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Breast Cancer (Expert Forum)
bone scan
Answered by
Cleveland Clinic - breast cancer
Cleveland - OH
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.
bone scan
by cin423, Aug 30, 2008 01:29PM
My mom has stage3 breast cancer. They did a lumpectomy with axillary dissection and now will be doing a mastectomy. Then they said they will do a bone scan a few weeks after her surgery. Shouldn't they be doing the scan before the surgery? She is 78 years old
Doctor's Answer
by Cleveland Clinic, Sep 02, 2008 01:37PM
, Sep 02, 2008 01:37PM
Dear cin483, Not necessarily. They might decide to do the bone scan prior to surgery to evaluate a symptom for example bone pain or if the results would effect the decision as to whether or not surgery would be needed. For strictly a baseline evaluation, having the bone scan done after surgery is not unusual.
Member Comments (2)
by japdip, Aug 30, 2008 09:05PM
To: Cin423
No, bone scans, PET scans and other exams are always done at some point well after surgery. These tests are usually ordered by the Oncologist who one sees after surgery and after all Pathology reports are in to determine what treatment will be necessary. The scans are done to determine if the cancer has invaded other parts of the body (metastisis, or mets for short). wishing your mother a speedy recovery from her surgery. Kindest regards.....
