Cysts - pancreas
Hi, I had a successful lumpectomy/radiation 3 years ago and have been cancer free since then. I've been so lucky. However, on the latest 6 monthly blood test, Ca19.9 levels were up and rising, so I was sent for Pet scan (clear of obvious cancer, hooray!). But then another blood test showed they were still going up so I was sent an MRI to check for very small cancers. The surgeon who read the MRI told me that I had small cysts on my pancreas, and that they are harmless now but could turn cancerous. His method for dealing with that is to watch them. I'll be sent for another MRI in a year. He also said the Ca19.9 readings can indicate pretty much anything, from not very significant things to serious, and I'll also be having an endoscopy/colonoscopy to double check. Has anyone out there had a similar situation? I know pancreatic cancer is pretty scary.
Scan day freaking sucks......yet again. Probable curse words included.
With only minor trepidation and my shit mostly together I went to clinic today to get my results. I stopped to give a co worker that had just been diagnosed (MOFO BC) a hug and a shoulder to cry on for a bit while we were waiting. I heard my name called and promised her she would get through and I would be happy to help if I could in any way. She thanked me with that smile you put on when you are trying so hard not to burst into tears and your heart is aching as I waltzed on in to the doctors office. Well the whole thing went sideways and turned into me leaving work in a shaky, teary eyed mess. My goodness this thing still rocks you when least expect it. Here we go again with another fucking ambiguous result about the mystical eliptical thingamajjigy that has taken up residence in the rogue boob. Said thingy has decided to grow 2mm in 6 months. BIRAIDS score now moved up from a 3 to a 4 and hey lets poke a needle in it this time. This presents a problem. Considering the MRI is still the only machine that can see thingy (again it can't be felt by anyone either) and it's positioning, it is probable that a biopsy can't be done in the MRI machine. Still waiting on an answer for that one. So do we just poke around in there and try to hit it?? Cut it out or off just for the heck of it? No body is prepared to say it is anything sinister nor are they prepared to say it's not. Seriously, can someone please tell me how, for the love of god, you can have 4 MRI's, 4 mammograms and 6 u/sounds in a period of 12 months and still not know what this is or isn't. So as it sits, back to headlining the MDT on Thursday to get input from group of guru's as quote "my breast don't scan normally". Another targetted u/s on Friday. And wait for an answer on whether the biopsy can be done by MRI. Waiting waiting waiting yet again. Fuckity fuck fuck. I am sick of this roller coaster. I want to get off and my money back. Mental status right now = somewhere between zoned out numbness and seriously pissed off. Strongly considering ostrich tactics at the moment. Thanks for listening. :/
Labor & Liberals both promise subsidised MRIs available to Breast Cancer Women
There must be a general election coming up . ...... Both major parties are promising to have subsidised MRIs for women (especially as MRIs have been available to Men with Prostate cancer for some time!) https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/mar/29/both-major-parties-commit-to-extra-funding-for-breast-cancer-mri-scans Both major parties commit to extra funding for breast cancer MRI scans Morrison government to announce $32.6m in next week’s budget while Labor pledges $47m if it wins election Both the major parties are promising additional funding for MRI scans for women with breast cancer. Photograph: Jim Bourg/Reuters Women with breast cancer have secured commitments from both the major parties for additional funding for MRI scans – $32.6m from the Morrison government coming in next week’s budget, and $47m from Labor if it wins in May. The Coalition will use next Tuesday’s budget to create two new Medicare items for MRI of the breast, to be available from 1 November 2019, scans that will enable more accurate diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. If Bill Shorten wins the coming election, Labor is promising to “work with experts” to finalise the design of the new Medicare items that will allow subsidies for scans. Medicare: Labor vows to lift freeze on rebates if it wins federal election Shorten said Medicare already subsidises similar MRI scans for men with prostate cancer – but not for women with breast cancer, except in extremely limited circumstances. “As a result, thousands of women are being charged up to $1,500 in out-of-pocket costs for the scans used to diagnose their cancer, decide on treatment and ensure cancer does not return,” the Labor leader said. The government says creating the Medicare items will benefit 14,000 patients a year.
OMG what a day! !!
Hi all Just wanted to vent a bit as had a s**t day! I had an appointment at the hospital to get the results of the MRI I had in May at the request of the surgeon as they saw a small "thing" on the mammogram and ultrasound, and being Triple Neg they are taking no chances. Got told there was a it of a wait as they were a Dr down ( nothing new that always happens). Appointment time was 10.40. Got talking to another lady there whose appointment was 10.20 with the same surgeon/reg. Too cut along story short there was only one registrar between two surgeons that both had clinics. The main man left at 12.30ish as had other commitments! and the other surgeon was due in theater at 1.00pm! The Breast Care Nurse was very helpful and tried to find out when we would be seen. The 10.20 app went in at 1.30ish to see the reg and there were two others before me! At 2.30 still waiting to see the reg then she gets called back to the ward and another Dr is sent down to replace her. 2.50pm finally got in to see him. He asked why I was there told him for results of MRI he found it on the computer and started reading then turned to me and said " I am very sorry to tell you there is a 2.5cm lesion in the left breast which dose not look good " OMG WTF How can that be it was only very small on the ultrasound a week before the MRI. I am in total shock and panic so is Hubby. Hubby said 'Are you sure you have the right report as it was not worth a biopsy a week before the MRI" "Yes they recommend a biopsy and follow up appointment in the next 3 days" This all can't be true its a nightmare. The DR leaves the room to call the reg so i ask if breast care nurse is still around. As soon as she came in knew something was wrong when i told her she did not believe it either. After a very stressful and emotional 10minsand a lot of talking and shouting it was discovered that the junior Dr had read last years report when I was diagnosed. The new report said something there to be monitored and to have repeat MRI in 6 months. Holy S**t I went to Hell and back. BCN was not happy with the DRs and their handling of the situation and was putting in a complaint and so will we. It was like being in a movie. There was a lot of apologizing and hugs from the female reg and BCN and Hubby but it was very distressing. I started this post last night but became too upset to finish it and I did not leave the hospital until 4.10pm!!!!! I still cant believe it happened. Sorry to go on a bit but needed to get it off my chest, keep going over it in my head and with Hubby. He cant believe it happened either. He had to apologize to the Dr for shouting at him but it was justified at the time as both were in total shock. BCN is going to get the surgeon to review the report and hopefully when I go back in Dec for the results of the next one there will not be such a cock up!!! I have calmed down a bit now after a few red wines last night but it all keeps popping up in my head. Thanks for listening everyone, Take care xx ;) <3
Cost of MRI
I just need to vent. My oncologist suggested I do an MRI to see why I am getting numbness in my arms & legs. I have also been suffering a lot more headaches. Well the MRI cost me $1000. How much do I get back from Medicare? You guessed it ZERO! What about private health insurance? ZERO.... Why isn't this test covered? I don't understand. I have metastatic breast cancer. So an MRI is the only way to definitively test the progress of my mets. Can anyone explain to me why this is not covered. BCNA is this on your radar?
COLD FEET! booked in for double mastectomy and axillary clearance
Hi Ladies, I was diagnosed last year with stage 3 breast cancer (invasive lobular carcinoma) ER positive, originally told it was Metastatic breast cancer as its in my lymph nodes by my GP and breast surgeon but onc will only document as breast cancer with node involvement, the breast tumor measured at over 8cm on the MRI and from memory the lymph node was around 3cm. Treatment was to start 4x fortnightly round of AC (completed) and start 12x weekly rounds of Taxol in the aim to shrink the tumor and stop it from spreading. Chemo seems to have shrunk the node tumor by half but cant tell if its effected the breast tumor. I completed the AC and started getting very anxious knowing the cancer is in there and could possible spread so discussed having surgery to get the cancer out before starting the 12 rounds of Taxol. Now im worrying if ive made the right choice or should I have waited till after the 12 weeks of Taxol? Ill be having bilateral double mastectomy (my choice to remove both) and axillary clearance, Im worried about how Ill be restricted after having all lymph nodes removed and possible risk for lymphedema? Does anyone else get cold feet before surgery and doubt there decisions?Anxious of MRI
Hi all, I have to do an MRI tomorrow and feeling very anxious. I am not normally claustrophobic, but the last time I did an MRI was one day after my lumpectomy in late 2012 and I totally freaked out. But I know that I need to do the MRI tomorrow so that the doctors can determine whether the thing they found in my liver is actually cancer. Wish me luck!
lymph node involvement
I was diagnosed on March 7 so still new to all of this. I haven't got a surgery booking yet but am told it should be this month. I have also had 6 core biopsy's, chest xrays, blood tests, ultrasounds etc Anyway I had a breast MRI last week and attended an outpatients appt yesterday to hear the result. The breast surgeon says there is now a suspicious lymph node so asked me to stay to have a fine needle biopsy. That only hurt a bit but the ultrasound lady said I would need to wait a week for the result. Luckily the breast nurse could see how much anxiety another wait would cause me, so she asked for a result straight away. The surgeon then said the lymph node appears to confirm there is cancer in it but he is waiting for the full report for confirmation . At this stage I am sitting there stunned and overwhelmed and then the nurse mentions the dreaded Chemo word which I was not expecting at all. I have also been sent for a whole body bone scan and breast/ abdo Ct Scan to see if the cancer has spread. I didn't sleep much last night as I was ruminating over my experiences over the last month. It seems like every time I have an appt or procedure they are sticking another needle in me and giving me even more bad news. The nurse also stuffed up the cannular for the MRI and the contrast ended up going into the tissues in my arm so they had to pull me out and stick me again. I spent the next 2 days with an ice pack on my arm. I am desperately trying to cling onto any positive hopeful information but it seems I am bombarded with bad news at every turn.I am just waiting for the roller coaster to stop so I can know exactly what I am in for and can brace myself for what is ahead. The surgeon was nice but very brisk, matter of fact and professional and I wonder if doctors really do get the the emotional turmoil patients go through.
Worried About Bone Scan
Hi, can you lovely ladies please tell me what's involved in the bone scan. I asked the people at the radiologist place if it was like an MRI with a plate coming down close to your face, which is what I had heard. She said "no its not like an MRI but a plate does come down close to your face", but I couldn't get her to elaborate any more. I'm claustrophobic and I'm having my bone scan next week. I really need to have it explained to me as I'm becoming more and more anxious about it and I also suffer panic attacks. If I know more I'm hoping that I can prepare myself a bit more but I must say I'm really worried about it. Thanks in advance for your comments. Paula
My Implant and future screening
Hello, My first post so hoping I get it right:) and apologies for it being long. I was diagnosed with DCIS in 2009 and had a unilateral mastectomy in 2010 with a silicone implant. I was quite happy with the reconstruction, didn't have any unrealistic expectations so when I'm clothed it looks pretty good. However I have lost a lot of weight in the last few years and now my natural breast is significantly smaller than the implant. I undergo yearly screening which use to consist of mammogram and ultrasounds, however for the last 3 years it has been MRI's since the breast is quite dense and has cysts and bits and pieces they like to keep an eye on. Last year I had a MRI and mammogram. I am due to have another MRI in April. I have been thinking about having an implant in the natural breast to try and even out the difference and I'm also a bit tired of having to stuff my bra and be limited in what I can wear due to the difference in breast size. I am going to discuss with my GP since unfortunately my wonderful breast surgeon passed away, but was hoping I could get some feedback if anyone has been in the same position. My breast surgeon was not keen on the idea of an implant in the healthy breast as he believed it would be difficult to detect abnormalities that may arise in the future. Would love to hear some thoughts. Thank you for listening. Maria