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Breast Cancer/PET Scan
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Question
My sister was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer 1.5cm lump. She had a lumpectomy, 4 rounds of AC and 12 weekly doses of Taxol which she finished up in April of this year. She recently went for a PET Scan and two 6mm nodes were identified. One behind the pectoral muscle (exactly where the oringal cancer was) and one axillary node. There was no hypermetabolism. Do you think this is metastatic breast cancer or could it be something else. They want to do a repeat PET in 6 months. Obviously we are very concerned. Is it possible to have a recurrence so soon after chemo has finished. Thanks for your help.
It is possible but not probable (though this may be an example of why I think postsurgical radiation therapy ALWAYS should be given after a lumpectomy). To be sure I think - since it is known where these 2 nodes are - ultrasound scanning should be used in order to try to find them again and then use ultrasound guidance to do needle biopsies of them. That way we would KNOW what they are and she would be relieved of this anxious waiting.
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Answers by Expert:
Claes-Gustaf Nordquist, M.D.
Expertise
I`m a doctor of medicine and a specialist in radiation therapy and medical oncology. I have long experience in diagnostics and treatment of breast tumours.
Experience
I'm a Doctor of Medicine and specialist in Medical Oncology and Radiation Therapy educated & trained in Sweden. Now retired. Background in Radiation Therapy, Medical Oncology, Radiation Protection, Nuclear Medicine, Diagnostic Radiology, Gynecological Oncology, Clinical Pathology, Clinical Cytology,Hematology and Internal Medicine. M.D. from the faculty of medicine, Royal Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden. Have also been an exchange student at the Hebrew University, Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem Israel. Former medical consultant, Swedish National Board of Radiation Protection. Former Police Surgeon and Medical Examiner, Stockholm Police Department. Former Chief Medical Officer, The Royal Guards, The Royal Horse Guards and the Royal Household Brigade, Royal Swedish Army Medical Corps.You can also reach me on: http://www.lifestylerescue.com/expert/health-fitness-advice/dr-claes-gustaf/128 I have no restrictions on the number of questions there.
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I'm a medical doctor and specialist in medical oncology and radiation therapy.
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