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Chelee · 09-27-2007, 04:57 PM

Hi Kate, Since I have congenital scoliosis (Curvature of the spine) I've had all kinds of x-rays, scans of my back. I've *always* had lower back pain, but never upper. But just recently due to this new upper back pain my onc ordered a MRI of the thoracic spine. Of course my 1st thought was mets.
The MRI of course showed my scolisos and mentioned butterfly vertebral bodies throughout the thoracic spine. I was concerned about compressed or damaged disc's. But it said the disc spaces are well maintained. Also there is no evidence of spinal canal stenosis or neural foraminal narrowing. (Which is good news for me.) No evidence of mass or abnormal enhancement.

The only thing I can really put my finger on, and it could be a coincidence is...once I had the prophylactic mastectomy this pain started. The timing fits perfectly. It makes me wonder if some way due to my scoliosis, and removing both breasts has thrown off my upper body/back causing this pain? I just wanted to rule out cancer. Because its been very painful. Not fun as I am sure YOU can relate after reading what you've been through with your back. I was a little more nervous this time too because its the first time my tumor markers have ever went up?

I know they aren't real reliable...but the minute I'm off herceptin...two months later I have severe back pain and my markers rise? Made me a tad nervous. Hopefully the thoracic doc will figure this out if my authorization ever goes through.

Chelee

09-27-2007, 04:57 PM	#11
Chelee Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Southern, CA Posts: 2,511	Hi Kate, Since I have congenital scoliosis (Curvature of the spine) I've had all kinds of x-rays, scans of my back. I've always had lower back pain, but never upper. But just recently due to this new upper back pain my onc ordered a MRI of the thoracic spine. Of course my 1st thought was mets. The MRI of course showed my scolisos and mentioned butterfly vertebral bodies throughout the thoracic spine. I was concerned about compressed or damaged disc's. But it said the disc spaces are well maintained. Also there is no evidence of spinal canal stenosis or neural foraminal narrowing. (Which is good news for me.) No evidence of mass or abnormal enhancement. The only thing I can really put my finger on, and it could be a coincidence is...once I had the prophylactic mastectomy this pain started. The timing fits perfectly. It makes me wonder if some way due to my scoliosis, and removing both breasts has thrown off my upper body/back causing this pain? I just wanted to rule out cancer. Because its been very painful. Not fun as I am sure YOU can relate after reading what you've been through with your back. I was a little more nervous this time too because its the first time my tumor markers have ever went up? I know they aren't real reliable...but the minute I'm off herceptin...two months later I have severe back pain and my markers rise? Made me a tad nervous. Hopefully the thoracic doc will figure this out if my authorization ever goes through. Chelee __________________ DX: 12-20-05 - Stage IIIA, Her2/Neu, 3+++,Er & Pr weakly positive, 5 of 16 pos nodes. Rt. MRM on 1-3-06 -- No Rads due to compromised lungs. Chemo started 2-7-06 -- TCH - - Finished 6-12-06 Finished yr of wkly herceptin 3-19-07 3-15-07 Lt side prophylactic simple mastectomy. -- Ooph 4-05-07 9-21-09 PET/CT "Recurrence" to Rt. axllia, Rt. femur, ilium. Possible Sacrum & liver? Now stage IV. 9-28-09 Loading dose of Herceptin & started Zometa 9-29-09 Power Port Placement 10-24-09 Mass 6.4 x 4.7 cm on Rt. femur head. 11-19-09 RT. Femur surgery - Rod placed 12-7-09 Navelbine added to Herceptin/Zometa. 3-23-10 Ten days of rads to RT femur. Completed. 4-05-10 Quit Navelbine--Herceptin/Zometa alone. 5-4-10 Appt. with Dr. Slamon to see what is next? Waiting on FISH results from femur biopsy. Results to FISH was unsuccessful--this happens less then 2% of the time. 7-7-10 Recurrence to RT axilla again. Back to UCLA for options.