Is getting a CT scan & bone scan standard for early breast cancer?

Posted by brighterdays @brighterdays, Apr 20, 2023

I was diagnosed with stage 1A, ER,PR+, HER-, T1, N0 EBC. I had a lumpectomy. My doctors did not order any additional CT and bone scans but the nurse from where I’ll be getting a second opinion called and said I should get it done. I’m worried now. Is EBC ever misdiagnosed when it’s actually metastatic?

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I had early stage breast cancer and had MRI ,Cat Scan and bone scan. They can see where the cancer is and make sure it isn't anywhere else. I'm glad they did this. It made me feel safer and they new what treatments to give. Best wishes on your journey. Think8ng of you.

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I think that's normal to add CT scan as well as a bone scan. My Dr tries to get a PET scan because that scan tells everything. If I don't get that one then a CT and Bone scan is ordered which is the next step down. I had a unilateral mastectomy 6 weeks ago and I just had my CT and Bone scan a few days ago. The CT is normally chest and abdomen and the bone scan is head to toe.

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@brighterdays, did you get further imaging scans done?

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I had a Pet Scan and bone scan in very beginning of my journey. I was glad ,as it makes you feel a little more at ease because the scans show everything.

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After the surgery the histology of the tumor and sentinel lymph node usually is done. If the lymph nodes are negative, no cancerous cells were found, you do not have a metastatic cancer. It is what my oncologist tells me.
I did not have CT scan before or after the surgery.

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@jpnnobx

I think that's normal to add CT scan as well as a bone scan. My Dr tries to get a PET scan because that scan tells everything. If I don't get that one then a CT and Bone scan is ordered which is the next step down. I had a unilateral mastectomy 6 weeks ago and I just had my CT and Bone scan a few days ago. The CT is normally chest and abdomen and the bone scan is head to toe.

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how was bones scan? I'm afraid. Any bad reaction?

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I agree with others that scans put me at ease because they are such a great diagnostic tool to be sure cancer hasn’t spread. I had all the scans when I had stage 1 breast cancer CT MRI PET. Now I have MBC and wish they would do an annual bone scan routinely for my peace of mind but they only did that one during the initial scans. To me all scans are very easy to do. Breast MRI is the only challenge for my body due to Superman flying position. I always breathe easier when scans come back good. Hugs to you.

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@cctoo

how was bones scan? I'm afraid. Any bad reaction?

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No bad reaction to bone scan and I’ve had a minimum of 8 of them. You lay in scanner and it goes from head to toe examining each area. It takes about 20 min. They do inject the dye and then you come back 3 hours later for scan. You can eat and drink liquid during this time. I joke with the staff and say I pee green but you don’t! I hate to do as many as I have but I’m Stage 4 so they want to keep an eye on my situation. The last bone scan it actually said you could get more info from my CT scan. If I can’t get PET scan due to insurance then they do both CT and Bone scans at the same time. Plus your not in a capsule during scan it’s a machine over the top of you. Good luck!

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@colleenyoung

@brighterdays, did you get further imaging scans done?

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Yes! I got both scans done and both are clean. Gives me a piece of mind.

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I did not have any imaging, until I had a chest and abdomen CT prior to a GI consult. They saw some red flags so they ordered a bone scan and repeat CT and they were fine.
Both of my oncologists said no imaging with my Stage 1B.

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