Worried about bone scan
 

Hi all-

I'll try to make this short and to the point. A few weeks ago I had a CT scan of the chest, ab, and pelvis because of digestive issues. The ct scan report came back fine except that it listed "degenerative changes are present in the spine" and "bone windows demonstrate no lytic or blastic lesions". I got nervous about the "degenerative changes" in my spine comment (being only 39) so I called my oncologist who agreed to a bone scan to ease my anxiety. I had the bone scan on tuesday and my spine came fine but there's one small spot on my 9th rib toward the back just below my scapula that was not there when I had a base line bone scan done in March.
Last night when my oncologst called he sounded concerened and this morning he went to talk to the radialogist who read the scan. After reviewing my scan again this morning both the radiologist and my doctor feel pretty confident that I must have just hit that area and just don't remember (it's possible). My doctor told me the radiologist said that he's about 99% certain that this is probably nothing to worrry about. The radiologist is supposed to do an addemdum to the original report changing the "non specific" finding to "very unlikely metastastic disease".
The radiologist told my doctor the best tool to diagnose bone mets is a bone scan so there is really nothing else that can be done at this time. The plan is to do a repeat bone scan in 3 months. My anxiety level has been so elevated and I don't know how I'm going to get through the next 3 months. Is the wait and see technique the way to go? Has anyone had a false positive or a finding on a scan that ended up being nothing? Any input is appreciated.

Liz

Liz
I have had a similar incident...turned out to be a rib fracture that occurred when I sneezed. DonnaD on this site has had the same thing. Mine showed as a suspicious area on the bone scan (along with degenerative changes, which is a polite way to say, hey we are getting old and arthritic!)...mine was defined after having a RIB xray, which is different than a chest xray....I hope this will calm your fears somewhat....

Hi Liz,
DonnaD here. As Sheila mentioned I have had issues with two areas of my ribs. I do not know your treatment, but as you can see I had radiation in 07. I think I fractured and re fractured my ribs twice, once in July of 07 and again in July of 08. Oct of 07 two areas showed up on a rib x-ray, bone scan and CT. I am sure that injury was from a bad cold and cough. The CT was repeated in 3 months and it showed healing, with no other issues.

My radiation oncologist was involved and she said bone damage from radiation is very common. I did some reading and thought it was about 5%. She said it could be as high as 25%!

I was doing great and got over zealous and re injured the same area this past July. Another series of rib x rays showed the fracture again. I will go in Friday for a CT to see how things are healing. Things are much better (pain) but I still can not exercise with weights of lift heavy objects.

Are you experiencing pain? I have been told on this site and from my onc that bone mets usually appear in more than one area. I too was very concerned. Waiting 3 months and repeating the tests worked for me. After being diagnosed with cancer our lives change forever. I know it is hard to wait. We all worry about every new ache, pain or test. Try to concentrate on the season and all the good things in your life. 3 months will roll around before you know it. I bet you will see improvement in the questionable area.

If you need more info, send me an e-mail.

Donna

Liz,

I had two areas light up on bone scan that scared the beejeebees out of me. They too turned out to be fractured ribs that I'm sure happened in an earlier fall.

Try to think positively, but I know you will still worry.

Thank you ladies for replying so quickly.

Shiela- I will ask my oncologist who I'm seeing tomorrow morning about a rib x-ray verses a chest x-ray. I like your interpretation of "degerative" = "getting old and arthritic" LOL!!! but your are correct.
BTW, the little girl in your arms is Beautiful ;o)


Donna D- yes, I did have radiation. I have thought about the radiation too and you just reconfirmed my thoughts. I have heard and read that sometimes radiation can pass right through to the back side. I have no pain in the area so I was very surprised and this one spot only showed up on the bone scan and nothing on the ct-scan. It is in an area that I very well could have hit or bumped and not even thought of it at the time. Also, I could have coughed and injured the area. Thank you for sharing your very positive attitude with me. I like to be around positive people, they make me feel good. What you have said makes a world of sense. Cancer definitely changes our lives and makes us worry but I too am trying to focus on the "season" and the present when doing that time will go by quickly.

Sassy-
thank you for sharing your story :+). I'm glad you finding was benign too. These scans are a good tool but sometimes they can cause unnecessary worry and anxiety.

Hugs to all of you,
Liz

To do something positive, discuss with your onc whether a bone strengthening agent, similar to Zometa, would be helpful to add to the arsenal of defense. Not only these agents help the bone density, they also defend the bones.