Ask an Expert is a free question-and-answer service about breast cancer and breast health that is available on weekends. If you'd like to ask a question or comment, please visit us again on Saturday or Sunday. In the meantime, please search the existing topics using the search tool at the top of the page. It's quite possible that one of our many existing topics already addresses your question.
If you would like a consultation with a breast specialist at the Johns Hopkins Avon Foundation Breast Center, call 443-778-2778. It is possible to get an appointment for a second opinion within a few days of contacting us.
We hope you find the information helpful!
| Forum | Questions | Ask a Question | |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Metastatic Breast Cancer Questions about advanced metastatic breast cancer. |
2,616 |  |
| Asked | Publicly Submitted Question | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 4/17/2012 | I was told after pep scan that I had nodule on my chest bone and also spots on my liver on my left side | ||
| Replied | JHU's Breast Center Reply | ||
| 4/18/2012 | I suspect you mean a PET scan. So if this test was done to determine if breast cancer has traveled to other organs then it would seem that the oncologist's next step might be to have a biopsy done of one or both areas to more definitively determine this. If found to be breast cancer at these locations then the stage becomes stage IV and the treatment will be based on treating this as a chronic illness. the prognostic factors of the metastatic disease also would need to be tested by the pathologist once a biopsy is performed too as the hormone receptors and HER2 receptor can actually change when breast cacner travels to distant organ sites. | ||
Please note: This service is not intended to provide primary medical advice concerning specific medical care or treatment. Ask an Expert is a free service operated by health care professionals at the Johns Hopkins Avon Foundation Breast Center. Due to the volume of questions and their complexity, there are times when medical oncologists, surgeons, radiation oncologists or oncology nurses are consulted for their input. These individuals volunteer their time for this service and will respond as soon as they are able. Please do not post or send the same question to us in multiple locations or categories.