Topic: How Does Bone Mets Act? Treatments and Tests?

Sugar,

Bone mets can be quite variable.  Sometimes mine hurt, sometimes they don't.  It was that way before my diagnosis as well.  The radiation can kill the cancer but cause damage to the bone.  What you feel may be normal, but I wouldn't assume anything.  Tell your doctor about any new or returning symptom and let him or her let you know whether it is significant.  You shouldn't put up with a lot of pain; you deserve to have it treated effectively.

Different doctors have different practices regarding tumor markers.  My doctor runs mine occasionally, but does't tell me so I don't stress out about them.  He thinks that symptoms are a better indicator than markers, which are notoriously unreliable.  Other doctors test them regularly, and note trends.  Ask your doctor about his or her philosophy.  If you are a worry wart, maybe you don't want to know.  Others really want to know every little detail.  Whatever works for you.

Tumor markers for me were always normal too until just recently.  All thru original dx to mets never had any abnormal test of any kind.  Liver/bone mets started growing recently and I had the first tumor marker elevated as well as liver enzymes.  Go figure.  As to bone pain, I had rads to left femur, right hip and lower spine.  I still have occasional pains if I overdo something physically (DON"T let your hubby put your knees over his shoulders for example).  Also the pain could come from just plain ole damage to that area that has not healed.  A nerve could be exposed causing pain that might seem to come and go.  Sorry for your dx.  It does suck for sure.

Tumor markers may or maynot be something that works for you.  They must be taken over a time period and compare them against the cancer progression and shrinkage.  Some people they mean something and others they don't.  Some oncs choose not to run them at all because they don't feel like it is a good tool.  My opinion is to try them, if they work use them and if they don't then stop running them.  Why not use every available tool out there for you.

 As to the pain, it could be the radiation working.  You said you completed the rads a few weeks back.  Radiation actually take 4 to 6 weeks to start really working.  You could be having tumor flare from the radiation.  Some people believe that cancer cells that are dying rapidly can cause pain.  This pain is refered to as tumor flare.  If the timing is right it may be the cancer dying off and hopefully will sbuside.  Do not be brave and try to bare out any pain.  If you are suffering ask for medicine to help your pain.  I have learned the hard way that pain does not always go away quickly or easily.  So take whatever relief you can, it really does help in the long run.

I agree with LuAnn.  After rads to my hip, I'd say I was totally pain free about 3 months afterwards.  The pain was never as severe as it was the first time but it would come and go and finally disappeared 3 months later.

Hi everyone.  I've been diagnosed with sub-centimeter liver mets (2 spots dx 10/09), had my ovaries out three weeks ago and have been on arimidex for about four weeks.  I am freaking out about pain in my ribs . . . feels sore, not shooting or overly painful.  It's where my bra hits and there are sore spots in back and in front.  It feels like there should be a bruise, but there isn't.  I had my ovaries out laprascopically, and I wondered if it's realistic to think it could be gas, still, after three weeks.

My tumor markers were high when my onc looked at them on Friday, but he said it's too early to get any real information from them.  He's giving the non-chemo route one more month.

I almost can't take anymore.