Hi Nicky, Carolyn and Dragoncarine,
Thank you all again for your messages of support.
Met onc on Friday, nuc bone scan showed up 3 areas on ribs, 2 quite long, the 3rd at junction with spine. Radiographers report said lesions with osteoblastic thickening, highly suspicious, indicating mets. So referred for urgent CT scan with follow up with Onc in about 2 weeks time.
Onc said unusual since the 2 larger areas on ribs are almost symetrical on left and right sides (my primary cancer was on left side), she is undecided at present, but warned me to prepare myself for results and (she has been my Onc for 3 years) apologised both for giving bad news and another 2 weeks of waiting). I know this is her way of saying that while not fully conclusive indications are not good.
My primary bc, in spring 2014, was invasive ductal carcinoma, grade 2, stage 2, sentinal node biopsey clear, oestrogen +ve. Bc lump removed, radio given but no chemo (later found out borderline for chemo but that it had not been offered/recommended re balance of impact on body v risk of my type,size,grade etc of bc), currently on Tamoxifen.
Unfortunately for my primary diagnosis they only do ultrasound scan of breasts, mammograms and pre radio (set up type) x rays, i.e. they don’t do a CT or nuclear bone scan. From the NICE guidelines it sounds like these types of scan are not carried out at time of primary diagnosis or during any monitoring/follow ups in women with earlier bc stages who are prescribed Tamoxifen, and then only scan bones/organs if a problem is reported. It appears only post menopausal women on meds other than Tamoxifen and women who’s bc was more progressed at time of primary diagnosis are offered such scans).
Hence if it turns out to be secondary breast mets I can only presume the mets were present or seeded in early 2014, before the primary cancer was removed in spring 2014, since all mammos etc thereafter have shown no reoccurance. That makes me more worried if the medic’s suspicions of mets turn out to be correct, since surely the implication is (if it’s mets rather than a bone condition) it’s been there in my bones untreated for the past 3 years or more doing who knows what (and considering no chemo was given for the primary bc since it was not in my lymph nodes).
So now warned they will be checking organs too…
I really had thought it was most likely just muscular…the wait to find out since being referred for the bone scan at end June feels a long time…particularly with the latest likelihood indications from my onc.
It also makes planning a bit tricky…currently between jobs (redundancy due to project ending a few months ago) and on same day as seeing onc invited for interview for role (yey!) which would be quite full on, full time etc…interview soonafter next lot of results…I know if the news is bad (which onc is indicating is likely), if I was to do well at the interview and be offered the post I could theoretically ask about jobshare etc but with that role they are unlikely to consider since clearly advertised as FT.
While I know I can’t leap ahead since just possible it could be some other bone problem (osteo/arth etc) again current indications aren’t pointing that way and my mind is straying into thoughts of starting a new job when going into radio, or starting a new FT job immediately after radio, neither of which sounds very workable (re practicalities, energy or mind). (I’m in my 40’s).
I know I just have to be patient and face whatever may come, when/if it comes…I just wasn’t really expecting this now, as a leap straight to bones when 3 years no evidence of disease after primary stage 2 bc (even though I know it is possible).
Most info I have come across seems to be about bone thinning…does anyone know of a good link re bone thickening issues?
That’s bit of a release of thoughts really…
Thank you to anyone who thinks their experience may be helpful and who replies.
Seabreeze