Recently, my mother has complained about breast and rib pain, and has had two mamograms and one gamma ray scan. She has a breast MRI scheduled next week due to an abnormal uptake noted in the gamma scan. This is her history: she has had a cancerous breast lumpectomy in 2005. She also had bladder cancer in 1998 that was stage IV, her bladder was removed and replaced with an Indiana pouch. She has been diagnosed with Monoclonal Gamopathy and gets bloodwork done every three months. The doctor refuses to consider a PET scan in lieu of the MRI. I am concerned with the possibility of myeloma that the MRI of the breast will not detect the rib area where there is currently pain. I have asked, but he is just concerned with the breast and not other areas. Am I being unreasonable considering her history to insist on a PET scan? Thank you for any assistance you can give.
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Q: Would a PET scan better diagnose her condition?
Tamara, I could advise that the plan they've developed for your mother sounds like standard of care for breast cancer. However, I don't have the knowledge to advise you about standard of care for other cancers. Perhaps a PET scan would be better for diagnosing those... I just don't know. Thus, I'd ask your mom's doctor exactly the questions you've asked here. Advocate: for her, and yourself. Don't let him/her brush you off. Keep at it till you get a solid answer, one that satisfies you. Good luck - PJH
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