a Newbie needing reassurance

Kath, My staging tests were done in two sequences. 1) Bone(Scan), Lung(Chest x-ray) & Liver(Blood Test) as they are the first port of call on diagnosis when they thought it was stage 2-3. Then after surgery when they had the pathology on the tumour clarified as TNBC stage 3 they ordered: Head, chest, abdomen and pelvis CTs. I had to argue for the head CT. The surgical team doctor was dismissive. So I said that I'd get my GP to order it if she wouldn't and pointed out that would mean two sessions of dye that I'm extremely allergic too for me to deal with, and she conceded to do all four at once. So the latter was ordered 5 weeks after diagnosis and after surgery. I lost weight in the pre and post op period from stress and while taking pain meds I'm sure. I think the staging is really done based on the type of cancer and the stage. Ask to have it explained, and I suggest you write down the questions before and take a bossy friend/relative to ask the questions for you. Even if the question is why aren't you doing full sequence CTs. It helps!! Hugs.