. However, I still think bungee jumping is out of the question. Libby
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CT scan of spine at dx and 4 years later
For anyone wondering whether their spine would "heal" after being on treatment and zometa. I had a CT scan last week and did a side by side comparison of the scan taken at diagnosis. Most of my lesions are still there but they are smaller and the bone surrounding them is more dense . However, I still think bungee jumping is out of the question.
Libby
. However, I still think bungee jumping is out of the question. Libby
-
LibbyC - Name: LibbyC
- Who do you know with myeloma?: myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 2009
- Age at diagnosis: 43
Re: CT scan of spine at dx and 4 years later
Thanks for sharing this experience, Libby. I think Nancy and one or or two other people here in the forum, or in comments, have said they've seen the same thing in their x-rays.
Just out of curiosity, did you discuss the x-rays with your physician? I'm wondering if he confirmed your impression that the x-rays indicate that bone is growing back into the lesions that were shown in earlier x-rays.
The reason I ask is that I also recall some of the physicians here saying in a couple of postings that it's not clear whether drugs like Aredia or Zometa cause bone to actually grow back, or whether they mainly prevent further bone destruction.
Also ... and sorry for this slight stream-of-consciousness posting!
... I wonder if it's the Zometa that is causing your bone to grow back, or if the regrowth is another sign that your allo transplant has been successful. (Mark may be able to add some insight on that subject.)
In any case, congratulations!
Just out of curiosity, did you discuss the x-rays with your physician? I'm wondering if he confirmed your impression that the x-rays indicate that bone is growing back into the lesions that were shown in earlier x-rays.
The reason I ask is that I also recall some of the physicians here saying in a couple of postings that it's not clear whether drugs like Aredia or Zometa cause bone to actually grow back, or whether they mainly prevent further bone destruction.
Also ... and sorry for this slight stream-of-consciousness posting!
... I wonder if it's the Zometa that is causing your bone to grow back, or if the regrowth is another sign that your allo transplant has been successful. (Mark may be able to add some insight on that subject.)In any case, congratulations!
Re: CT scan of spine at dx and 4 years later
Hi Cheryl G,
"did you discuss the x-rays with your physician? I'm wondering if he confirmed your impression that the x-rays indicate that bone is growing back into the lesions that were shown in earlier x-rays."
There are a couple of things I should point out;
1) I still had active disease until 2 years ago - From dx till remission I may have acquired more lesions and/or the lesions already existing may have increased in size.
2) I started Zometa at dx and basically had it every month for 2 years. I haven't had it since the allo 2 years ago.
3) There are no other CT scans of the spine taken during the 4 years - no way of knowing what the exact effect that Zometa and natural healing had prior to my allo.
4) Both scans were taken at the same imaging centre. Comparison of the scans is possible because of the lesions and "odd" bone shapes being present in both. However, the scans are of 3mm sections and they may not have started at exactly the same point. Therefore the lesion size may be slightly different.
5) I used the tissues surrounding the spine as a guide for the contrast of the scans.
Anna, my GP, didn't receive the scans only the report from the imaging centre. If you are not comparing then and now the report could be pretty shocking - "No jumping on the trampoline, you are still at risk of fractures etc. etc. etc. ) I got a copy of both scans and have shown her. She was amazed at the overall bone deposition in the latest scan. (So was her husband (another doctor), my radiographer neice and everyone else that was willing to have a look). My local oncologist (she hasn't seen the scans) told me that the bone growth you would see is not "normal" but rather "scar" bone. I guess a bit like scar tissue. So the growth appears to be from the bone surrounding the lesion into it and not through the lesion (maybe its just sealing off the lesion).
"The reason I ask is that I also recall some of the physicians here saying in a couple of postings that it's not clear whether drugs like Aredia or Zometa cause bone to actually grow back, or whether they mainly prevent further bone destruction."
Unfortunately there is no way of knowing whether the bone deposition is due to Zometa, natural healing, the allograft or a combination of these.
I am starting an exercise programme (part of a project looking at improving QOL in transplant recipients) that will involve resistance and cardiovascular training. Resistance training has been shown to increase bone deposition hence my desire to have a CT scan done prior to commencement of my training. I will be interested to see what my next scan looks like.
All the best,
Libby
"did you discuss the x-rays with your physician? I'm wondering if he confirmed your impression that the x-rays indicate that bone is growing back into the lesions that were shown in earlier x-rays."
There are a couple of things I should point out;
1) I still had active disease until 2 years ago - From dx till remission I may have acquired more lesions and/or the lesions already existing may have increased in size.
2) I started Zometa at dx and basically had it every month for 2 years. I haven't had it since the allo 2 years ago.
3) There are no other CT scans of the spine taken during the 4 years - no way of knowing what the exact effect that Zometa and natural healing had prior to my allo.
4) Both scans were taken at the same imaging centre. Comparison of the scans is possible because of the lesions and "odd" bone shapes being present in both. However, the scans are of 3mm sections and they may not have started at exactly the same point. Therefore the lesion size may be slightly different.
5) I used the tissues surrounding the spine as a guide for the contrast of the scans.
Anna, my GP, didn't receive the scans only the report from the imaging centre. If you are not comparing then and now the report could be pretty shocking - "No jumping on the trampoline, you are still at risk of fractures etc. etc. etc. ) I got a copy of both scans and have shown her. She was amazed at the overall bone deposition in the latest scan. (So was her husband (another doctor), my radiographer neice and everyone else that was willing to have a look). My local oncologist (she hasn't seen the scans) told me that the bone growth you would see is not "normal" but rather "scar" bone. I guess a bit like scar tissue. So the growth appears to be from the bone surrounding the lesion into it and not through the lesion (maybe its just sealing off the lesion).
"The reason I ask is that I also recall some of the physicians here saying in a couple of postings that it's not clear whether drugs like Aredia or Zometa cause bone to actually grow back, or whether they mainly prevent further bone destruction."
Unfortunately there is no way of knowing whether the bone deposition is due to Zometa, natural healing, the allograft or a combination of these.
I am starting an exercise programme (part of a project looking at improving QOL in transplant recipients) that will involve resistance and cardiovascular training. Resistance training has been shown to increase bone deposition hence my desire to have a CT scan done prior to commencement of my training. I will be interested to see what my next scan looks like.
All the best,
Libby
-
LibbyC - Name: LibbyC
- Who do you know with myeloma?: myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 2009
- Age at diagnosis: 43
3 posts
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