HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - Bone mets to only one site and no other signs of mets?

Becky · 01-20-2007, 02:58 PM

Dear Kelly

Hopefully someone on this board who has or had bone mets will respond because I don't know if a bone met will light up with a PET scan but, I do know mets in the lungs and liver light up. A PET scan tends to be very definitive EXCEPT (haha - always an except) if there is infection or injury. And, your rib could very well be a bruise or bump (as both the radiologist and your onc don't think its anything to worry about at all). Therefore, I am afraid if you ask for a PET now and its a bruise, it will light up and it still wouldn't be anything to worry about. If I were you, I would kick back until my next Herceptin. Ask the onc to run the bloodwork again. Ask the onc how long a bruised rib would take to heal because you really want another CT or bone scan or PET (ask him which one he really recommends as a repeat - make sure you tell him if the CT shows no change would a PET confirm things one way or another) and then go from there. I don't know how long it takes a bruised rib to heal (a break is usually 6 weeks though so a bruise couldn't really take longer).

For your markers:

20.3 is not too high. I have a stage 1 Her2+ girlfriend (hormone negative) who is over 4 yrs out and her CA 27/29 has always been 40 (above the highest normal limit by about 2 points) and she is completely fine. Her lowest one was 35. I run been 8-21 (last one 2 weeks ago was 16). My first one was 11 but it bounces all over the place between those #s.

I hope this helps a little bit.

01-20-2007, 02:58 PM	#22
Becky Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Stockton, NJ Posts: 4,179	Dear Kelly Hopefully someone on this board who has or had bone mets will respond because I don't know if a bone met will light up with a PET scan but, I do know mets in the lungs and liver light up. A PET scan tends to be very definitive EXCEPT (haha - always an except) if there is infection or injury. And, your rib could very well be a bruise or bump (as both the radiologist and your onc don't think its anything to worry about at all). Therefore, I am afraid if you ask for a PET now and its a bruise, it will light up and it still wouldn't be anything to worry about. If I were you, I would kick back until my next Herceptin. Ask the onc to run the bloodwork again. Ask the onc how long a bruised rib would take to heal because you really want another CT or bone scan or PET (ask him which one he really recommends as a repeat - make sure you tell him if the CT shows no change would a PET confirm things one way or another) and then go from there. I don't know how long it takes a bruised rib to heal (a break is usually 6 weeks though so a bruise couldn't really take longer). For your markers: 20.3 is not too high. I have a stage 1 Her2+ girlfriend (hormone negative) who is over 4 yrs out and her CA 27/29 has always been 40 (above the highest normal limit by about 2 points) and she is completely fine. Her lowest one was 35. I run been 8-21 (last one 2 weeks ago was 16). My first one was 11 but it bounces all over the place between those #s. I hope this helps a little bit. __________________ Kind regards Becky Found lump via BSE Diagnosed 8/04 at age 45 1.9cm tumor, ER+PR-, Her2 3+(rt side) 2 micromets to sentinel node Stage 2A left 3mm DCIS - low grade ER+PR+Her2 neg lumpectomies 9/7/04 4DD AC followed by 4 DD taxol Used Leukine instead of Neulasta 35 rads on right side only 4/05 started Tamoxifen Started Herceptin 4 months after last Taxol due to trial results and 2005 ASCO meeting & recommendations Oophorectomy 8/05 Started Arimidex 9/05 Finished Herceptin (16 months) 9/06 Arimidex Only Prolia every 6 months for osteopenia NED 18 years! Said Christopher Robin to Pooh: "You must remember this: You're braver than you believe and stronger than you seem and smarter than you think"