX and after rads. Since then there's a spot of bone that's kinda sore on and off more when I touch it. Does rib Mets have to have nodules. I touch it and it seemed flat. I also had recent surgery to remove tissue expander on April 01, 2019. Thanks.
0 -
Hi everyone,
I was recently dxed with IDC that’s at least Stage III but tests are still ongoing. My huge main tumor is ER/PR- and HER2+. I’m wondering if anyone here with Stage IV is only HER2+? Are treatment options different for stage 3 vs 4
0 -
Working my way back:
Melza, Stage 3 cancer is treated with curative intent. The cancer hasn't spread anywhere into the rest of the body so they try to eradicate it from the chest area. And mostly they succeed. That's why the chemos are harder. Once the cancer has spread to other parts of the body you most likely going to die from the disease. So now the idea is to treat us gently, so we can have the best quality of like for as long as possible. And yes, there are plenty of HER2+ women with all stages of the disease.
Houston, you can get bone mets anywhere. It would be a lesion in the bone itself. Nodules are soft-tissue metastases. Or more likely scar tissue if you've had several operations. The thing is that radiation side effects go on for years. You get the immediate skin effects, but months later the radiation is still killing cells and causing scarring. Is there any reason you might have cracked a rib? That could cause soreness. Maybe during the surgery they nicked the rib or cracked it. Unlikely but possible. Our usual rule of thumb is if it hurts for more than 2-3 weeks you should ask someone about it. An x-ray might determine whether there's a problem.
Lexica, you should see a neurologist. Your MO is likely right but no way to know for sure. What they're describing on the MRI isn't lesions like cancer would cause. I don't think. You'd need to find out from someone with brain mets what their MRI reports say. It feels like they're describing something else. A neurologist could tell you better.
Nanka, I hope your GP had good answers for you!
0 -
hello everyone,
I have had small coughing since March 25-26 which kind of loose cough. I feel like there was some phlegm clearing, no nasal, drainage, no mucus or anything however I started to join the gym, work out almost everyday and suddenly the cough stops like 90% just some clearing chest in the morning when I wake up. I want to say the cough was not persistent to begin with. I did have bronchitis viral last year about same time but coughing out phlegm at that time. So I went to PCP today for check up and she thinks I need chest X ray. This is a brand new PCP and my last one didn't order X ray last year. I read that lung Mets the cough are dry and persistent and I exercise Alot with no difficulty breathing. When is the line to draw that X ray is needed because I don't want to do X ray each year with coughing. Thanks for any suggestions.
0 -
Lexia, I agree with Pajjm. My brain MRI report for my brain met talked about uptake and areas suspicious for metastatic cancer. I can't remember all the specifics 4 years later, but I do remember those parts. Ask your MO for a referral to a neuro oncologist. Have him/her take a look at your imaging reports and see what their opinion is. My MO always says he takes care of me from the eyebrows down and above that is the neuro oncologist's job
0 -
Anyone have mets to shoulder area or clavicle? Weird discomfort whether doing something or not most of time. No injury. Doesn't feel muscular. It is the opposite side so less likely. But curious if anyone with mets experienced this. Tia.
0 -
Free E book written by Lilli Shockley (retired) of Johns Hopkins “What you Need to Know About Breast Cancer Recurrence
0 -
hi everyone, I thank you for having me here. I hope you guys don’t mind asking questions but my doctor has left me panicking. I was diagnosed in 2010 finished all treatments 2011, stage 3a triple positive, Brca 2 gene. In 2012 the year found a lung nodule 3.5 mm, 2017 grew to 5mm and this week ct scan showed is now 6mm. I am not being followed by onc anymore but my family doctor called and said she didn’t know what to think Of it.
0 -
Coni,
I would definitely get with an onc asap. Mine follows me every 4 to 6 mo eventually barring no issues once a year for life. Family doctors are not oncologists. Hope you get a benign result.
0 -
thanks Rosabella
0 -
So my mom had dcis 2.5 cm no nodes in 2016. Had lumpectomy, margins weren't clear, had it again with clear margins. Tried AI for about a year but was too much.
She had a 4" lump by her ankle that burns and hurts when she touches it. Doc has her set up for mri and then biopsy. Anyone hear of cancer or mets to this region? Of course she's stressed. Tia!
0 -
Rosabella, mets showing up below the femur is extremely rare. I strongly suspect it’s something else, although I have no idea what. An MRI should yield an answer. Please keep us posted
0 -
gailmary, Sorry this is so long after your post. My MO did reach out to me again. We had a good conversation and I agreed to at least try the Letrozole. I am just about to complete my first month on it and so far so good. I am aware that many women had no problems with it for months even years and then were hit by horrible side effects. I will cross that road if and when that happens.
I am still upset that my breast surgeon refused to give me the option of a bilateral mastectomy. I was just coming to the grips with that when my older sister was diagnosed with a less than 1 cm IDC and her doctor offered her a bilateral mastectomy, mastectomy or lumpectomy. She had a lumpectomy last week and is doing well. In my immediate family my mother had IDC (late in life), my oldest sister had IDC and lymphoma at the same time, I had IDC and 15 1/2 years later, ILC, and now my second oldest sister had IDC. I am BRCA negative. I was set up to meet with a risk assessment woman but cancelled. I feel the BRCA defect is really the only one I am worried about passing on to my children and since I am neg, they can't get it from me. They, and my nieces know that they need to tell their doctors about our family history and have early mammograms. While it could be environmental, my oldest sister moved to another state when I was about 12. She was married when I was 9. I am the youngest of 5, with my brother being the oldest. I have one sister still undiagnosed. She is proactive on her testing. I thought I got breast cancer because I am over weight, always was, but my sisters and mother were not. I find some questions aren't worth trying to find answers for.
0 -
I would like to add my story, i don't know if this the place however i am seeking any advice i can get. I have posted about my trials before to some degree and unfortunately my difficulties have gotten worse not better so I am reaching out again. I have gone from anger to depression and hopelessness and now back to finding hope and wanting my life back so if you read my story and have any suggestions it would be greatly appreciated.
May 2017 found a lump right breast. Had mammo it was negative, had tomography and ultrasound, 2 suspicious tumours found, biopsy done - cancer.
June 30 2017 had 2 lumpectomies, one was LCIS 2.5 cm, the other IDC with LVI er and pr +, her2- Painful recovery but did recover. MO states the LVI is significant and considered equivalent to positive lymph node however will still send for Oncotype Dx.
July 2017 oncotype score 16, therefore no chemo. Started tamoxifen
Sept 2017 started radiation ended Oct 20th 2017
Nov 2017 saw MO d/t SE of tamoxifen, hot flashes every hour, no sleep, quality of life poor. She discontinued it
Dec 2017 -Jan 2018 Saw MO d/t pain right upper quadrant and lower rib. Had US, liver enzymes and bone scan. After a few stressful 2 weeks i got results all neg. She discharged me to family doc. (US did show fatty liver which confused me as i have no risk factors but she could not answer that). Pain continued and increased to mid spine and right upper hip in the illiac crest. NOT joint. Achy bone pain, tender to touch, like a bruise.
Jan 2018-Oct 2018 -Was sent to a thorasic surgeon ( he was a jerk and spent a whole 2 minutes with me) he diagnosed me with intercostal neuralgia and put me on lyrica. I had to go up to high dose before i got any relieve and i was quite stoned. Pain did decrease, then had repeat US, pelvic MRI and chest CT. Found pelvic ascites, lung nodule and some radiation fibrosis. Saw RO who was very concerned but felt my pain was not due to these findings nor from sx or radiation. He told me i was missed dx'd it is not intercostal neuralgia, he showed me how the nerves and nerves roots run and it did not fit my pain pattern at all. I also go some advice from a nurse on this site also with diagrams and showing me it was not nerve pain. Suggested return in 6 months. I stopped lyrica. Pain stayed the same so i was feeling somewhat better and could cope.
Nov 2018, pelvic pain and bleeding, had US showed thickening of endometrium and fibroids.
Dec 2019 hip pain increasing again and down front of leg, dx with psoas muscle strain and sent for PT, also xray which was normal.
Jan 2019 - endometrial biopsy (again 2 weeks of waiting for results) negative. Gyne said it must have been from tamoxifen ( took it for 4 months 1.5years ago??? whatever) bleeding eventually stopped.
Feb- April pain back to moderate to severe at all times, PT helping slightly and i did have a few days of mild pain.
April 2019 repeat CT, no change in fibrosis, nodule, fatty liver all still the same. RO states to push family doc for MRI and to get to the bottom of pain but as he sees no cancer he discharged me. Pain always same spots now have constant ache and now with intermittent sharp pain.
May 2019, still no answers and pain has become debilitating. My FD is disgusted that the cancer centre discharged me. She is sending me to a pain doctor, he is a sports medicine guy, she said he may not be able to help me because my pain does not seem to be muscle or nerve but he is very good and will be able to suggest next steps. She is also going to do an MRI of hip ( my pain is should blade to illiac crest which i have mentioned to her many times) and to a surgeon to see about organs. I have a MRI on Tues but that is breast bc mamo missed my cancer. ( suppose to be annual but my FD kept screwing up and not ordering it right, so i fired him got a new family doc and now have one booked a year late lol whatever!)
My pain had gotten so bad i struggle to function, i sit here on my chair on a heating pad as often as i can. I have ordered cannabis (legal here) this will be the third time to try it as so far not much help. I am suffering. There seems to be no one else with pain in the same places as me accept bone mets. I have google SOOO many times and different ways and every time i get bone cancer as the only answer yet my tests have not shown that. There was no injury. Oh and I cough every single day and get SOB sometimes, not severe though. I am 100% sure the tests are missing something, what and how to find out what it is is the big question. We don't have PET scans here, should I go somewhere and pay for one? Anyone with anything similar? Sorry this is so long. Altogether i have seen, so far, 7 doctors, physio, and massage. Everyone, including me, seems to think it is bone pain but cant find cause.
0 -
I am so sorry to hear what you're going through. PET-CT scans can pick up bone mets that do not show on other scans, maybe it would be worth it to pay for one just to rule in or out any mets you might have.
Not sure if you are in the USA or not but if you are, maybe a visit to an NCI cancer center would be advisable. Here is the locator - https://www.cancer.gov/research/nci-role/cancer-ce... These are designated centers of excellence and state of the art research.
Wish you the best and some speedy relief for your pain.
0 -
Thank you, i am in Canada. The nearest NCI is in Buffalo New York (funny as i was typing this I saw a commercial for that center on the TV lol). I will discuss this with my doctor to see if my insurance would cover it if i went there. I googled the out of pocket cost and i read that it would around $5000, yikes i definitely can not afford that. It is a great idea and i will see what i can do.
0 -
You're most welcome. One thing I learned as a USA patient - a free standing imaging center will have lower rates than a hospital based center. I found the site below that gives a quote of $2888 for a PET-CT at a center in Rochester, NY. Still steep but a savings of 2K. I do not know anything about this service but there's a number there to give them a call - here is the link:
https://radiologyassist.com/ best of luck!
0 -
I've been recently diagnosed with stage 2b hormone driven breast cancer. Last night I wet the bed. I am wondering if anyone has had this as a symptom of stage 4 breast cancer?
Libby
0 -
Did you by any chance recently start a new medication, perhaps for anxiety or insomnia connected with your recent diagnosis?
0 -
What are the symptoms of metastatic bone cancer. I am having pain in my right hip that is going down my leg. The pain comes and goes. It is not there during the night but comes out of the blue during the day. Massage and chiro has not helped. The pain feels like dull throbbing pain.I took panadol osteo 2 weeks after the pain started and it went away for about a week. Now it's back again. I was diagnosed with ILC 10 years ago, stage 3.
0 -
Sydney22 , welcome to Breastcancer.org. We're sorry you are here and worried again... but wanted to say you've come to the right place!
You may want to post your question also in the more appropriate forum called: If you are not Stage IV but have questions, you may post here.
Besides that, we encourage you to join other forums and threads to share your story, such as:
ILC (Invasive Lobular Carcinoma)
Good luck! And please, keep us posted on how you're doing!
The Mods
0 -
hey girls. I was wondering For my mom, after chemo they don’t do a CT or PET because no signs or symptoms. So, for those diagnosed with mets, did you have symptoms that led your DR get a scan? Thank you
0 -
Here's my story: I was Stage IV de novo BUT the reason the mets were discovered is -- after my needle biopsies, my breast center did a breast MRI. The radiologist said she saw a lung nodule so I was sent for a PET/CT. No lung mets but I did have bone mets. If that MRI wasn't done, and then the subsequent PET, my mets would not have been discovered. I had no symptoms. I was initially thought to be Stage 2
0 -
ucf, I was diagnosed denovo in Jan. I had axillary node involvement so my MO wanted ct and bone scans before starting treatment. I had a lung nodule and 2 liver Mets show up. No symptoms. I went straight to Ibrance & Letrozole. Best wishes to your mom
0 -
Hello ladies! I would like to ask you how sharp is the pain from a bone Mets? The last ten days I feel a discomfort when I lie down but when I am falling asleep I have no disturbances (I mean it’s not the kind of the pain that wakes you up)
I am 2 years out of chemo, I am on Tamoxifen and Lupron depots and last month I completed my breast reconstruction. I am turning 29 next month and it is the first time after my battle with BC that I feel confident and happy again.
I am very afraid of this pressure I feel on my hip and really the only thing I am thinking is what will I do if my cancer has returned. It has became an obsession and last two days I am not sure if I feel this discomfort or my mind plays games and I am imagining it. I think that I am losing it 😞😞 I hadn’t been so hopeless for a long time..
0 -
Updated on my status. Breast MRI showed area of concern, I go in Thursday for ultrasound. Saw "pain" doctor today, he is MSK specialist. He said I am in good physical condition, no muscle or joint issues and said get a bone scan.
0
