bone test

[Iwouldlike2knowmore]

I just found out that i need a bone scan I do have mbc in the liver my blood test said my calcium is 10.5 should i be worried about this. Helena

[awesome4ever]

Hi Helena. You live in the USA so your Calcium level is just above the accepted high level. Hypercalcemia (at higher levels than yours) can be serious so your doctor wants to determine the cause. Since you already have MBC it would be reasonable for them to want to do a full body bone scan to determine if perhaps you may have any bone mets. With bone mets the cancer eats away at the bone and deposits the calcium into your blood stream. Of course there can be other reasons why your Calcium is elevated too. I have been getting bone scans every 3 months since my diagnosis back in May 2018. Good luck and please keep us updated.

[Iwouldlike2knowmore in reply to awesome4ever]

Thank you for your response, I am getting a bone scan on january 6th. So I will let you know. Helena

[bikebabe]

Sorry -it’s all very stressful. There are bone strengthening medications eg xgeva that also reduce rate of metastatic bone spread. They have their risks but seem to be very effective.

[Iwouldlike2knowmore in reply to bikebabe]

I know there are side effects for exgeva and others.

[bikebabe in reply to Iwouldlike2knowmore]

It’s a ‘risk’ of having side effects not definitive. Been on xgeva for 3 yrs now with no side effects at all and no other bone mets apart from spine. I was terrified at first due to condition of my teeth but my dentist has been so good and I’ve been diligent. She retired a few days ago and I’m gutted.

[wendle3007]

My mets are in my spine and pelvis. It's nearly 4 years since my diagnosis with no progression.

[Bettybuckets in reply to wendle3007]

That is a very good sign with Mets still just in the bones!

[Iwouldlike2knowmore in reply to Bettybuckets]

I have it in my liver also.

[Praising in reply to Bettybuckets]

mine is also. Today I woke up with pain in my hip area? I take fluveserant shots. In pain what do I take. 1st time

[Iwouldlike2knowmore in reply to Praising]

I had the shots long ago with Ibrance and they quit working.

[Bettybuckets in reply to Praising]

You can take both Tylenol and a non steroidal med like Motrin at the same time for most relief.

[Artesa in reply to wendle3007]

That's very encouraging news to hear. I find this whole process very scary and uncertain.

[Praising in reply to wendle3007]

What is your current treatment?

[Iwouldlike2knowmore in reply to Praising]

Right now I am just on orsertu.

[wendle3007 in reply to Praising]

For my bones I'm on Denosumab (Xgeva) plus calcium and vit d. For cancer control I'm on palbociclib (Ibrance) and Letrozole

[love2golfwell]

Sending you hugs, prayers and positive thoughts that your bone scan will go well and that it will not show any issues.

[Artesa in reply to love2golfwell]

I hope all goes well and the scan is negative. 👍

[Iwouldlike2knowmore in reply to love2golfwell]

Thank You.

[Iwouldlike2knowmore in reply to love2golfwell]

Thank You

[fancydog]

Nuclear Bone Scans every 3 months is part of my routine along with a CT of chest and abdomen. So far I have not developed bone mets although my Calcium level is the same as yours.

[Iwouldlike2knowmore in reply to fancydog]

Well I hope I can say the same. Thank You

[Praising in reply to fancydog]

Do you do the tests on separate days I go in Jan for both. I have Mets in bone

[Iwouldlike2knowmore in reply to Praising]

Jan bone scan and in Feb a ct scan, It never ends does it.

[fancydog in reply to Praising]

I do the Nuclear bone scan and CT w/contrast on the same day

[Praising in reply to fancydog]

Can you tell me how since 2 different injections and dyes?

[fancydog in reply to Praising]

The nuclear dye is only absorbed by bone while the CT contrast is diffusely absorbed for a brief period by many organs and excreted quickly by the kidneys. My Onc orders these to be done on the same day then when I see her the next day all the results are in.

[Praising in reply to fancydog]

Do you do the ct fort and then bone injection and wait 3 hr?

[awesome4ever in reply to Praising]

I get bone scan injection first and get them to put in an IV access which I keep insitu and then walk over to CT scan area where I get that dye and procedure done. Then they can remove the IV and I wait for 2 hours (2 1/2 is the time required for the bone scan dye to circulate through the skeletal system) but figuring in transport to the CT, getting the scan and removing the IV I figure in 30 minutes have already passed. My husband and I go for coffee or lunch depending on the time frame and then we return to nuclear medicine for the bone scan. The nurse is always waiting for me and gives me a heated blanket to cover with during the scan. I am never cold but the blanket just feels soothing so I take it every time. I have been going to the same area since my first set of scans in May 2018 and then Q3months so I know all the nurses there so generally I ask about their families or events I remember from previous scans and of course they always ask how I'm doing, feeling, how my vacations to Maui have been (we try to go every 6 months) etc. All in all a very pleasant experience. Typically if you tell your oncologist you would like them on the same day they will put that in their order request. As soon as I have a scan and the report is entered into the EMR my oncologist calls me and then puts in a request for the next set for the date I have told her works best for me. So typically on the same day or the next day I get an alert in my EMR with the day and time of the next. I think if they aren't ordered on same day then getting on the same day would be more difficult for them to schedule? Take care.

[Praising]

no she wanted them both done when I see in Jan. Can’t get bone till feb. Like mo apart. Bone scan don’t like

[fancydog in reply to Praising]

CT is scheduled between nuclear injection and nuclear scan

[Praising in reply to fancydog]

Thanks. I was wondering if they could do the dyes together. You explained.