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Scan results

Forums General Melanoma Community Scan results

  • Post
    Lauri England
    Participant

      I had another PET scan done on January 25, 2013 and a spot on my left rib cage 3 rib down from top lit up on the scan.  It was not there on the previous scan from April 2012.  They asked if I had some kind of rib injury since last April and I have not at all.  The doctor said it could be a bone fracture and he wants to do check xrays.  He said if it is a fracture it will show up on the xray, but if it is something else he is talking about a bone biopsy.  I am scared to death.

      I had another PET scan done on January 25, 2013 and a spot on my left rib cage 3 rib down from top lit up on the scan.  It was not there on the previous scan from April 2012.  They asked if I had some kind of rib injury since last April and I have not at all.  The doctor said it could be a bone fracture and he wants to do check xrays.  He said if it is a fracture it will show up on the xray, but if it is something else he is talking about a bone biopsy.  I am scared to death. I know I did not hurt my ribs by any accident or injury so I know that is not what it is. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.  I have not visited in a while as things have been going pretty good.  I had my 1 year anniversary from being off interferon September 2012 but I also know that is not a cure. I am just so very scarred….

    Viewing 14 reply threads
    • Replies
        Linny
        Participant

          Getting an x-ray is a good move. Let's hope it's just that — a rib injury. You don't necessarily have to sustain direct trauma to a rib in order to have a fracture. But it is a good thing that your doctor is being proactive and getting to the bottom of it. PET scans have also been known to give false positive results so some doctors also do CT scans.

          Hang in there. {{{{{HUG}}}}}

          Linny
          Participant

            Getting an x-ray is a good move. Let's hope it's just that — a rib injury. You don't necessarily have to sustain direct trauma to a rib in order to have a fracture. But it is a good thing that your doctor is being proactive and getting to the bottom of it. PET scans have also been known to give false positive results so some doctors also do CT scans.

            Hang in there. {{{{{HUG}}}}}

            Linny
            Participant

              Getting an x-ray is a good move. Let's hope it's just that — a rib injury. You don't necessarily have to sustain direct trauma to a rib in order to have a fracture. But it is a good thing that your doctor is being proactive and getting to the bottom of it. PET scans have also been known to give false positive results so some doctors also do CT scans.

              Hang in there. {{{{{HUG}}}}}

              POW
              Participant

                Ugh! This awful period of waiting is always the hardest thing to deal with! I am sorry you have to go through this. 

                I am wondering… I heard that PET scans can give a lot of false positive results. MRI is supposed to be much better for identifying precisely what is causing the problem. Why would your doctor recommend a biopsy rather than an MRI? And if he does do a biopsy, would it be a CT-guided needle biopsy? 

                POW
                Participant

                  Ugh! This awful period of waiting is always the hardest thing to deal with! I am sorry you have to go through this. 

                  I am wondering… I heard that PET scans can give a lot of false positive results. MRI is supposed to be much better for identifying precisely what is causing the problem. Why would your doctor recommend a biopsy rather than an MRI? And if he does do a biopsy, would it be a CT-guided needle biopsy? 

                  POW
                  Participant

                    Ugh! This awful period of waiting is always the hardest thing to deal with! I am sorry you have to go through this. 

                    I am wondering… I heard that PET scans can give a lot of false positive results. MRI is supposed to be much better for identifying precisely what is causing the problem. Why would your doctor recommend a biopsy rather than an MRI? And if he does do a biopsy, would it be a CT-guided needle biopsy? 

                    lunchlady
                    Participant

                      I know it sounds strange but my Mom cracked a rib once by coughing when she had pneumonia.  Praying that it is a cracked rib.

                      Lola

                      lunchlady
                      Participant

                        I know it sounds strange but my Mom cracked a rib once by coughing when she had pneumonia.  Praying that it is a cracked rib.

                        Lola

                        lunchlady
                        Participant

                          I know it sounds strange but my Mom cracked a rib once by coughing when she had pneumonia.  Praying that it is a cracked rib.

                          Lola

                          awillett1991
                          Participant
                            Watch and wait with MRIs is another option – that’s what they did when I went from 3c NED to stage 4 with one bone met. My FORMER oncologist went 3 mos though between the scans. New oncologist I still see thought that was way too long. Now whenever stuff like that comes up it is 4 wks if not on treatment.

                            Maybe just something else though too, my PETs lie to me a lot.

                            awillett1991
                            Participant
                              Watch and wait with MRIs is another option – that’s what they did when I went from 3c NED to stage 4 with one bone met. My FORMER oncologist went 3 mos though between the scans. New oncologist I still see thought that was way too long. Now whenever stuff like that comes up it is 4 wks if not on treatment.

                              Maybe just something else though too, my PETs lie to me a lot.

                              awillett1991
                              Participant
                                Watch and wait with MRIs is another option – that’s what they did when I went from 3c NED to stage 4 with one bone met. My FORMER oncologist went 3 mos though between the scans. New oncologist I still see thought that was way too long. Now whenever stuff like that comes up it is 4 wks if not on treatment.

                                Maybe just something else though too, my PETs lie to me a lot.

                                Lauri England
                                Participant

                                  Thank you everyone for the input.  The doctor called me and stated there is no evidence of an injury to the rib.  Next step is bone biopsy and it has to be with a heart surgen because it is the rib right over my heart…. Scared to death….

                                  Lauri England
                                  Participant

                                    Thank you everyone for the input.  The doctor called me and stated there is no evidence of an injury to the rib.  Next step is bone biopsy and it has to be with a heart surgen because it is the rib right over my heart…. Scared to death….

                                    Lauri England
                                    Participant

                                      Thank you everyone for the input.  The doctor called me and stated there is no evidence of an injury to the rib.  Next step is bone biopsy and it has to be with a heart surgen because it is the rib right over my heart…. Scared to death….

                                  Viewing 14 reply threads
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