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Insist on a Pet Scan because it is the only test that is not based on tissue density.
After feeling a lump that came out of nowhere in May of 04 my wife was diagnosed by core biopsy with Infiltrating Ductal Carcinoma, ER+/PR+, HER2 3+, Estimated size was 2.3cm by ultrasound.
She had a Lumpectomy later that month and the Actual tumor size was 6.5 cm, margins not clear, 14/15 nodes positive. Bone & CT Scans clear.
She had dose dense AC then Taxotere.
Prior to left mastectomy she had a breast MRI and BRAC genetic testing, both were negative.
She had the Mastectomy in October after Chemo- They found 2 multicentric tumors 2 mm & 1 mm Margins Clear.
Chest, Neck & Axillary Radiation in December 04.
In January 05 she Started 1yr Herceptin regimen and 6 rounds of Navelbine.
In March she had a full CT scans which were all clear.
In May 05 her OBGYN found nothing unusual during a manual exam on the remaining breast.
In July she felt a small lump in the remaining breast. The Surgeon did a lumpectomy which turned out to be a 4CM tumor with positive margins.
She had a whole body PET scan prior to the 2nd mastectomy which only showed a hot spot in the breast. (This is the only test that actually showed something.)
She had the mastectomy in mid-August and she is now going to start 6 rounds of Taxotere + Carbo + Herceptin.
The doctors are scratching their heads over why the Manual Exams, MRI, & CT's did not show the 2nd tumor earlier and how it could be there with all the Chemo. 4CM tumors do not just appear.
Whole body PET scans are expensive, but I would push to have one.
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