bone scan

My wife had a lumpectomy for invasive ductal carcinoma and on 7/8 the oncoligist told us the tumer was small and they got clean margins when they removed it,removed one lymph and tested three and all were negative. She is her2 positive and er and pr positive. The dr was encouraging but ordered a cat scan and bone scan. After the bone scan the tech. came in and asked my wife if she had any back problems or had ever hurt her back,,she said no and he ran another set of tests  at diff. angles. Is this another something to worry about ? The dr said that she has these tests done on all her pataints. Thnx for any response

[Irishgal2]

Bone scan are par for the course.  I had a bone scan last year after I was diagnoised aged 39.  The doc also saw something in my lower back and started asking me questions.  I knew I had arthritis in my knees and felt that the same applied to my lower back.  They sent me upstairs for xrays which identify arthritis better.  So most likely that this the reason for the tests.  I have arthritis in lumper 4 and 5 in my back.  As long as it was not cancer I did not give a hoot.  Considering you're wifes lymph nodes were clear, that is a very good sign.

[confusedinva]

A bone scan and a CT scan are routinely done for anybody diagnosed with cancer to make sure there is no indication of spread of the cancer. This helps to decide on what treatment is necessary in addition to surgery.

[addictedme]

Thnx for the replys I"ll keep ya posted and in my prayers

[japdip]

I'm with everyone else ... these scans are pretty much a routine and are done at various intervals; depending on the Oncologist. There are some Dr.s that don't do scans as a routine though but it's an individual thing. It's called being vigilant. Regards to you both.

[katarina777]

My oncologist skipped the bone scan. He said  there was not really a point to it, because I was starting chemotherapy anyway, and before the surgery. Additionally he told me that those tests were only helpful if they showed something positive but not when they were negative as micro metastisis, and which was common, did not show up and thereby did not prove that they were not present.

I guess the doctor asked because he did see something, or the technician more likely. But that could be any problem and not only bone mets. Of course you are worried and i would be too, though.