[Becky]

Dear Donna

Of course you are scared and confused but I really think everything your body has gone through is causing you difficulties now. You got nabbed with the side effects of radiation on the ribs. You got a broken one and between age and the weakness in that bone due to rads, it is not (and may probably not) heal 100% properly. That is what the CT is showing. If you get a PET/CT, it might even freak you out more. Why? Because healing or injured bones will light up too (not just a cancer spot). Why? Because healing and injury are also more metabolic too.

As far as the markers are concerned, don't be concerned. I am almost 5 yrs out and my first marker was 11 and it has inched up over the years to 26 (and it is pretty stable there now - sometimes 21 or 23 etc). I think this is normal and I wouldn't be concerned with it. Movement from 17 to 37 (which 37 is still in the normal range) would pique my interest and I would ask for the markers to be re-run in a month to see if they continue with larger leaps but there is no difference in your numbers. Test wise, 15 is the same as 17.

Also, although we've posted many articles on small studies of women (12) where the cancer changes from hormone positive to negative or Her2+ to Her2- (or vice versa), it only happened in that small study 30% of the time. What I am getting at here is it is rare for Her2+, hormone negative cancer to go to the bones (and only to your injured rib as the bone scan didn't have any other spots!) Hormone positive cancer loves bone. No way. It's your gosh darn broken rib and rads caused it to weaken, break and not heal properly. I am sure if you still have pain, you will want to get the PET but discuss with the doctors before hand what you think will happen (healing bone lights up) and are there any assurances that that won't happen and if it does, then what? How will they determine what your problem really is (cuz I don't think its cancer but of course you have to have professionals determine this and you need to ask them how they are going to determine this).

Rest, rest,rest and baby, baby, baby that side to ensure and encourage as much healing as you can between then and now. Even if you half the pain, you are going in the right direction as cancer pain does not improve and yours will because you don't have cancer. I really believe this with my whole heart (but no way will I discourage you from insuring this). Take your calcium and take at least 2000iu or more of Vitamin D3 too. Look up the rads side effect issue and see if there are any healing tips. Even call your rad onc or rad nurse for tips too. They may have some.

I am giving you a huge cyber hug since only a pat would do if we were together so you can baby your ribs.