Hi all. I'm enjoying following the ups and downs, triumphs and disappointments members are sharing on the network. It definitely makes me feel less alone, and is helping me become more knowledgeable and confident.
Can anyone tell me if it's routine to have bone scan, chest x-ray and blood test between diagnosis and surgery? or only if there are indications of spread?
All advice appreciated.
Heather
Thanks, all, your reassurance really helps. Good luck with your treatments.
Go well
Heather
Hi Heather
Like the others have said these are done for a baseline for later comparison. I had a CT chest and abdo, Bone scan and Bone densitometry scan before I started chemo. My oncologist said it's like opening a can of worms cos they report on every little cyst smudge and blob they see most are usually nothing but you have to be sure. Quite normal. I finished all my treatment last Friday (radiation) and see the oncologist on March 3rd when I'll be put on tamoxifen. Also hoping to get the ok to go back to work!
Good luck
Sarah
Hi Heather,
Yes, dont be alarmed, all of these tests are normal. Most scans are repeated on an 'ongoing' basis just to check if anything new is happening. The time between scans differs for most people. I personally have bone scans, chest/abdo/pelvis CT's, etc every 3 months, but then again I have advanced BC with widespread bony mets - which they must keep an eye on. The blood tests (I have mine monthly before each treatment) are also 'par for the course'!
Unfortunately you will get used to them and they will soon become a part of your life!
Di :)
Hi Heather,
Yes, dont be alarmed, all of these tests are normal. Most scans are repeated on an 'ongoing' basis just to check if anything new is happening. The time between scans differs for most people. I personally have bone scans, chest/abdo/pelvis CT's, etc every 3 months, but then again I have advanced BC with widespread bony mets - which they must keep an eye on. The blood tests (I have mine monthly before each treatment) are also 'par for the course'!
Unfortunately you will get used to them and they will soon become a part of your life!
Di :)
Hi Heather
Yes these tests were also routine for me too. I also had an abdominal ultrasound as well as the bone scan, blood tests, and xrays. Since my initial diagnosis (Nov 09) I've had another bone scan, 3 chest xrays, more blood tests (about every month now), an abdominal ultrasound and recently 2 ultrasounds and an MRI. There's some comfort in knowing these tests are done as they use them as a baseline to check for progression of the disease (or lack of it).
Take Care - Sherry
Hi Heather...as far as i know these are routine tests so the Drs can have a 'baseline' picture of everything..then they can refer to them later when these scans are schedules again..
my oncologist likes to do a bone scan about every 12 mths, i have a chest/abdo CT scan every 3 mths. In my case i had chest pain 2 weeks after my mastectomy surgery and they did a CT to check for clots, but found tumours in my lungs which were not on the pre-surgery scan...so for me at least we knew that these were very young tumours and we were onto them really quickly-all going well so far and feeling great..
Hope this puts ur mind at ease at least a little..
Sam :)
Hi Heather...as far as i know these are routine tests so the Drs can have a 'baseline' picture of everything..then they can refer to them later when these scans are schedules again..
my oncologist likes to do a bone scan about every 12 mths, i have a chest/abdo CT scan every 3 mths. In my case i had chest pain 2 weeks after my mastectomy surgery and they did a CT to check for clots, but found tumours in my lungs which were not on the pre-surgery scan...so for me at least we knew that these were very young tumours and we were onto them really quickly-all going well so far and feeling great..
Hope this puts ur mind at ease at least a little..
Sam :)
Hi Heather...as far as i know these are routine tests so the Drs can have a 'baseline' picture of everything..then they can refer to them later when these scans are schedules again..
my oncologist likes to do a bone scan about every 12 mths, i have a chest/abdo CT scan every 3 mths. In my case i had chest pain 2 weeks after my mastectomy surgery and they did a CT to check for clots, but found tumours in my lungs which were not on the pre-surgery scan...so for me at least we knew that these were very young tumours and we were onto them really quickly-all going well so far and feeling great..
Hope this puts ur mind at ease at least a little..
Sam :)
