Bone scan

Yes. It had already spread to my lymph nodes, and they wanted to make sure it hadn’t spread anywhere else yet. (It hasn’t)

They did a PET scan on me before I started chemo.

Yes. Having a Dexascan next week. Insurance only covers it once every two years.

I begged for a PET scan and they think I was silly. IBC stage 3.

@mjpayan. More likely they thought it was too expensive. That attitude pervades, unfortunately. My docs insisted on a pet scan before my surgery. They told me it was the only way they could tell how widespread the cancer was. Please advocate for yourself and find someone who sees the worth and is willing to do it.

Thanks for your quick response. I bet it had a lot to do with clean lymph nodes. They only took two.

I asked for a pet scan after my first chemo treatment. It turned out my partial mastectomy wasn’t healed needed to be packed for two months. Then I could continue with 5 more treatments and radiation. I was very concerned.

Understandable to be concerned. I still say we need to be our best advocates. If they don't explain things well enough, we need to keep asking until we understand. It all can be so overwhelming and confusing!

I have not been diagnosed with anything. My left breast has been itching and hurting for a couple of months. Now the pain is more intense and I am worried. I had a very red rash but it is gone now. The soonest the imaging clinic could get me in is the end of this May. I am worried about IBC but I don't have orange peel....my breast hurts and feels heavy. It doesn't look swollen. I just don't know what to do...my gut says something is wrong.

So, this is the only place you can get a mammogram?

I would check other companies to see if they can see you earlier as you are concerned.

Even though they say to go to same site and machine each time, if this does not feel right, call around.
If no luck, put yourself on a cancellation list for the original site.

I am on a cancellation list but I will look for another place to go. thank you