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Melanoma on the Hip?
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Melanoma on the Hip?

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Melanoma on the Hip?

  • Post
    • January 25, 2013 at 11:20 pm
    buffcody
    Participant

      I've had metastases to the lung and brain so far. All have been treated or removed.   Just had a PET scan done yesterday and won't see my oncologist for my results till next Wednesday, but an "inside source" who got a look at my scan report says that there is a suspicious marble-size tumor on my left hip accompaied by bursitis.  Anyone know anything about mets to the hip?  I don't even know if they are talking about the hip bone right now. I'm so bad with anatomy that I am not sure whether when someone tells you that somethin

      I've had metastases to the lung and brain so far. All have been treated or removed.   Just had a PET scan done yesterday and won't see my oncologist for my results till next Wednesday, but an "inside source" who got a look at my scan report says that there is a suspicious marble-size tumor on my left hip accompaied by bursitis.  Anyone know anything about mets to the hip?  I don't even know if they are talking about the hip bone right now. I'm so bad with anatomy that I am not sure whether when someone tells you that something is on the hip that means the hip BONE or not? 

      Not happy, of course, with the presumed news. I've been on ipi since October 30 with fourth infusion over three weeks ago.  No other body mets supposedly when I went on ipi and the brain mets were zapped 7 weeks in.   Am happy there was nothing suspicious besides this showing up in my first PET in 3 1/2 months.  I have had left leg pain for a few months, before the last PET scan in October, that I was receiving physical therapy for and baffled two therapists.  But why no sign of this tumor before the last PET scan? Anyway, I won't jump to conclusions but am interested since I know what I know in learning more.

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        • January 26, 2013 at 12:13 am
        POW
        Participant

          PET scans just show areas of increased metabolic activity. Rapidly growing cancer cells metabolize a lot of glucose and show up on PET scans. But any type of increased activity can light up a PET scan. If you have arthritis or bursitis in the hip, that may well be causing an inflammatory reaction in the affected area which would show up on a PET. With no other mets and a good response to ipi, I suspect it's plain, ordinary arthritis or bursitis. 

          • January 26, 2013 at 12:13 am
          POW
          Participant

            PET scans just show areas of increased metabolic activity. Rapidly growing cancer cells metabolize a lot of glucose and show up on PET scans. But any type of increased activity can light up a PET scan. If you have arthritis or bursitis in the hip, that may well be causing an inflammatory reaction in the affected area which would show up on a PET. With no other mets and a good response to ipi, I suspect it's plain, ordinary arthritis or bursitis. 

            • January 26, 2013 at 12:13 am
            POW
            Participant

              PET scans just show areas of increased metabolic activity. Rapidly growing cancer cells metabolize a lot of glucose and show up on PET scans. But any type of increased activity can light up a PET scan. If you have arthritis or bursitis in the hip, that may well be causing an inflammatory reaction in the affected area which would show up on a PET. With no other mets and a good response to ipi, I suspect it's plain, ordinary arthritis or bursitis. 

              • January 26, 2013 at 1:45 am
              awillett1991
              Participant
                My PETs are notoriously wrong, but did find a small met in my pelvis – rt side, which was confirmed via MRI. I had the area resected, put in plates, screws, bone cement then did radiation. No trouble in this area since.

                Don’t drive yourself nuts without all the information. I’m sure the PET will reference a hip socket, pelvic bonevarea, or leg bone and have the doc explain what you don’t understand.

                I’ve also had scans where they’ve said “now looking back at the prior scan this area can be seen but was very small” ya da ya da. All very subjective. This is what CT and MRI is for.

                • January 26, 2013 at 1:45 am
                awillett1991
                Participant
                  My PETs are notoriously wrong, but did find a small met in my pelvis – rt side, which was confirmed via MRI. I had the area resected, put in plates, screws, bone cement then did radiation. No trouble in this area since.

                  Don’t drive yourself nuts without all the information. I’m sure the PET will reference a hip socket, pelvic bonevarea, or leg bone and have the doc explain what you don’t understand.

                  I’ve also had scans where they’ve said “now looking back at the prior scan this area can be seen but was very small” ya da ya da. All very subjective. This is what CT and MRI is for.

                  • January 26, 2013 at 1:45 am
                  awillett1991
                  Participant
                    My PETs are notoriously wrong, but did find a small met in my pelvis – rt side, which was confirmed via MRI. I had the area resected, put in plates, screws, bone cement then did radiation. No trouble in this area since.

                    Don’t drive yourself nuts without all the information. I’m sure the PET will reference a hip socket, pelvic bonevarea, or leg bone and have the doc explain what you don’t understand.

                    I’ve also had scans where they’ve said “now looking back at the prior scan this area can be seen but was very small” ya da ya da. All very subjective. This is what CT and MRI is for.

                    • February 2, 2013 at 2:29 pm
                    buffcody
                    Participant

                      I saw my oncologist on Wednesday.  The met is not on the hip but the left buttock, subcentimeter right next to or on the gluteus maximus.  No other progression.  The brain tumors are: stable (one) , smaller (two) after SRS.  Decision, having just completed ipi infusions ending four weeks ago, is to watch and wait until further scans in 8 weeks.  I'm in NYC this weekend to get a second opinion with Dr. Chapman at Sloan on Monday.  I signed up with him back in October and feel is is worth the trip to get more expertise than I have at the University of Michigan.  I'm happy to have passed eight months from diagnosis with relative tranquility, though the itching from the ipi is worse now than it's been.

                      • February 2, 2013 at 2:29 pm
                      buffcody
                      Participant

                        I saw my oncologist on Wednesday.  The met is not on the hip but the left buttock, subcentimeter right next to or on the gluteus maximus.  No other progression.  The brain tumors are: stable (one) , smaller (two) after SRS.  Decision, having just completed ipi infusions ending four weeks ago, is to watch and wait until further scans in 8 weeks.  I'm in NYC this weekend to get a second opinion with Dr. Chapman at Sloan on Monday.  I signed up with him back in October and feel is is worth the trip to get more expertise than I have at the University of Michigan.  I'm happy to have passed eight months from diagnosis with relative tranquility, though the itching from the ipi is worse now than it's been.

                        • February 2, 2013 at 2:29 pm
                        buffcody
                        Participant

                          I saw my oncologist on Wednesday.  The met is not on the hip but the left buttock, subcentimeter right next to or on the gluteus maximus.  No other progression.  The brain tumors are: stable (one) , smaller (two) after SRS.  Decision, having just completed ipi infusions ending four weeks ago, is to watch and wait until further scans in 8 weeks.  I'm in NYC this weekend to get a second opinion with Dr. Chapman at Sloan on Monday.  I signed up with him back in October and feel is is worth the trip to get more expertise than I have at the University of Michigan.  I'm happy to have passed eight months from diagnosis with relative tranquility, though the itching from the ipi is worse now than it's been.

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