Hi ladies, went to hospital today for results of MRI scan which just confirmed what we kind of knew already that the cancer was in my right breast 6cm IDC Grade 3 and extends towards and patially in my right armpit nodes. If the cancer has spread to other organs would it of showed up on the MRI scan? going to have bone scan, heart scan, and CT scan all next week as well as first chemo and heceptin, so looks like i’m going to be in the hospital next week everyday. Not feeling too bad about everything kind of dreading the chemo and heceptin but its got to be done cause I gotta fight this. Any advice would be appriecated.
Hi
Sorry about your diagnosis but it’s good that you’ve found your way here as there are lots of people who can pass on advice and just generally cheer you on your way.
I was dx (diagnosed) in Nov with Lobular Grade 2. because it’s lobular i too had the scan and can understand the dread and anticipation you are feeling. As far as I am aware - yes the scans do show up anything in your organs and so once they are out the way you will know what’s what. The actual scans are nothing to worry about - i feel asleep during the bone scan! My hospital allowed me to take in something to listen to, i took in talking books as i had too many happy memories attached to my music and didn’t really wanted it piped in during a not very nice time.
I’m on my 4th chemo out of 6 with a mastectomy, reconstruction and radiotherapy to come. The thought of chemo is actually worse than the doing of chemo - although there are grim days there are many normal ones.
Best of luck and keep posting on here, you’ll get lots of support and advice.
x
Hi Sarah, Sorry that you have to join us here, but as SCACO has said you will get lots of support and advice.
I had similar Dx as you IDC grade 3 with node involvement. The scans are I think routine. I had the same; CT, bone and heart scans. These scans will show if there is any spread. The heart scan is done to see how well your heart is working before you are given some types of chemo and herceptin. I think this scan is repeated at intervals during the herceptin treatments.
The scans are painless. The bone scan takes some time, maybe 40 mins, but the CT and heart scans are done in about 10 minutes.
Wishing the best of luck with your scans,
Lisa
From what you’re saying it sounds like you had an MRI of breast area. I also had that done. That will be to identify the size etc of the tumour.
I’m sorry the scans haven’t been explained fully to you. The other scans are to try to identify if there is any spread - I also had a CT scan and a bone scan and because I was getting headaches all the time a brain CT. Waiting for all of that and the results is a horrible time.
I didn’t have a heart scan so not sure what that’s for, possibly someone else can advise on that.
I had an 8cm tumour (lobular) and it had gone to 9/17 lymph nodes. I finished my treatment 15 months ago and now take tamoxifen.
I do hope all your treatment goes well.
take care, Elinda x
Hi Sarahlouise, I was dx in Jan with a grade 3 after first beening told it was a grade 2. I then had to chemo after a WLE & SNB, it had not spread to the nodes thank god, bbut i then got a call to say I was to have Ct Bone scan Heart scan & everyother scan known to man. I was scared as I thought they where looking for spread, but was told by my BCN that this was normal with grade 3 to know what was nornal for me before treatment was started. I was luckly I only had to wait 1 day for the results was I was seening my ONC th next day, & was told everythig was fine.Im now on my second fec chemo which has been ok, some good days & some badd ones, but more good than bad. Ive trie to think that I cant change the past, so just go with what ever the medical team treating me say is best for me. I know being dx with Bc is the worse thing that can happen, but you will get through it, keep in touch with the ladies on here, they have helped me soo much, dont google anything because some websites just give bad examples, & you dont need that at the mo. Dont worry abbout the scans they are painless, & over before you know it, I just closed my eyes & thought of a lovely place I had been on holiday & very nearly went to sleep. Lesley xx
Hi Sarahlouise, I was dx in Jan with a grade 3 after first beening told it was a grade 2. I then had to chemo after a WLE & SNB, it had not spread to the nodes thank god, bbut i then got a call to say I was to have Ct Bone scan Heart scan & everyother scan known to man. I was scared as I thought they where looking for spread, but was told by my BCN that this was normal with grade 3 to know what was nornal for me before treatment was started. I was luckly I only had to wait 1 day for the results was I was seening my ONC th next day, & was told everythig was fine.Im now on my second fec chemo which has been ok, some good days & some badd ones, but more good than bad. Ive trie to think that I cant change the past, so just go with what ever the medical team treating me say is best for me. I know being dx with Bc is the worse thing that can happen, but you will get through it, keep in touch with the ladies on here, they have helped me soo much, dont google anything because some websites just give bad examples, & you dont need that at the mo. Dont worry abbout the scans they are painless, & over before you know it, I just closed my eyes & thought of a lovely place I had been on holiday & very nearly went to sleep. Lesley xx
Can I ask a question…I too have grade 3 and had 2 nodes infected out of 18 taken away, but I had CT scan but not heart, bone, MRI etc, just CT scan… should I be askin for those other scans? They said CT was clear and no spread but why have i not had those scans? I have 6 chemo and having my FEC2 today, should i be asking them about more scans? Shar x (SCACO, nice pic its like CM’s!
I believe the heart scan is used for people getting Herceptin as it can affect heart function.The CT would have shown up any anomalies honestly.
Valx
Hi I had heart scan because they thought I would have to have herseptin, but the path result came back as neg so wont need herseptin, I aslo have high blood pressure & a heart pumour so thats why I was checked. I was told my scans were needed to see what was normal for me before treatment started, & was done in all cases of chemo, you could ask the question, wont hurt. Good luck today xx
Shar, heart scan (MUGA scan) is standard for HER2+ because Herceptin can affect the heart. The scan checks how effective your left ventricle is at sending blood round the body. MRI scan is used at diagnosis if you happen to have some types of cancer that don’t show up very well on a mammogram. If you had a CT scan and that revealed no spread, that’s brilliant news. Before starting Tamoxifen you might be given a bone DENSITY scan, which is looking at your bone strength and not at whether you have bone mets or not. I think I’m going to have that one later on in my treatment plan even though I had no node involvement and I think that scan depends on whether you are menopausal or not and whether they’re considering aromatase inhibitors, but I haven’t got that far yet so I haven’t done a lot of investigating just yet.
Can anyone tell me the difference between an echogram and a MUGA Scan please?
Thank you
Scrapper
Hi, I had MUGA scan and was told it was because I was having epirubicin which is the E part of FEC.Don’t know if it was because I have high blood pressure.Might be worth asking about.
Best wishes Melxx
I was told on March 17th that I have BC in the left breast I have no other details yet, till I have my op on April 18th for a lumptectomy then allegedly radiotherapy after oh I am on Femara now, the hospital are suspicious of a shadow in my right breast and after numbers ultrasounds and mammo’s the other day I am now having an MRI on Tuesday, then seeing the specialist on Thursday, is it reasonable for me to expect some results by then.
MUGA specifically looks at flow from the left ventricle, and for a lot of purposes is a bit old hat, but that’s just what is needed to look at flow rates that might be affected by Herceptin. Echocardiogram looks at other stuff (not sure what, wikipedia would be a good place to look), I think it’s functionality of heart valves rather than blood flow.
Saphy, for your MRI, I suggest you bring some nice warm socks and warm trousers with NO metal bits so no zips, to keep warm. It takes 20-30 minutes and they keep the room very cool because of the machines, so it’s much nicer not to be shivering while trying to lie still. It’s also very loud, but they generally give you headphones so you can speak to them if necessary, and a buzzer if you get panicked. But it’s fine and nothing to worry about, if a bit weird.
Hi ladies, thanks for all your words of wisdom and encouragement. So had my first chemo last week and went through all the scans, bone and heart scans were fine just waiting for the dreaded CT scan result. Chemo was not as bad as I thought it would be first night was not good but feel fine at the moment. Due to my heart scan being ok I had herceptin on the day after my FEC chemo. All in all feeling a bit better about everything and happy to start with the chemo as now at least I feel something is being done to kill it. When I was having my fec shots I meditated that the drugs were like Pac Man game chomping away at the cancer eating it all up. thanks again for your kind words.
Sarah Sweety xxxx
Hi
Glad it’s going well and that you have some of the results under your belt.
I imagine my chemo as ammo for an army that i have inside me, complete with tanks and flamethrowers. It’s led by a no-messing, tobacco-chewing, sunglasses-wearing, American Major! We tend to meet up as i’m nodding off and he talks me through the next bit he’s going to blast. All very surreal but it works for me!
Best of luck xx
2.30 today will find out the results of the CT scan. I am absolutely terrified!!! More so than when I first found out I had breast cancer. I suppose I’m gonna have to get used to these tests as I predict there will be more on the horizon, but this first one to see if the cancer has spread has got to be the worst. Its made twice as hard because I know its in my nodes, obviously I dont know how many nodes are affected as I’m having chemo first and then surgery. My partner Lee is coming with me thank god he’s my angel, my light in dark places, I dont think I could get through this without him.
Sending love and light to all of you out there waiting for results, my heart is with you
xxx
SarahLouise,
Wishing you the best of luck for your appointment today. I found the wait for scan results the longest and hardest wait of all. I felt that every time I went to the hospital, I got bad news. But then I got a break and was given some good news! The scans were clear and I had no spread. I really hope you get the same news todays, amd sending you lots of postive vibes! I’ve got 3/3 postive nodes from sentinel node biopsy and like you I won’t know how many more are affected as I’m having chemo first and then surgery.
Best of luck, take care.
Lisa xxxxx
Hi new to this and scared. Had 5cm lump removed and clearence of nodes in left beast. 19 of the thirty nodes were infected so i know its on the move.Had ct scan and bone scan on friday but havant had results yet.feel very tearful some days. I have to have more surgery to clear some more margin and frightened that it has spead. its good to write this down and now that there is lots of people who i can talk to.
Hi pipndais,
I know just how you feel.
I had 21/23 nodes affected BUT my bone scan and CT of liver and lungs were clear.
If I were you I would focus on all those 11 lovely clear nodes!
I started a thread a while back entitled ‘Positive nodes’ and got some really reassuring posts from the lovely ladies on this site. They really helped me. Here’s the link.
breastcancercare.org.uk/forum/positive-nodes-t30474.html
Thinking of you and crossing my fingers that your scans will be fine.
K x