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What Causes Chronic Discomfort In The Abdomen With Endometriosis And Small DCIS?
Question: I'm 66, 5'4", 135 lbs., very physically active and healthy. Currently being treated for a small DCIS; surgery was 5/30 and radiation is ongoing until 7/14. I had been experiencing hip pain for months before the breast cancer diagnosis, seeking treatment at chiropractors. It would get better and worse over the months. So I finally went to an orthopedic guy who, in turn, sent me for an MRI and steroid injection. The radiologist didn't like something on the MRI and ordered up another one. Meanwhile the hip started feeling great and I was out hiking and running again. Now he doesn't like the second MRI either and has ordered a PET scan. He's thinking it could be a bone cancer. However, I'm not feeling any back pain in the sacrum area (which is their area of concern). I have some chronic minor discomfort in the lower abdomen. Endometriosis was diagnosed at the time of my complete hysterectomy in 1999. At that time the surgeon told me it was too widespread for her to try to get it all out. So endometrial tissue remains all over in my abdomen. I'm wondering if endometriosis or possibly endometrial cancer could be at play, causing confusing images for the doctors who are looking for orthopedic anomalies.
Brief Answer:
LESS LIKELY TO BE BONE CANCER, REST ELABORATED.
Detailed Answer:
Hello
Thanks for writing to us with your health concern.
Have you been having the chronic discomfort in the abdomen since 1999, or is it a recent development ?
It is very unusual for endometriosis to flare up or become active at the age of 66, as endometriosis is a hormone - dependent condition.
Are you on any hormones currently ?
Also, with a small DCIS, possibility of a bone cancer is very remote.
At times, women with a history of endometriosis have associated loss of bone mineral density, which might be confusing them on the MRI.
A PET scan would then clarify.
Also, endometriosis typically invades the soft tissues in the pelvis, rarely infiltrating the bones, so it cannot be the endometriotic deposits that are confusing them, but maybe the osteoporotic changes, which are common in women with endometriosis.
Endometrial cancer invading bone might give a confusing appearance, but you would be symptomatic - atypical irregular bleeding , lesions found in the uterine body itself etc, which is not the case.
The pain that you describe also is typical of endometriosis ( in the lower abdomen ) and not of any bone cancer.
Can you upload the MRI results ( I know uploading the scan images themselves is cumbersome ) so that I too can have a look ?
Take care.
LESS LIKELY TO BE BONE CANCER, REST ELABORATED.
Detailed Answer:
Hello
Thanks for writing to us with your health concern.
Have you been having the chronic discomfort in the abdomen since 1999, or is it a recent development ?
It is very unusual for endometriosis to flare up or become active at the age of 66, as endometriosis is a hormone - dependent condition.
Are you on any hormones currently ?
Also, with a small DCIS, possibility of a bone cancer is very remote.
At times, women with a history of endometriosis have associated loss of bone mineral density, which might be confusing them on the MRI.
A PET scan would then clarify.
Also, endometriosis typically invades the soft tissues in the pelvis, rarely infiltrating the bones, so it cannot be the endometriotic deposits that are confusing them, but maybe the osteoporotic changes, which are common in women with endometriosis.
Endometrial cancer invading bone might give a confusing appearance, but you would be symptomatic - atypical irregular bleeding , lesions found in the uterine body itself etc, which is not the case.
The pain that you describe also is typical of endometriosis ( in the lower abdomen ) and not of any bone cancer.
Can you upload the MRI results ( I know uploading the scan images themselves is cumbersome ) so that I too can have a look ?
Take care.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Answered by
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