[CLTann]

It is perfectly normal for patients to find out as early as possible if there is an abnormal new mets. You wonder whether tests should be done for all potential mets sites. It has already be pointed out to you that these scans add a great deal of radiation exposures to your body. Unfortunately, there is no cumulative data for any patients to know what total lifetime exposure she already had gotten. It is extremely dangerous to have a high cumulative radiation intake, since there is no reversal on this factor. My advice to people is to be less anxious about this problem. Look at this way, if you indeed had mets, the symptoms will become more and more obvious as time goes. For such worsening situation, yes, you should have that particular lesion checked out. The usual potential areas are bone, liver, lung and brain. Any discomfort in these areas warrant a scan if the discomfort did not go away. In the worst scenario, if you indeed had mets, there is not much significant difference in the treating method and prognosis of the new disease from a short delay. Most oncs subscribe to this line of thought altho some will not honestly tell you what they think lest they be targeted with lawsuits. Side effects from arimidex or other hormone agents are often the cause of pain and got many patients very uptight and upset. Best wishes.