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Please let me know the date of your last scan (PET/CT or bone scan).
If it is a bone cancer, ir should have definitely shown up on the
previous scan. Also if you feel that the pain is getting worse, and i seriously feel you're very concerned then you can repeat the scan, so that we can have a conclusive picture.
Feel free to discuss further,
Regards
Patient replied :
The last Pet Scan was in April, But, it is lobular cancer, which doesn't show up so well on Pet Scans, so I don't trust the scan. Also, it was done during chemo, so that makes it harder for them to read. I had a pet scan in February before chemo started.
Bone Scan was also in April, but I don't trust it, because the pelvis already lights up on a bone scan, and I'm afraid the radiologist missed something. Biopsies were in April--but they were in the iliac crest, and my pelvis doesn't hurt that high up. MRI with constrast was in early May--except the radiologist told me the enhancement doesn't always show (mine showed no enhancement).
I really just want you to look at those symptoms and tell me if the pain sounds like bone cancer pain. Does bone cancer pain have those characteristics? No pain at night--but then when you move around you feel it? Does it occur in both sides of the buttocks and then show up in other places too--in the femur sometimes, and in the side of the hip too? Does it get worse and worse throughout the day. Does it hurt when you sit, but not so much when you are walking around? It never hurt on my right side, and suddenly in the last few days, it has started to hurt on the right.
I should also tell you that my alkaline phosphatase is normal (99)--and it was just tested a few days ago.
Hello. Thank you for writing to us again.
Your symptoms don't fit into signs of bone spread. Since your scans are recent and does not show an obvious spread, I won't be much bothered about cancer. I would suggest the same to you too. Hope Tylenol should keep you off pain. I can assure you, that there is absolutely nothing that suggests bone spread. I can understand your anxiety, but you need to trust me and relax. Its causing you a lot of anguish, but i will advise what is best for you.
Please relax for a bit.
Take care,
Regards
Patient replied :
Thank you very much. You make me feel better.
Is the alkalkine phosphatase number helpful? Or would it only be raised in the later stages anyway?
I was hoping that the good alk. phos. could also be of help in diagnosing "no cancer", but am afraid that it shouldn't be raised in early stages--so then it would be of no use.
Hello. Thanks for writing to us again.
Alkaline phosphatase is a very nonspecific marker. I would not go by the values. Otherwise, your symptoms seems very normal for me. Kindly do not be stressed about ' bone metastasis ' anymore.
Regards
Patient replied :
Thank you for your answer.
One more thing. I don't see how the pain from neupogen can be getting WORSE 6 days after the last shot. I understand that the pain can LAST for 7-14 days. But should it be getting WORSE?
Hello. Thank you for writing to us again.
It can be sometimes getting worse due to marrow expansion under the influence of neupogen.
It will get better over the next few days.
Take care,
Regards