Today I saw my oncologist and got the results from my bone scan. My primary is breast cancer, and there are secondaries in the neck and under each arm. I already knew that there were some lesions on the spine, courtesy of the CT scan. The MRI scan was more precise, and broadly confirmed the CT scan, although the main reason for the scan in the first place was to find out whether the cancer was causing damage elsewhere, particularly nerve impingement. The bone scan has now added to the list of places that the cancer has decided to invade, now it includes one or two ribs. But also the femur in the left leg appears to be affected and so the oncologist has requested an x-ray of this leg to find out the extent of the weakness. Apparently if it is seriously weak, I will be in for an operation. I'm back again to see the oncologist on 2 April so that is when I will get to know for sure.
I hadn't expected that the spread would be this much, oh boy, this cancer is really naughty....it is gonna be in for such a hiding! Which does bring me onto a positive note from my consultation, it appears that the chemotherapy I am having is doing some good as the blood tests are showing improvement. Whether it will kick in sufficiently to avoid an op I really don't know. I am also on Xgeva for bone strengthening together with good ol' ADCAL-D. I am not getting any skeletal pain so it just goes to show again that cancer can cause mayhem without being aware of it.
I am rather hoping someone on this forum has been down this road and can give me the benefit of their personal experience with secondary bone cancer, operations and the like. Can anyone help please?
Boatgirl (Gill) x