bone scan

[cin423]

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

[japdip]

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.....

[Cleveland Clinic]

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.