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connsteele
New User
Joined: 27 Jun 2008
Posts: 3
Location: Dayton, OH
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 Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2008 2:07 pm Post subject: Possible misdiagnosis and obstinate radiation doc |
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My husband (dx: psa 2.5, Gleason 8, RPT 2003, salvage radiation 2005) has been dealing with severe back pain. An MRI of the spine was clear and another of the pelvis revealed one area of "suspicious activity" that the radiation oncologist said is bone mets (same time, his psa went from 0.7 to 0.6!). However, his surgeon feels that the pelvic MRI results are not definitive of bone mets and in light of his low psa, he doesn't want to see him unless his PSA doubles in a six month period.
Meanwhile, the radiation oncologist says at this point our only option is "quality of life care," which consists of injections of Quadramet. No chemo, nothing.
However, we are looking into a possible misdiagnosis. The way the back pain came on and presented itself, and his medical history (back trauma and pelvic rad) also points to a condition that is often misdiagnosed on MRI as bone mets: sacral insufficiency fracture. Our family doc even said that a radiologist's reading of a scan can be "colored" by a person's medical history.
Needless to say, We are currently seeking a second opinion on this.
It feels like the rad oncologist has more or less written my husband off. He absolutely refuses to even consider this might be a sacral fracture, but bases his dx solely on the questionable MRI. So, my question: if the rad doc is so d#!* sure that it is bone mets, shouldn't he have ordered more tests to see where else mets might be showing up, ie, chest x-ray, blood work, etc?
Appreciate any thoughts.
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Replicant
Moderator
Joined: 01 Nov 2006
Posts: 244
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| Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2008 4:02 pm Post subject: I would have thought.. |
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I would have thought that a full body, nuclear bone scan would be done to look for areas of uptake. But this is on the edge of what I know about prostate cancer. Hopefully JohnW100 will post a response here.
My inclination would be to consult with a medical oncologist and an orthopedist who specializes in spines.
Good luck!
_________________
Replicant
Dx Feb 2006, PSA 9 @age 43
RRP Apr 2006 - Gleason 3+4, T3a, N0M0, pos margins
PSA 5/06 <0.1, 8/06 0.2, 12/06 0.6, 1/07 0.7.
Salvage radiation (IMRT) total dose 70.2 Gy, Jan-Mar 2007@ age 44
PSA 6/07 0.1, 9/07 <0.1, 12/07 <0.1, 4/08 <0.1, 11/08 <0.1
http://pcabefore50.blogspot.com |
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brainman
Site Admin
Joined: 13 Oct 2005
Posts: 4209
Location: Tennessee
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| Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2008 1:55 pm Post subject: Re: Possible misdiagnosis and obstinate radiation doc |
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connsteele, I am very sorry about your husband's cancer. I would certainly seek a second opinion... not so much because I think your husband has been misdiagnosed but because, based on the information you have given, I do not see the treatment option being only to improve his "quality of life". Of course, only his medical team knows enough about his condition to make that determination. But before giving up on "quantaty of life" I would certainly get a second opinion.
You and your husband are in my thoughts and prayers.
_________________
Jim
Site Administrator and long-term cancer survivor
1992 Astrocytoma grade 2, left motor strip
2005 Recurrence this time said to be an Oligodendoglioma grade 3, same location.
My Story Part 1: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=7350
My Story Part 2: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=8029
Blog http://jimhawkinsport.blogspot.com/ |
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