Hi All, i had a bone scan on friday as my shoulder keeps playing up. after the scan i asked the radiologist if i could have a look at the scan. i noticed there were 3 black spots on my elbow? i asked her what they were and she said they were from the radioactive dye? is this right as i can’t stop worrying about it.
sukes
im not sure but when i had a bone scan there was lots of spots which were apparently just normal wear and tear so hope its good news for you xx
Hi Sukes,
I suppose the radiographer was right in saying the black spots were from the radioactive dye! but she wasn’t really answering your question was she? The radioactive dye they inject highlights any areas where there are/have been problems and they show up as black or shades of grey called ‘hot spots’. There are a number of reasons why hot spots would show up including things like previous injuries & trauma to the bone, arthritis, infections and of course cancer. The skill is in interpreting the cause of these black areas because they would each show up differently to the trained eye, I believe that sometimes they are not always easy to interpret. I have never yet had a bone scan where the radiographer was willing to really discuss what they saw. But then it isn’t their job to interpret.
Dawn
xx
Hi Sukes
I had hot spots shown up at the base of my spine which were wear and tear - too much gardening and digging. Don’t read anything into it until you get your results - which I hope are good.
Love Anne x
I have had several bone scans (I have bone mets) and the consultant radiologist has always been there. I get a thorough grilling about any areas he is concerned about - whether it could be an old injury, do I get any pain etc. Try not to get too worried - so far I have had 7 totally innocent hot spots show up. But if the radiologists isn’t sure what the scan is showing, you will probably be sent for an xray to try and clear it up. In any case if the pain was in your shoulder and nothing has showed up there, that is good news.
hi all,
thanks for the comments but i’m really worried. it was 3 black dots. two where they injected the dye and one lower down where you have your TB test. This is so worrying. What would wear and tear look like?
Sukes
Hey Sukes
How you doing? I hate to see you sounding so worried. When do you get the results? Can you bring the appt forward or ask your oncs secretary to get him/her to phone you?
I’ve had my own dramas, just got out of hospital today after collapsing whilst running a half marathon - very embarrassing, apparently my blood pressure is too low and my heart might be damaged from chemotherapy -it.s never ending isn,t it?
I do hope you get answers soon, the waiting is horrible. Sending you cyber hugs (((((( )))))))) and wishing you good news xxxx
Hi Sukes - I think the answer is wear and tear may not look any different to mets on the scan, it is more where they might expect to see it, in joints for instance. I know it’s hard, but please try not to worry too much. It is very common to have hot spots that turn out to be nothing.
finty xx
Hi all,
E - i get my results hopefully today the BCN should phone me so fingers crossed. Its true the worry never leaves you and all i keep on thinking about it my 3 girls and how i want to be here for them.
I can’t believe the chemo might have damaged your heart??? what are they doing about it to confirm the situation?
Flinty - thanks for the advise and support really appreciated. i will keep you all posted.
I have lost 4lb in weight over the past 4 days worrying about it and dont want to loose any more weight as i’m only 8st 2 now.
Hi Sukes - I hope it is good news, but I also wanted to warn you to be prepared for inconclusive results. It is often hard to tell what a hot spot is and further scans and/or x rays may well be required to rule out mets. I went through this recently and it dragged on for weeks before they finally had enough evidence to decide it was nothing - even then they can’t be 100% certain.
Thinking of you today.
finty x
Sorry not posted before - only just spotted this. My bone scan results arrived the day after my surgery - I was as high as a kite after convincing myself my cancer was removed, and then got brought back down to earth by being told I’d several hot spots, most of which had been ruled out due to other reasons - arthritic knee and neck, but there was an area in my lower back they weren’t happy with.
They wanted MRI to investigate further, and I had to wait for a vacant spot. The ‘method’ in Aberdeen is in patients get priority - had I gone on out patient list the wait would have been longer, but at least I’d have known when it was going to be - as it was, the MRI people basically decide each day who has priority in patient wise and allocate accordingly. Hot spots didn’t seem to feature that highly in their priority list - much to the anger of my surgeon - and I think he had to pull in some favours to get me done as quickly as he did but there was about 8 days delay to get the MRI done, and then another delay to get the results interpreted.
I’ve never been so happy to be told I had age related degeneration and nothing else!! But the wait was pure undilute hell - very hard as I (and the breast care team to be honest as I found out later) were convinced I’d got mets (15/20 lymph nodes affected so chances are high) and was already planning my demise. Not a good place to be.
BEst of luck with your results - I hope you too are just getting older and wearing out!!
Hi Sukes,
I’m sorry that you are having a problem with your shoulder and understandably worried about the spots you saw on the scan. I think these are very probably related to the accumulation of the dye. I have had numerous bone scans and noticed spots show up around the injection sites…in my case the hand and more recently in the foot. The is also a dark spot around the bladder area.
I don’t actually think the radiologist would have let you see the scan if she had had any concerns on the spots you saw. I have only once been allowed to see my scans at the time and I took this as very good news (which is how it turned out).
Hope you get results soon (and of course of the good sort).
Roberta
xx
Roberta that is interesting because my last scan scare was a hot spot on the arm where the tourniquet had been applied for the injection, just above the injection site itself. I asked whether this could be the explanation and was told not by the onc - but didn’t get a chance to ask the radiologist. It probably isn’t in my case, but does make you wonder …
hi all good news!
The BCN phoned today and said shoulder is fine and the hotspots on the arm are due to osteo arthiritus which i am more than happy to live with!
The past few days have been so traumatic and i have phyisically made myself sick with worry.
broomstick lady - i can’t believe you had to wait so long the worry is just so scary and fear becomes such a big part of yourlife.
i just want to thank you all for your support and reassurance it really is appreciated. Its so easy to let your mind run ahead of you.
I can finally eat now without feeling sick and put on the 4lb i’ve lost with worry and stress
thanks all
sukes
fantastic news - well done.
Great news Sukes, so pleased for you and happy eating now
Very pleased to hear your news 
Great News Sukes - I’ve also sent you a PM xxxxx
So pleased to hear your news Sukes. It’s amazing how a dx of osteo-arthritis can bring relief!!!
Dawn
xx
thanks once again for all the comments and dawn hope you didn’t take offence to my pm but yes i was so pleased to hear it was arthiritis.
Sukes