hi ladies, I have a question
I have MBC to my neck and I am on Ibrance 100, faslodex and xgeva for about four years. The treatment is working so far! My previous ONC used to order MRI and CT scans two times a year. My new ONC now ordered Bone scan total body. Even if I don’t feel pain and I don’t know if it is necessary to do that. Is this necessary to do it for first time after 4 years? Ant in sites would be appreciated
Thank you
Sima
Possibly because of your age--your oncologist may be looking for osteoporosis because some medications cause that. Or may be looking for small mets to the bones after this length of time. I had 4.5 happy years on almost exactly the same treatment, just 75 mg Ibrance plus the Faslodex and the Xgeva every three months (started on 125 mg Ibrance, which was too much for me). Have some kind of scan every six months. But the August one showed mets to liver so we're trying to find something that works without a ton of side effects. Ibrance, etc felt like not having cancer for me--just the dry hair and occasional breathlessness, but I had normal energy. Now I've tried capacetabine plus the Avastin biosimilar--quit the capacetabine due to extreme hand/foot syndrome and now was on Avastin and Paclitaxel, so I'm bald and feel too tired much of the time, though I do go to the gym and my tap dance class. May switch to Exemestane and Everolimus soon. Want to (hope I can) get on something stabilizing and then the miraculous (so they say) Enhertu.
Also find out whether a PET or PET/MRI is likely to show something. These are expensive--think in Europe 6000 euro but I got to be a guinea pig: some doctors are studying different types of tracers; one worked on me, so I get a scan and get to see results and they see how well the tracer works and I don't know who pays--but not me! Not my insurance co, either.
I had one total body bone scan two years after diagnosis with CT scans every three months. The focus of the report was on the fact that no new lesions were found so I think Melpub's comments above are probably accurate. Your oncologist likely wants to be sure that nothing has been missed as the CT scans have a more limited scope with regard to bones.
thank you so much for the info
Why not ask why they have ordered the bone scan. I have one every year but I have mets to the hip bone and lungs. Breast removed in 2020. Cancer has never returned there.
Cheers, June S.
The bone scan is my favorite because it has the least amount of radiation; in fact, I read it has the same amount as a normal xray. just a tidbit I read and thought I'd share! God bless you and heal us all in Jesus name, amen!
wow I didn’t know that thank you I learned something
Amen!
HI..Yes you should get a bone scan
shows the weakness or hairline cracks and other things
I do mine October 26th
Makes a long Day..bring a book.. laptop
thank you
Hi Sima! I have had full body bone scan in addition to CT scan of Chest, stomach and pelvis every three months since diagnosed almost 2 years ago. After getting to NED (no evidence of disease) in March this year on 125 mg of Ibrance and Faslodex my Onc agreed when Aug scans still showed NED that I could move to scans every 6 months. My Mets were in my left lung but Onc told me when I was first diagnosed that most show up in bones first so that’s why he wanted to do the bone scan but then kept ordering to monitor any possible progression to bones. I would take advantage of any scans you can get to stay on top of any possible progression.
thank you so much for sharing your experience. That why I love this forum 🙏
In my opinion Ithink the body scan gives me and the onc the best view of tumor status and how well the meds are working. I have 3 CT'S, a brain MRI and a full body scan every 3 months. I have bone tumors from head to toe.
Getting CT and bone scan
MRI and Bone Scan update (Stage IV BC)
Bone scan results
