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Breast Cancer (Expert Forum)
abnormalities on bone
Questions posted in the Breast Cancer Forum are answered by medical professionals from The Cleveland Clinic. Topics include Breast Biopsy, Chemotherapy, Hormone Therapy, Lumps, Lumpectomy, Lymph node dissection, Lymphedema, Mammograms, Mastectomy, Radiation Therapy, Reconstruction, Self Breast Exam, and Surgery.
abnormalities on bone
by Oceanlover, Apr 20, 2004 12:00AM
Dear Doctor,
I am a stage III breat cancer patient with ER negative and Her2 positive and I am right now on Chemotheropy (AC+T). The following qestions puzzled me and I hope you could help me to understand it better:
Since I have 8 out 8 lymph nodes positive, my onchologist ordered bone scan for me. The results are "sutle focal abnormalities in the right humerus and possibly the right proximal femur. .. Both sites warrant lain radiographic correlation". Therefore, a X-Ray was followed and they found that a small (a few milimeter) abnormalities on my sholder, but still they are not sure what it is. A CT scan was followed for my chest, pelvis and abdomen and the results are normal. Is is normal that with all the tests, they are still not sure what it is on my shoulder and how can they rule out the abnormalities found with the bone scan? When I asked my onchologist whether he would suggest Radiation after my chemo on my shoulder to get rid of it, he said no because they are not sure what it is. They will not do any further further test, because the thing on my shoulder is too small. I feel that the thing on my shoulder is ignored or they can not do anything about it before it gets worse if it was a cancer. Could you give me some advice? Any comments would be helpful.
Thank you very much!
I am a stage III breat cancer patient with ER negative and Her2 positive and I am right now on Chemotheropy (AC+T). The following qestions puzzled me and I hope you could help me to understand it better:
Since I have 8 out 8 lymph nodes positive, my onchologist ordered bone scan for me. The results are "sutle focal abnormalities in the right humerus and possibly the right proximal femur. .. Both sites warrant lain radiographic correlation". Therefore, a X-Ray was followed and they found that a small (a few milimeter) abnormalities on my sholder, but still they are not sure what it is. A CT scan was followed for my chest, pelvis and abdomen and the results are normal. Is is normal that with all the tests, they are still not sure what it is on my shoulder and how can they rule out the abnormalities found with the bone scan? When I asked my onchologist whether he would suggest Radiation after my chemo on my shoulder to get rid of it, he said no because they are not sure what it is. They will not do any further further test, because the thing on my shoulder is too small. I feel that the thing on my shoulder is ignored or they can not do anything about it before it gets worse if it was a cancer. Could you give me some advice? Any comments would be helpful.
Thank you very much!
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-RN,MSN-rf, Apr 20, 2004 12:00AM
Dear oceanlover: It sounds like the abnormalities on the bone scan are too small to characterize. In these cases, it makes sense to watch them to see if they grow, shrink or remain the same. Either way, radiation therapy would likely not be indicated at this point. Radiation therapy is done primarily to relieve symptoms such as pain or prevent fracture in a weight bearing bone. Regardless, you are on chemotherapy right now and that will address disease anywhere in your body. Once you have completed chemotherapy, it may make sense to repeat the bone scan. In the meantime, if you develop symptoms, then the doctor would likely consider investigating further.
