Breast Cancer Cat Scan and Bone Density

Hi G3org1e, 

Thanks for getting in touch, and welcome to the Online Community. My name is Ursula and I’m one of the cancer information nurse specialists here at Macmillan cancer support.

I am sorry to read of your sister’s diagnosis of triple negative breast cancer (TNBC), and that results have shown spread to a single lymph node. I appreciate this must be a worrying time for you all and it is understandable to have questions around what is happening.

Here at Macmillan, we are independent of the NHS and do not have access to medical records or information. We are therefore unable to give personalised advice, however we can give general information and support.

Following a diagnosis people often need more tests and scans to find out more about the cancer, and to prepare for treatment. When all your results are available, what usually happens is that these will be discussed by the multidisciplinary team (MDT), who will meet to discuss the results of these tests and plan treatment.

At this point they will be trying to gather as much information as possible about your sister’s cancer and sometimes the results of one test can lead to another test being carried out. As cancer cells were picked up in one of your sister’s lymph nodes it is possible they want to do a CT scan to check whether the cancer has spread to any other parts of the body.  Please reassure your sister that this would be normal practice.

Bone density scans are used to check the density of the bones. If a person’s bone density is low they have a higher risk of a bone fracture. Some breast cancer treatments can lower bone density and increase the risk of osteoporosis and fractures, which is often why a bone density scan is carried out before starting certain treatments.

Hopefully your sister has been allocated a breast care nurse at this time, they are another source of support and would be able to answer questions around her diagnosis, the tests and investigations she is having and her proposed treatment.

It may be helpful for your sister to plan for her consultation by thinking of questions to ask her healthcare team.

I am sorry that your sister is worrying at this understandably difficult time. Please let her know there is other support available and also for you as you support your sister with this.

It may also be helpful to chat in more detail with one of our nurses, by giving our support line a call. We often find we can explain our answers in a bit more detail over the phone, giving you the opportunity to ask more questions if needed. We also have a triple negative breast cancer forum for people with TNBC and their loved ones, and a forum for friends and family of someone with cancer where you can share your feelings and get support.

Also, the UK charity for TNBC are a charity dedicated to triple negative breast cancer. They too have information and support available, which may be worth exploring if you haven’t already done so. 

I do hope you find this information helpful, but please do not hesitate to get back in touch with us if you need any further support.  

Take care,  

Ursula 

Cancer Information Nurse Specialist  

You can also speak with the Macmillan Support Line team of experts. Phone free on 0808 808 0000 (7 days a week, 8am-8pm) or send us an email.   

Ref: UH/KE