I have a tender growing lump on my rib cage. I'm waiting for a cat scan results. I was wondering what are the symptoms of bone cancer and what are the tests? Can a cat scan show if there is some sort of cancer there? I had an x ray done and it came back clear but my doctor is still concerend as am I. I can feel the lump threw my skin and its tender to touch and does not more. its extreamly hard.

Hello,

I agree with the first opinion about sticking to your doctor's advice, but perhaps a bit of background might not be out of order.

In the rib cage, only the rear two-thirds of each rib is actually made of bone. Approximately the front third is made of gristle, (cartilage). The point where the two (bone and gristle) join, is sometimes a site for swelling if you're very low on vitamin D.

Another possibility is whether,if your lump is in the 'boney' part of the rib, whether you might have knocked and cracked the rib at that point, I mean injured it? A swelling develops at the point where a bone fracture is healing.

There are two species of bone cancer. in the first, less common kind, a cancer of the bone actually starts off in the bone. in the second, more common kind, a cancer in bone is a 'secondary deposit' from a cancer somewhere else in the body.

Cancers in bone, indeed a lot of bone diseases, can be accompanied by changes in the calcium- and bone enzyme- levels in the blood, I wondered if you'd had any blood tests too.

Cat scans, which are basically computerized X rays which show the bone in 3- dimensions, are good at showing up hard bone problems, including cancer. Problems in softer tissues than bone, are often shown up better by an 'MRI' scan.

Hope this background information is of some help.

Best wishes,

Belliger (retired uk gp)

Bone cancer doesn't necessarily cause any noticeable symptoms at first. Often the first symptoms that people typically notice are unusual bone breaks or symptoms associated with blood disorders – anemia, fatigue, weight loss, etc (since bone cancer usually causes blood cell abnormalities). Bone cancer is diagnosed by a blood test and/or a biopsy of bone tissue.

Bone cancer seldom causes lumps to develop, so most likely, the lump is not bone cancer, but it could be some other type of cancer, begin tumor, or cyst. It's a good symptom to find a hard lump – that means that whatever is causing the lump is well-encapsulated, which makes it difficult for cells to spread if they are cancerous.

ct should tell if there is a tumor also other tests are bone scan, MRI, and blood test. Most tumors on the bone should show up on an x-ray. that is how my son's was first diagnosed. we then had all the other test run to find out what type it was. Good luck to you!

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Could I have scars in my pancreas?
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Could I have scars in my pancreas?
Hello. Five years ago I had three pancreatitis attacks that kept me at the hospital for several days each. Then a year later I had one that was so serious I nearly lost my life in intensive care. I am wondering if these attacks, although I have not have any again could have left scars in my pancreas. while I don't have pain, I do have the other symptoms of bloading; feeling full and pain in the back. Also, What I have is hereditary pancreas genenic. Would a CT scan of the stomach show that? thank you for your reply.

The pancreas does not "scar". however the tissue of the pancreas does damage, and it becomes fibrotic or hard. Pancreas tissue does not regenerate. this means when it is damaged it is not replaced with new fresh tissue, the damaged tissue, becomes hard and does not function.
A cat scan looks at the anatomy of your pancreas, it does not diagnose. Only a physician or health care provider can diagnose. A cat scan is a test done in the radiology department of a hospital. I don't understand what you mean by heredity pancreas genenic. Are you trying to say that you have Hereditary Pancreatitis and that it is genetic? the only way to determine that you have Heredity Pancreatitis would be from blood or tissue tests.
It is possible for a person to have chronic pancreatitis. It is also possible to have chronic pancreatitis when the cause is hereditary.
If you are having symptoms it would be best to speak with your physician regarding your symptoms. There is no cure for pancreatitis, however there are treatments. At the least the cause for your symptoms should be determined.

Aretha Franklin says her health problem “has been resolved,” but did not disclose what it was or confirm recent reports that said she had pancreatic cancer.

In November, the 68-year-old “Queen of Soul” canceled all concert dates and personal appearances through May 2011 by order of her doctors. she underwent surgery at a Detroit hospital on December 2 and said it was successful but did not specify her ailment.

“I don’t have to talk about my health with anybody other than my doctors,” JET magazine quoted Franklin as saying recently. “The problem has been resolved.”

she said that she felt pain on her side during a concert in Canada last year and a CAT-scan revealed her ailment.

“I know my fans are concerned,” Franklin told the magazine. “Let them know I am feeling great and coming along.”

recent reports have said Franklin is battling pancreatic cancer, the fourth-leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States.

the disease and is difficult to treat because it is often found late and symptoms are usually not apparent in its early stages. Actor Patrick Swayze died of the disease at age 57 in 2009.

Risk factors for developing pancreatic cancer include smoking, hereditary disorders, chronic pancreatitis and long-term diabetes. Franklin has for years been overweight, a condition that can lead to several health ailments, including Type 2 diabetes and various forms of cancer.

Franklin was the target of an online death hoax in late December, following news of the death of Teena Marie, an R&B singer often dubbed the “Ivory Queen of Soul.”