If you are not Stage IV but have questions, you may post here
Comments
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Angela...thank you ever so much.
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My latest CT scan showed a noncalcified, upper right lobe nodule (5mm), discoid opacities within the dependent portions of both lungs including lower lobes, and mild pulmonary atelectasis (collapsed lung)
My oncologist said nothing about this when reviewing my report, however it's clear I've suffered shortness of breath and fatigue for months.
He's ordered blood panel work 3 months from now to include multiple tumor markers (which is not the usual blood panel order for him).
Should I be worried, and what would you do if you were me? (My Onc's manner is to downplay stuff to keep his patients optimistic.)
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Hugs
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Katarina, have you considered an appt with a pulmonologist. Since these are all lung issues, that's the specialist I'd want to explain it to me.
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Hi ladies, I have a question I am hoping you can answer. Two months ago, I developed a lump on my upper hip. My GP assessed it and stated it was probably a lipoma, but wanted to do an ultrasound. Well, I finally had the ultrasound yesterday, and they were completely baffled as nothing unusual showed up, even though the lump is clearly visible. The Ultrasound tech marked it, and even called in the radiologist. He was even baffled. Anyway, they found nothing and the lump was quite sore last night from the pressure exerted during the ultrasound. Not that they were rough, not by any means.
It does give me pain when trying to walk on the treadmill, while sitting, and does ache. Anyway, I'm wondering if ultrasounds will even pick up bone mets, and if this could indeed be mets?
I see my Dr. again on Tues. but am becoming quite anxious about this.
Thanks for any info you can share.
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Thank you Chickadee, I appreciate the advice.
Hugs,
Kat
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bump
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Hoping to get some advise with a detour I am on. In my signature line you can see my dx. I am a little over two years out, had been feeling great, doing yoga regularly, have become very flexible and definitely stronger, eating the best I have ever eaten, walk on average 6 miles a week, etc... Back in early December my labs were good, calcium level normal, Vitamin D at the bottom of the normal range, but has consistently been moving up ever so slowly.
Right after Christmas I woke up with a sore neck. Thought it was do to sleeping because I have been migrating onto my stomach alot lately when I sleep (oh how content I am to sleep on my stomach). Anyway the pain kept gettng worse. So I finally called my doctor, went in, had X-Rays. He tells me I have 'significant' degenerative disc disease in C5C6. So he puts me on anti-inflammatory and muscle relaxants and wants me to do physical therapy. I ask if there is a possibility of bone mets and he said he didn't think so but the X-Rays will be reviewed by a radiologist. Two days later get a call telling me that the DDD is extensive and I need an MRI, but no further comment on it this could be bone mets, and no physical therapy until further testing is completed.
So now I am waiting on the MRI to be scheduled. Do you think I should be advocating for DEXA scan or PET/CT Scan on top of the MRI or is that too much and I should just wait for the MRI results? I did have a PET/CT a little over two years ago and it was clear.
Thank you for any advise/wisdom.
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Cecily, I had elevated billirubin for years and it was not cancer related and required no treatment. I was told some people just have it. (I no longer do).
Low vitamin D has been associated with bc risk. You need to address this to reduce the risk of recurrence. Vit D is usually obtained from the sun or supplement. Talk to your doctor about how much supplement you need to take.0 -
IsThisFor Real,
I have no experience with ultrasounds and mets. I do know that an ultrasound completely overlooked my breast mass before my first diagnosis.
You probably need different imaging, so shake the tree on Tuesday. Explain your fears to the Doc and ask for imaging that would pick up mets. Don't leave until she either convinces you that it is not needed for reasons other than "It's probably not mets", or she sets something up.
As we age, there are bunches of things that can cause the symptoms you describe. But, it is best to stay on top of it.
Jennifer
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ProudMom Wife I would just wait for the results of the MRI which will be pretty detailed. The DEXA would not tell you anything other than your bone density and the only bones that are measured are the Femur, Pelvis, Spine and sometimes the Forearm.
I know you are feeling very worried at this point but by the sounds of it your doc is looking more for disc problems not mets.
Good luck and do let us know what your results are.
Love n hugs. Chrissy0 -
Proud mom, an MRI should help get some answers. Let the process work. I know there are lots of fears but whatever it is, once a plan is in place you will feel better. I'm no expert but don't think DDD looks like bone met spots.
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thank you day for the information. i will def. look into and im gonna start my own thread to see if someone has had similar experiences!
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Thank you blainejennifer for your response and advice, I appreciate it very much. I will most definitely requesting an xray for starters, and will go on from there if nothing shows on that one.
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Thank you chrissyb and Chickadee. I will let the process work and wait for MRI and results.
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Hi ladies-
I have been away from the boards for some time now. When I was first diagnosed, almost 2 years ago, these boards were my lifeline. Then decided I have to move on and try to forget about bc. Like that really ever happens.
Lately, I have been having a lot of pain and weakness in my left arm. I also have lost 18 pounds in the last 6 months, have no idea why. I have had back problems for the past 4 years, had a spinal fusion 3 years ago. Obviously, I know the pain and weekness could be related to that. I just don't have a good feeling. I was just wondering, is weight loss connected to any type of mets.
Having blood work done next week, an appt with my pcp in Feb, and my mo in March. Hopefully will get some answers.
Thank You
Sue
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Proud Mom-Wife'
The MRI will absolutely show mets if you have mets. It will give the docs a very clear and detailed view of whatever is going on in that area of your spine.
If you have disc degeneration but no cancer, that can be a lousy problem to have as well and no fun, so I hope you are able to get some relief from your pain.
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Sue,
I haven't heard of weight loss initially being associated with mets. Could the pain in your arm be related to lymphedema (BC arm?), or is it in the bone?
I hope your pcp will have some ideas. Maybe a visit to an endocrinologist would be helpful, too. Good luck.
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Sue,
Unexplained weight loss can be an indicator of mets, but so can many other things - diabetes being the first thing that springs to mind.
If your diet hasn't changed At All, do let your medical team know about this symptom. It sounds like you have some medical appointments coming up, but why not get on the phone and let your Oncologist know about this symptom. It might get you in for a blood panel sooner.
Best,
Jennifer
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Sue unexplained weight loss always needs to be looked into. I would suggest a call to your onc is required in this instance considering your BC history.
Hoping it referred pain from your back.
Love n hugs. Chrissy0 -
Hi, I am stage IIIc and finished chemo in November and radiation 2 weeks ago. I saw my MO for a checkup this week and I went in very positive, but he was just the opposite. It was like doom and gloom. He said he was still very concerned because I was first diagnosed at age 43 and then this 2nd round at 50, I had 17 positive nodes and they did not get clean margins with the BMX. Well I have done the treatments and they did a CT and PET scan before my surgery and they were fine. I just felt like he is just waiting for me to go to stage IV. He told me to call him if I get any new lumps or pain. Do most stage IIIc women end up eventually at stage IV? I have tried so hard to have a positive outlook, but now I am so depressed.
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Dianarose there is no way of knowing who will 'go stage IV'. According to my doc I am defying statistics as I was originally dx stage II. There are many stage III women who are living life to the full and have been for many years. It's hard not to worry about these things and yes your onc is right, you are at a higher risk but right now you are clear according to all your tests so I would revel in that knowledge and live life the best way you know how.
Love n hugs. Chrissy0 -
Chrissy- thanks for answering. I agree with you that they don't know. I wish they wouldn't say things to bring you down. I can do that all on my own. You didn't have positive nodes so I would guess they were very positive with you and you have mets, so they don't know. I know I am at a higher risk, but I am doing the treatments that are available and pray for the best. I missed the Metformin trial by 1 day and he would not prescribe it to me. He did however call my primary and discussed it with her and she wrote the script for me. She said it was a fairly safe drug and although she said she could not tell me it would work but said it can't hurt to try.
Have a great weekend and thanks for being here for all of us with our questions and fears.
Hugs to you...... Diana
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Chrissy, you had negative nodes and stage II?. and now stage IV? Ugh! I am stage II no nodes and thought I was pretty much in the clear! So glad you are doing well with treatment. You just seem like that sweetest lady EVER!
Michelle
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Suebak, yes weight loss can be a symptom of mets. Possibly liver. It can be a symptom of a great many other things. Given your anxiety could you push the PCP and MO apps up?. Tell them of your concerns and see if they can get you in sooner. You need to get some answers and we can only hope it's not mets but some other treatable issue.
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Diana you are doing all that you can in order to stay clear........there is nothing more that can be expected. Some docs just rely on statistical information and not what they see in front of them.........and some need to learn how to not be so negative when talking to their patients........as you say, we can manage that all on our lonesome. Learning to let go and accept it is what it is and you have no control is an exercise in itself but if you can do that it really does make life good.
Hoping you stay well for a very long time.
Love n hugs. Chrissy0 -
Michelle no I didn't have any nodes but I did have lymphovascular involvement so I'm guessing that is a factor as to my being stage IV. I also had a very bad reaction to chemo and am allergic to Tamoxifen so really other than a mastectomy I had virtually no treatment. I'm just thankful that I am doing really well with Femara with very few SE's and a good response. The SE's that I do have are so minor and are extremely manageable.
Being able to complete all treatments prescribed is really important and is I think a very good safeguard. Hoping you stay stage II forever.
Love n hugs. Chrissy0 -
You are a very valuable asset to this forum, Chrissy B. Thanks so much! BTW, is that your grandchild in your profile picture?
Michelle
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Michelle, she is my precious niece and the image of my brother.....lol. I have four grandsons who thankfully even as teenagers love to spend time with their grandma (Oma).
When I was first dx'd all I wanted was to be able to talk to someone who had been there and done that.........unfortunately for me, I didn't find this forum until after my stage IV dx. I never want other women to feel the fear or have no one to talk to.......so I am here.....often. If I can help I will.
Love n hugs to you. Chrissy0 -
I noticed that quite a few stage IVs here had very small tumors and/or no nodal involvement but were still diagnosed IV from the get go or via recurrence. I know that being node negative at initial diagnisis is no guarantee that there are not micrometasteses in the body, but many here also did chemo. How does that happen? I just want to understand better. What do MOs say? I was told distant metastasis is rare with stage 2. It doesn't seem very rare.
I am stage 2b, triple negative. I just finished ACT chemo, will do BMX on February 12, then radiation. I had one positive node - the sentinel node. Two adjacent nodes were negative, so they think the cancer was "contained.".0 -
Hi everyone,
First of all, I want to thank Chrissy for opening this thread.
I have a question. I was diagnosed in Dec 2012 having ILC in my left breast. They did a biopsy after calcifications were found in my mamogram. I decided to do double mastectomy because ILC is bilateral. But after the mastectomy the path report changed the diagnosis to IDC. I was told that during biopsy the lab did not do E-Cadherin test to differentiate between ILC and IDC. I have heard that ILC is sneaky. I do not know if IDC is better than ILC as far as mets.
I am just wondering if I should go ahead and do hystorectomy with removal of ovaries. I am 50 years old and premenopausal. The hormone receptor status is ER+ PR+ HER-
I am just worried that in the future I will have mets to ovaries, uterus and bladder. If anyone has any insights to this, please let me know. I was diagnosed IDC stage 1b, grade 2 with no node involvement. I will be meeting with an encologist this week to see the type of treatment. I try to avoid radiation and chemo if possible. Is this a good idea? If they take the ovaries out, there will be less estrogen in the body. I wanted to know your opinion.
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