Hi Everyone,
Im 2.5 years out from DX, (Triple Negative, Grade 3, No nodes). I had my annual check up with my surgeon on Saturday and took the opportunity to say that I have had a pain in my hip which comes and goes but has got worse recently. In fact, in the last couple of days I have pain all across the lower back area although I haven’t been doing anything which might have caused it. Anyway, he is sending me for a bone scan and although I’m anxious about it I’m also glad to have the opportunity to have it as, all going well, it might give me some peace of mind for now and for the next while…if its clear I can stop worrying about every ache & pain!
I now have to wait for a letter from the hospital so dont know how soon I will have the scan - I’m thinking some time in August. I just wish it was tomorrow!
Has anyone else had a similar experience and what was the result of the scan for them?
Part of me is saying “it will be fine” but of course the other part is thinking the worst and wondring how I would deal with it…Arghh !
I’m 8 months on from finishing treatment. I had slight back pain on and off through chemo. I went to the GP in May as the pain was worse and more constant. Was sent for xray and Results from GP said X-ray was fine but when I went to my onc in June for my 6 month check he had a look at the Xray results and he wasn’t so confident about a possible diagnosis of arthritis. He sent me for an immediate bone scan which I had within a few days. This all happened just before I was due to go on holiday. I posponed getting the results till I came back as I didn’t want to risk the chance of any bad news before I went. I am going for the results on Tuesday so I hope all is going to be well. Will keep you posted how I get on. I hope all goes well with yours.
Sorry about your pain it is very worrying when you get new pains and you have done the right thing in getting it checked out. I don’t really know if I will only worry you with my story as unfortunately I was one of the ‘unlucky’ ones and was found to have quite extensive mets. But the pain could be lots of thing, you don’t mention how old you are? I am 44 and most of my friends and husband all appear to have more back pains than I do and they are cancer free, I have spinal mets and only notice any pain and that’s more of a dull ache if I am standing still for long periods, never when I’m resting. I have had lower back pain attributed to a kidney infection too, so try not to worry too much, it could be anything, but it’s natural to think the worst!
My worst area of bone mets is in my hip, if it helps this wasn’t a pain that came and went, mine caused a sharp pulling feeling if I twisted it to the side, but no pain at other times.
I really hope that you have the tests asap to put your mind at rest. Let us know how you get on.
hopefully you should get your appointment soon. I had a bone scan on friday and asked to see the images, and noticed 3 black spots on my elbow and lower half of the arm, i’m really worried now. The hospitals in birmingham are really quick at appointments etc so hopefully you should get it in the next week or so.
Hi
It is very worrying, the wait for scans to see if there is any spread. Aches can be from all sorts of reasons such as age, menopause, after effects of chemo but it is also definitely worth checking out the possibility of mets. Unfortunately I do have bone mets although had not known at all until I had a pre-op scan for a local recurrence. I have, since diagnosis, had chemo and now am on bone strengtheners as well as hormone tablets as I am hormone receptive. If bone mets are diagnosed there are many women living for years with them and there are options out there even with you being triple negative. Good luck and I hope you don’t have to wait too long for your scan,
Nicky
While you are waiting for your bone scan appointment if you need a good listening ear and some extra support the helpline staff are here to support you. Calls are free, open M-F 9-5 and Sat 9-2.
Hi Ladies,
Thank you all so much for your support.
Fiona and Sukes, I hope all is well with your results, please let me know how you get on.
A little more info about me, I’m 48 so would be on the early side (I
think!) for arthritis. I had a Dexa scan about a year ago and blood tests to check out joint pain I was having but it seems that it was probably the after effects of chemo (Taxotere & Cyclophosphamide x4).
I suspect I will have a bit of a wait for the Bone Scan, I have private health insurance but the Bone Scanner is in a public hospital so I wont get it any quicker by being a private patient. I’m thinking I may get a letter this week with an appointment for sometime in August - if I’m lucky.
It’s great to be able to come on here and talk. I’m not telling famiy or friends as I just cant face taking on their worry as well as my own- honestly I can do enough worrying for all of us!!
Hi
I got a letter today and my scan is next Monday 26th, which is much earlier than I expected - good to know that this time next week I will have had it and may even know the result!
Glad you got an early appointment - I’ve had several bone scans (I’m also a private patient) at the local NHS hospital and its always very quiet when I go there and I never have to wait - can usually have one the same day!
Also, 48 actually isn’t that young for early signs of arthritis, so hopefully that will be the answer or some other skeletal issue. I do have one small bone met, but have had several hot spots show up which have been dismissed as wear and tear and early signs of arthritis - I’m 51 so only a little older than you. I also used to get hip pain that came and went for no discernible reason - but I now think it was to do with the way I got in and out of the car, and haven’t had it since I changed cars and do less driving.
I’ve just got my results for a bonescan for shoulder pain, however it turns out shoulder is okay but i have osteo arthiritis in the lower arm, at a young old age of 36. I was so happy to hear it was arthiritis and nothing else.
Keep us posted and try not to worry - even thou i got myself into a right old state and lost 4lb with the stress of it all.
take care
sukes
I know its very likely nothing to worry about in my case too, but its impossible not to worry. I’m just glad I dont have to wait any longer than next week- I think I would crack up!
Hi, I was diagnosed with DCIS at 32, at the time just had surgery, I have had osteoarthritis in hip for last 10 years. Have been having severe back and hip pain now for last 3 months requiring time off work, A&E admission and the need to take oromorph. Spine X-ray shows degenerative changes. Have finaly managed to get an appointment for an MRI at the end of this month so hopefully will show arthritic changes, just a little worried as severity and sudden onset of pain, also getting pain in affected breast and I think can feel something but GP can’t, have had yearly mamogram and am awaiting results. Also just had abnormal smear result need to go back in 6 months, so brain scrambled at mo.
I’m sorry to hear that you are having a pretty tough time at the moment. I’m sure the users of this site will be along to support you soon.
In the meantime maybe you would like to talk to a member of our helpline staff who are there to offer emotional support as well as practical information. The free phone number is 0808 800 600 and the lines are open Monday to Friday 9.00 to 5.00 and Saturday 9.00 to 2.00.
It was exactly two years ago yesterday that I had my breast tumour removed. It was 7.5mm less than one centemetre, Triple neg grade 2 no nodes. In the early hours of yesterday morning I woke up with a dull ache in top of my right thigh. Like you I am fearing the worst, over the weekend period too. I intend to ring my oncologist secretary first thing monday morning. I am now 57 and I have had two years symptom free and feel very scared that it has now returned. Take care
Just to let you know that my Bone Scan was clear - phew. Actually I’m glad I’ve had a scan as it gives me reassurance, for a while anyway, that there is nothing brewing in my bones!
Have now gone to being out of my mind with worry to being totally relaxed - until the next thing that puts the frighteners on me!!
I am really pleased for you. No one can really protect us from the anxieties that creep in once we have been diagnosed. Hope you have a lot more years problem and pain free.
Hi - I’m having a lot of lower back pain which seems to be a constant pain, sometimes its worse than others and puts pressure on my bladder and gives me stomach pain and goes into my legs, hopefully its arthritus.
I’m waiting for my doctor to come back from holiday (as she knows me better than the other GP’s), I’ve seen the specialist nurse and she said I must see the doctor as she wants me to have a bone scan.
Hello Sarnie, I don’t know your past history but I am sorry you are having lower back pain. If you have been diagnosed with BC in the past you could phone your breast care nurse and she may be able to get you seen rather than wait for your GP to return from holiday. I hope you don’t have long to wait for them to arrange a bone scan. Have you had one before? If not there is nothing to it really and of all the scans I think it is the easiest one to have. Good luck and keep in touch to let us know how things are going with you. The waiting for tests and results is the worst bit I think. Once you have the facts you can then get on with things. Val
I was dx with breast cancer in 2003. I now have found a lump in my groin, and have developed pain in my lower back and into my groin. I suffer with pains in my wrist, knees and toes, which when i mention to consultants they say that its probably a result of all the treatment i have had, bilateral mastecomy, chemo, was on tamoxifen and zoladex whixh i have since been taken off. every time i get a new pain i panic, which i know is only natural i know, but now im terrified that i have found this lump and am suffering more pain. I have had blood tests and they have all come back normal, what should i do? I am 41.