Bone Mets Thread
Comments
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kiwicatmom, your onj sounds horrific to me and very good reason go whinge! I would also try changing to a herbal toothpaste which doesn't have sodium laurel sulphate (foaming agent) as well as using a soft children's toothbrush, I know it helps against mouth ulcers from treatment. Girls , I lost both big toenails in 2006 and they grew back and have never been the same since and now the right one I can lift up and is falling off again, you can't win with all these treatments sometimes. Love Gail0 -
Hi Linda, Hope all is well with you. Yes, I am still on taxol though it's been reduced to once every three weeks as I was finding the fatigue v. difficult to function with. My onc checks that I can balance and am not dropping things. He says he wants to squeeze the last drop out of taxol as so far it's keeping me stable. I'm anxious to stay with it as I fear the next chemo mightn't work, be more debilitating or have worse SEs. On the other hand I worry that my nerve endings won't recover because I've stayed on taxol just that bit too long. I didn't realise that the damaged nerves could continue to die after stopping chemo. Then I think I'd rather be alive with wonky fingers than dead with perfect fingers, but I would hate not to be able to use my fingers and if I couldn't walk.... Arghh...there's no straight answer to anything. Sorry for the rambling and I see I'm on the wrong thread.
Lynn1234, I spoke with my onc today re my T8 and he said that as the cancer shrank in the vertebrae the weight of the bones above compressed the weaker ones and aside from compression fractures and reduced height, the spine didn't appear to be compromised. Just go to A&E if I had any symptoms! He pooh poohed the whole idea of getting a consultation with a neuro or orthopedic surgeon and emphasised that I'm stable. How are you doing?
Hugs0 -
I guess we just have to trust they know what they're doing. My T9 is fractured. It was radiated and shrunk some and there are no plans for more radiation or bone cement, etc....just on Herceptin and Arimidex.
Physically okay, mentally a mess. Just because you have cancer doesn't mean your other problems go -poof!0 -
Hey everyone! I'm so happy today because I got good news. My onc thinks it's time for me to take a break from my weekly Taxol. I'm going to do one more cycle of 3 weeks on and 1 week off. By that time I would have done 21 sessions (7 months). She thinks a break of 2-3 months on just a anti-hormone pill would give my body some recovery time. However, she said she would continue to monitor my antigen levels and do a bone scan. If she sees any signs of progression, I would have to go back on chemo. I look forward to the much needed break and it being over the holidays and most of winter would be great. I will be able to taste all those great Thanksgiving and Christmas treats/meals. I also won't have to drive on icy, snowy roads to chemo every week. I can also safely go to the dentist and not have to worry about infections. I might even be able to get my expander taken out of my right breast. The left one was removed a couple of years ago due to infection. So I've been a one boob, bald woman. I changed my mind about reconstruction and just want things to be even. Yippee! I've had a rough week, other personal matters, and this just lifted my spirits when I needed it the most. I wish you all well.0 -
aao, I'm happy for you that you are getting a break from chemo, especially during the holidays. It's great that it kept you stable, though. Enjoy your break!0 -
My neuropathy got that bad (Taxol) and my onc lowered the dose just slightly and it cleared up. Def talk to doc about it.0 -
Congrats aaoaao, having a chemo break is something I look forward to. I'm also on the 21st round. Scan 11/18, but I bet I keep going. Enjoy your break!0 -
Folks,
I need your thoughtful advice. I have mets in my lung--currently stable and inactive--but have been having problems with back and hip pain for a number of years. They are increasing. I have had bone and CT-PET scans for the lung stuff and an MRI for the back and all the radiologists reading them have concluded I have osteoarthritis in my back (moderate) and hip (severe). I have never had an MRI of my hip.
I saw an orthopedist who put me on PT, NSAIDs and muscle relaxants a while ago and am now seeing a rheumatologist whom I like and who has no vested interest in my having surgery. However, they all agree I should have a hip replacement. For a number of good reasons, I am REALLY reluctant to do this until I know for certain that this pain, which can be quite debilitating if I attempt to walk any distances, is not from metastases to my hip.
What imaging or other technique might prove beyond doubt that these issues are from arthritis and not bone metastases? (I know a biopsy is out of the question unless there is some indication of mets.)
Sorry for the length of this. Just got back from charging around New York on a weekend vacation, and was in pain and exhausted from standing and walking to a point that is greatly concerning me.
Yes, the pain diminishes with the NSAIDs and rest, but it does not go away and often awakens me a night, particularly if I've been on my feet part of the day.
Thanks!
Tina0 -
That's great news, aaoaao. Hope you enjoy your break and the hols!0 -
chemo-cation! Enjoy.
Caryn0 -
Tina2, the orthopedist could tell from a simple x-Ray of my hip that it was a metastasis. He said only a biopsy could show for sure that it was mets, but he had no doubt. Even though my pain was due to mets, I had to have a hip replacement because the hip was ready to fracture. If your pain is severe and the doctors all agree that you need a hip replacement, maybe you need one regardless of the cause.0 -
Tina, Mary makes a very good point: you may need the hip replacement for symptom relief regardless of cause.0 -
Happy for you to have a break from chemo! Enjoy it, I am only on first round this time and don't know what to expect yet. Happy Holidays to you!0 -
Thank you all for the cheers. I've been lucky so far that I haven't had to many side effects from my chemo tx. I was surprise, and I think so was my ONC, that after 7 months on Taxol, my only bothersome SEs are fatigue, loss of taste for a few days after infusion, and an occasional anemia (I get iv iron when that happens). I think she just feels 7 straight months can be hard on internal organs and I may not be aware of that happening. Maybe she thinks that emotionally, a break might also be beneficial. I couldn't agree more. I'm a little nervous about progression but she will keep a watch on that and there shouldn't be too much of a change over 2 or 3 months. When she originally put on Taxol she said I'd be on it until it stopped working or my body couldn't take it anymore. So I was surprised and overjoyed when she offered me the break. I swear if I knew how to do a cartwheel, people would have seen a pleasantly chubby, bald, one boob woman flipping down the street.0 -
aaoaao, I am so very happy for you. I am praying I will get a break one day. Now I know it is possible. Relax and enjoy your time off. Blessings0 -
love the image of you doing cartwheels!
Caryn0 -
aao, I'm so happy you have been given chemo freedom over the holidays. Enjoy every delicious bite, rest, and regain your strength. Who knows? You might be up for a cartwheel by New Year's Day.0 -
Aaoaao,
Hurray for the chemo break! I'm so glad to hear your good news! And what better time than over the holidays! Enjoy!
Hugs, Amy0 -
Aaoaao, yay for the chemo break - and over the holidays too! Enjoy every moment. And thanks for the cartwheel image; made me laugh!!
Nicky0 -
Aaoaao, I'm so happy to hear that you are going to have a chemo break. It will make the holidays so much more special. ENJOY!0 -
aaooaaoo, I'm so happy for your chemo break I think I'll do cartwheels with you!
Well, after I learn how.
Leah0 -
aao such wonderful news for you! Enjoy your well earned break and all the goodies that are available through out the holidays.
Love n hugs. Chrissy0 -
Aaoaao-So happy for you! Now you can really enjoy the holidays!0 -
Aaoaao- so happy for the news. Enjoy your vacation and the holidays!!!0 -
I had my scans this week. Although the tumors seem smaller I am having more pain. I have been having trouble walking and have fallen a few times. I don't tell my husband how I am feeling because he thinks I will live forever, lol. The doctor bills are outrageous and I don't want him to worry more. When I die all the money we worked so hard to save will be taken to pay my bills. There will be nothing left for my children for college. I feel like I would be better off stopping the scans and the shots because they may only give me a few years. I don't want my family to suffer after I am gone.0 -
Scoutmom, will the new Health Plans starting in January help you? I know you can't be rejected for any pre-existing conditions. The premiums should be lower than the costs of paying these fees yourself. I hope someone else here can provide you with more info about paying for treatments. I can't tell you what to do but I'd bet that your family wants to have you around as long as possible. I'm hoping things will work out for you and your dear family.0 -
Oh, Scoutmom, I so understand how you feel about the economics of all this. I don't qualify for any help with the treatments/drugs, but maybe you do. Have you looked into it? Do you have insurance? Might the Affordable Care Act help you?0 -
I was an inexpensive girl before this. It should be enough for us to worry about sticking around for our families not the cost of doing so. I hope things improve for you Scoutmom in every way.
I forgot to say congratulations to aaoaao on the well deserved break and your cartwheel image is sticking with me, lol!0 -
Thank you...I'm still celebrating. To people who don't have cancer they may not understand what this means to us.0 -
In hospital since 10-29. Had "a Spinlal cord soft tissue m..ass. Fracture t7 vert.
Growing from t9 almost h ad me p aralyzed till they did surgery on Sunday. Found out the mass is mets from a new primary mets. THey can't find y.eT. :did brain sc"an a nD ?wa.s normal. Still doin pathology this week.took out t9 put plate over t8 to t10.ablated t7 with kyphoplasty to shoreup spine. Left t11 alone. Was in ICU. Grand baby born the night before surgery. Will update more. Goin to bed.0
