Scanxiety - bone mineral density
Tl;Dr - it’s another 2 am freakout. I'm having a panic into the void. I'm 3 years on from my diagnosis of early breast cancer (hormone positive idc). I went for my routine bone mineral density scan yesterday, and now I'm really frightened. I could see the image as it was being taken, and there was one spot on my spine that seemed much lighter than the surrounding bone. I don't know what a normal scan looks like, but what I saw on the screen has scared the living bejeebers out of me. I’d crawl into bed and stay there waiting for the dreaded call, but I'm in a proper panic and can't sleep. Far out, I hate nights like this.
Bone Scan along with 3yr mammogram and ultrasound
By way of a little background I have been getting pain in my ribs off and on for a couple weeks so I was sent for an xray which didn't reveal much. The pain started on the right side in a rib bone directly under my right breast which had the cancer. The last couple of days the left ribs and muscles are sore. I really felt it yesterday picking up my grandson and my night time i had pandadol and a glass of wine. So today my Doctor requested i get a bone scan. I have arranged this for next Wednesday and I have my annual mammogram and ultrasound on Friday so get all the results together next Saturday 4th February. I am in my third year after diagnosis. Today as well my hubby got home from hospital after cancer was successfully removed from one of his kidneys and he is recovering well and resting. I guess I am unloading here as my husband has his own recovery battle ahead. I am a bit upset and anxious but I am ok. I know all the things to do, keeping busy doing things I like , walking, meditation etc. I know not to jump the gun and this could just be nothing at all. Just need a little support and encouraging words please.
Some neat programs available on Counterpart ..... you can sign up to them
There are some programs on Counterpart (which is based in Vic, but hopefully members in any state should be able to sign up) - on Scanxiety (particularly for those with Mets) ... Lymphoedema, you can do Yoga, even belly dance - and meditative painting ... and also peer support. Check the programs & events here - and bookmark it for the future too. https://counterpart.org.au/events-programs/events/Interesting facebook video on 'scanxiety' ....
This Facebook mob (The Recovery Room) put up different videos relating to those with cancer .... Click on the 'Video' section on Facebook to see their other topics. Most are about 5 mins in length. They do have a website but you need to pay to join .... as they say .... "FUN, HONEST and ACCURATE!" The Recovery Room has a library of short, positive, understandable, medically accurate videos about cancer & cancer recovery. Cancer PT, Dr. Leslie Waltke's goal, is to make the world better for people with cancer. This one is on Scanxiety: https://www.facebook.com/lesliewaltkept/videos/291362799813810Scanxiety - does it ever REALLY go away?
Does Scanxiety ever really disappear? I think not. It is 4 years in Nov since my ILC tumours were found, by accident, by my GP - as the rural BreastScreen Bus screens totally missed it ..... TWICE. Rural breastscreen buses do not have 3D mammograms - only 2D ones - and they are unlikely to pick up Invasive Lobular Cancer (that does not present as a 'lump' ....) and any cancer is almost impossible to 'see' in those with Dense Breast Tissue. If you don't know what breast tissue type you have, get your Surgeon/Oncologist to tell you - as Breast Screen NSW refuses to do so. If you are able to pull up a pic of your Mammograms .... you'll actually SEE if you have dense breast tissue, as much of the breast will showing as 'white' (rather than fairly clear) and as cancer also shows up as 'white' ..... the dense breast tissue hides the cancer. What followed was 2 years of anxiety as I had a recall on my first anniversary scans, which luckily, were benign .... but being rural, things all take longer to happen. Altho I had my surgery within days of seeing the surgeon (10 days after my diagnosis on Jan 5th was confirmed) it had taken 2 months to get to the diagnosis, with my biopsy being done between Xmas & New Year. The following year, the biopsy was on Xmas Eve .... so 2 x Christmases/New Years - totally stuffed!! For this reason, I brought my scan dates a month early to October - so that if anything needed doing (ie biopsy) I wouldn't be in the Xmas Rush! SO .... I head north today for my annual Mammogram and Ultrasound (luckily, having the resident specialist breast Cancer Radiographer doing both!) I'll take hubby with me & will probably even take him into the clinic room with me (if allowed) to keep an eye on him as he has mod-severe dementia. Otherwise, I'd need to arrange someone to sit with him, if I left him at home. Up til this morning, I hadn't really 'thought' of the scanxiety .... but then it raised it's ugly head again! grrrr. I am not expecting any adverse results - but with this beast, you just never know! I see my Rad Onc next week, also up north - my 2nd last visit to her - next year being Year 5 since detection. Wish me luck!!
What do bone Mets feel like?
Hi Gals I was diagnosed almost a year ago with stage 3C DCIS - (Beryl for those in the know!) Beryl was pretty busy and managed to have 13 not so darling babies (lymph nodes). So a mastectomy was on the table and as I was awaiting test results for BRAC gene I decided to go for gold and do two for the price of one - I do love a bargain! Results of the test came through the day after my surgery and I was indeed positive for BRAC2 gene. So Beryl and her kids had been rendered homeless and I had the usual chemo, rads and AI’s to ensure they did not come back. All was good until about 3 weeks ago when I started to feel persistent pain in my rib (same side that Beryl and the kids popped up on). I have a CT scan on Friday but just wondered if anyone could describe the pain. I have pain that comes and goes (mostly there) and goes from a sharp pain to a dull ache. I am hoping the Beryl has not decided to return! Any advice?
Scan Day
It's my 3 year scan this morning (at least I think it is - memory's shot) and I thought I was okay until last night when I barely slept at all. This afternoon I have an interview for the job I've been doing for the past year and with the panel, it's going to be a tough one. To top it off, youngest daughter rings me from the pool this morning to say she's forgotten her school shoes (yes - the ones I reminded her about as we walked out of the door at 5am) and she hasn't even taken thongs so she can't get in the bus and meet me at school. Best laid plans for a calm morning...
Growth during chemo??
I have had a lumpectomy, finished 16 rounds of chemo and 1 week post mastectomy. Prior to my mastectomy I had a CT scan on my back after a week of severe pain. This was 1 week after chemo finished. After seeing surgeon post op today they have concerns about something that showed up on scan. It wasn’t there in April before I started treatment so if it is a tumour, it grew whilst on chemo? I am miffed as to how this could happen? I have a PET scan on Wednesday and I am so scared! Has this happened to anyone else?
