Any information on bone scan results

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Hi Everyone

I was diagnosed in Oct 07 with invasive left breast cancer Stage 1 - 14mm. hormone receptor positive. Had lumpectomy Nov 07 - radiotherapy Feb/Mar 08 and on Arimidex.

I had a nuclear medicine bone scan last Friday and an appt with breast surgeon yesterday. I should have had the scan in March but cancelled because having seen the scanner, I just couldn’t face it (claustrophobic). The surgeon wasn’t concerned about this because it was more or less suggested as a precaution because I was complaining of left lower back pain (which I had long before this diagnosis) and to put my mind at rest.
Since then I have had pain in my upper arms and lower right back, now disappeared. The right arm pain disappeared some weeks ago, and then from the left arm, but transferred to my left shoulder, which I could only describe as feeling as if it were dislocated, it was so painful. This has improved a lot though is still there.
I wasn’t expecting to hear anything untoward in the result but the scan shows my back to be just wear and tear, but a ‘hot spot’ in the left upper arm (not the shoulder), which they wanted to look at further. I had a plain x-ray of the arm yesterday. I would prefer to have the result from the surgeon but have to wait until my next appt in two weeks as he is not in clinic next week. I have been told that the ‘hot spot’ could be as a result of arthritis. inflammation, trauma, or the dreaded C.
I am very worried and would be most grateful to hear from anyone who has had or is having a similar experience because I don’t know how to cope for the following two weeks. I haven’t told my children (grown up) because there is no point in worrying them at this stage

With many many thanks for any information.

Love Deex

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Hi Dee,

I must say that when I started reading your post the word arimidex jumped out at me. I am not on it myself but here over and over again about the pain this causes and wondered if that was your problem. The hot spot could well turn out to be down to all the things they suggest. I have had extensive bone secondaries for 7 years now and for most of that time they gave me very little trouble, although causing a bit of trouble recently.

I would save telling my adult children anything till you have more information. When my daughter used to express concern that I was keeping things back I explained that if I ever had something confirmed as a problem then I would always tell her. Hope for you it turns out to be nothing and you can put it behind you.

Dawn
xx

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Hi Deex, Nothing we can say can really be of much help as the doctor has told you what the outcome of scan and xray could be. But I want to sympathise with you on the waiting game which is the hardest bit of diagnosis I know. But this is the forum to come on to, and we all fully understand the awfulness of waiting for results. Please keep us informed about what is happening and I do hope that you find out it is nothing too serious. I have bone mets too like Dawn, so if it does turn out to be bad news we will be there to support you. It’s hard I know, love Val X (Scottishlass)