What a let down!
Got through 3 appointments with the all clear after breast surgery and then pelvic surgery last October November. Radiation treatment throughout Dec and Jan. 6 monthly checks over past weeks - breast surgeon very happy, gynae surgeon very happy, then PET scan prior to seeing gynae radiology oncologist. Then the shock - PET scan shows some concern at the site of original breast surgery - bugger! Back to breast surgeon tomorrow, maybe 12 month scan will be brought forward, who knows. Just when I thought things were getting back to normal, holidays being planned etc, etc and then another kick in the butt. Hoping it might just be scar tissue or something not problematic, but can’t help the negative thoughts. I just want to get off this ‘merry-go-round’
Understanding the tests scheduled for Surgery Day ( 24th May)
Well here I am again asking for help with my tests, to make sure I am prepared. <3 Tomorrow I have a CT scan, I am okay with that as I've had them before and been okay. A week after surgery I have a Bone scan - I am not looking forward to that as I have claustrophobia and I did have a panic attack last time.. But as I survived the first one, I should be okay with a valium before hand ;) Now the ones scheduled for the day of surgery? 1 / Needle localisation to put in guide wires, what to expect? 2/ Lymphocintogram - is this the sentinal node thing, radioactive blue dye? 3/ Tracer - what is that?? Gone blank on that one. I thought I had it all sorted out but today I'm confused again. I don't want to read about it because Im the type of person that only needs the basics not TMI or I overthink it and get anxious haha
Whether to bone scan or not
Morning all. Over the past few weeks, I have been having some numbness in my thigh when Im sleeping and it has been hanging around a bit through the day. I have always had trouble with lumbar pain but also have some upper spine discomfort. GP said he is unconcerned, thinks maybe an irritated nerve, howevwr has given me a referral for a bone scan for peace of mind. We are booked to go on a little holiday with daughter and her family and just knowing this has been suggested has made her really anxious. ( I also have something going on with uterus and need yo return for extra scans the day before we go on holidays) . I just hate stressing my family any more than i need to. Just not sure whethwr to go do it before holiday and if bad news then i have wrecked everyone's holiday,or leave it and see how i am on a couplr of werks and do it when i get back. GP didnt seem concerned. Thoughts ???? PS i have also recently startwd lexapro and have seen tingling and numbness can be a side effect of that!
Metastatic workup coming up next
I'm Stage IIIC and am 19 treatments into my 30 sessions of radiation. The day after I finish my 30th session I am going for a CT Scan. Nothing unusual there I'm thinking as he hands over the referral for the radiologists. After closer scrutiny at home - I don't know why I didn't see it immediately - in bold block letters is METASTATIC WORKUP. I googled some trials on the value of even doing a metastatic workup and I fall into the category that definitely should, lol. How common is this bearing in mind that no one expects me to be clear after radiation? My nodes at every level were metastatic but not all were removed. My friend had a clearance of all her nodes and only 2 had cancer! I wonder why I didn't get a clearance but an axillary dissection instead. The invasive cancer even appeared along my scarline from my mastectomy just weeks earlier so they know it's rapidly growing. The oncologist has already suggested more chemo but I didn't think I'd have to undergo a battery of tests to get the right mixture. Guilty until proven innocent is how I feel. (with all due respect to the ladies living with metastatic cancer whose group I'll probs be joining soon) Cheers, I'm getting used to this, sometimes.
