Bone Mets Thread
Comments
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Thanks for posting that, Garlikbread. I found another article (actually looking for one from a more human perspective -- not just all about the $$$, which I found a bit sad and annoying) -- that tells a bit more about this and other promising drugs:
http://www.fiercebiotech.com/story/pharma-giants-j...
Then I also found this, which sounds like it's yet another hopeful advance:
http://cen.acs.org/articles/92/i14/New-Anticancer-Target-Identified.html
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DLB823: thank you for posting the links!! I found a few more
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I knew I had BC in my T8 vertebrae before my mastectomy. Radiation and chemo "killed" it. I found out today after a bone scan that it is back and now, also, in my T6 vertebrae and both of my 9th ribs. My oncologist said That I will continue getting my Herceptin and Perjeta chemo every 3 weeks and Zometa every 3 months. She is changing my anti-estrogen med from Arimidex to Faslodex. Side effects from Faslodex? What does it do besides stop the estrogen?
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lalenlou the SE of Faslodex are much the same as Arimidex as well as pain/soreness/swelling at the injection site. I have heard that not putting your weight on that side and relaxing it as much as possible while receiving the injection does help ease this.
Good luck with your new treatment and I hope it kicks cancers butt quickly!
Love n hugs. Chrissy
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Thank you for posting about all those "in the pipeline" treatments--I love, love, love hearing about that kind of thing.
Lalenlou, sorry to hear it's still there, but wishing you great success on Faslodex. I've only just started the Faslodex so I'm probably not the one to talki about side effects yet, but there's a thread about it that I've found extremely helpful here, lots of good information from btdt sisters.
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Good morning all, anyone on Herceptin, Tykerb and Zometa for bone mets. My doctor is trying to get approval for Tykerb as Taxol has failed. I had progression after 6 months of Herceptin, Taxol and Zometa. Blessings, Kathy
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Kathy,
Taxol is chemo, Zometa is a bone strengthener. Your post says you are already on Zometa so I'm a bit confused.
Caryn
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Caryn, sorry for the confusion. I have been on Taxol weekly for the first four months, then on three off one for two months. Also I have been on Herceptin every three weeks and Zometa monthly for 6 months. Bone scan showed progression so the Taxol has been stopped. My oncologist has requested Tykerb and I am waiting for approval. We have socialized medicine here. I have not heard from anyone on this combo.
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Kathy,
Well. I know others have used Tykerb but not sure about the rest of the combination. In any event, wishing you the best!
Caryn
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Thank you Caryn. Hopefully someone will jump in who has tried this. Have a simply wonderful cruise. Can I say, I am jealous! Enjoy
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I had radiation on pubic bone for met pain. It greatly improved pain and mobility. However flare up of pain after radiation for about 2 weeks. Radiation was in December 2013 and still pain free now in April 2014
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Hi Linda and welcome! You've found a great place for support and a great bunch of girls.
I'm so glad that the rads have worked well for you as being pain free is a great place to be.
Love n hugs. Chrissy
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Hi,
I am so glad to have found this thread and to read that many of you had pain relief from radiation therapy.
I was dx with bone and lung mets about a month ago and started rads on Monday to my neck and pelvis. I am having 5 fractions to each area. The pain has increased today in the areas treated but it has helped to read that others here have had the same experience.
I also have mets in my left femur. I had a femoral rod inserted about 3 weeks ago to prevent fracture. I was getting on really well after surgery (fully weight bearing) when the leg fractured anyway but was held in place by the rod, so needed no further treatment. I am having radiotherapy next week to this femur and keeping my fingers crossed that eventually it will heal enough so that I don't have to use my sticks to get about. I find this so frustrating. The surgeon had just cleared me to drive again the day before. Now I am hobbling around on two sticks again.
Interestingly, all the mets in the lower half of my body are confined to the left hand side.Left femur, left sacral area and left pelvis. I had my right hip resurfaced about 3 years before I was diagnosed with my primary. Not even a tiny met on the right hand site, it's completely clear. Given the extent of the disease on the left I am surprised that the right side with the prosthetic hip is NED. Just throwing this out there but I have wondered if the metals in the resurfaced hip have somehow protected that area. It is a metal on metal hip and although it is working very well, there will be some release of the chromium/cobalt alloy into the surrounding tissue.
Thanks for listening/reading.
SW
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Hi Springwatch and welcome! Yes, rads have proven time and again to be very effective both for pain and killing off the cancer. Oh my gosh! Having your femur pinned and still have it break! Ouch! I really feel for you.
I think you will find that it will take awhile but I'm sure your bone will heal no problem. Interesting about the metal of your hip but I've not heard or read anything that would confirm or deny your theory but it does raise some interesting questions.
Love n hugs. Chrissy
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Springwatch, Hope you heel fast and you can get pain under control . I wish you the best!
I am having a pity party today I guess. and I need some advise. I am a nurse on medsurg floor, have been off since thisJune.(fx hip with pin and rod in femur) went back to work helping with computer things in October, until know. They have offered me full time in business office type position, less pay( no weekends no holidays) easier on my body. I loved my 12 hour shifts, and taking care of people. And am very use to my paycheck. Need to make decision this weekend. I know in the long term, I probably do the sit down job longer then the nurse job. And it wont be available again if I don't take it. as they will hire out of building. I think I could still work prn if I have time of course. I just don't know what to do. Even shed tears today , havent done that for a while. I really don't mean to change the subject just want a little input I guess. I many bone mets, bilateral hips,femurs, ribs, arms and spine, and liver mets, since January 2012, This was not part of my plan. And I really wish I didn't have to decide. Sorry there I go again. No one here does.
Thanks for listening. Any advice would be appreciated.
Redroan
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Redroan that is such a hard decision to make but I think you have to ask yourself some hard questions.
1/ thinking logically, do you think you will ever be able to handle a twelve hour shift in reality?
2/ do you think you could handle said shift sooner rather than later.....maybe months not years?
3/ other than the serious drop in paycheck what are the advantages of taking an office type job?
4/ in reality, how physical can you really be and would your body stand being on your feet for a full shift?
I think in your heart of hearts you already know those answers and what would be best for you right now.
Good luck!
Love n hugs. Chrissy
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Chrissy, You are probably right I think I know what I should do. I did work a 12 hour shift this week and it wore me out. Almost slept through alarm the next morning. I am assuming or hoping that office job I could do for a longer period of time, then I assume I would be able to work on the floor. But who knows how long we will be able to do anything with this damn stuff. I hate having to make this decision. I just want my life back the way it was. Sorry I am still on the pity party yet.
Thank you for your thoughts and giving me more to think about. I always enjoy your responses, you are always so insightful.
Redroan,
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springwatch, it sounds like you've had some rough stuff going on with your surgeries and the femur fracturing in spite of the rod, and now the rads. Hopefully, all the tx will work together to get you stronger very soon, so that you won't need those sticks as soon as that fracture mends. I'm so sorry you had that setback, and I hope you'll be able to put those sticks away again very soon.
Redroan, although it's less pay, I'm thinking it might be wise not to pass up the business office position while it's available. Then, if you feel stronger in the future, and if a nursing position opens up, see if you can go back to it then. In other words, maybe think of the office job as somewhat temporary (6 mos.? a year?) and an opportunity not to stress your body while it still needs as much rest and healing as possible right now. I know it's hard to think about letting go of a job you love, but maybe you can go back to it when you're stronger.
I am still waiting for the pathology report from my recent hip replacement. Saw my local onc this week, and he found out that they are still working on decalcification of the bone. I just hope they know what they're doing and don't somehow mess up the specimen. Also, I was shocked to get a letter from my ins. co. saying they won't pay for one of the days I was in the hospital because I was stable and could have had surgery a day earlier -- like my busy ortho surgeon has nothing else to do, and the hospital isn't busy enough without me. I'm sure the hospital and ins. co. will work it out, but it's just crazy and annoying. Deanna
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I have been a nurse on a medical oncology unit for 20 years. Last year I chose to have each femur rodded to prevent breakage, as I am being treated for widespread bone mets. In May, the right femur, was able to return to my night shifts, in Sept., the left, and haven't been able to return. I am still on unpaid medical leave but need to face it and give my official notice. Redroan, I just can't do it, what with weekly taxol now, developed lymphadema, sciatica type pain. No disease progression, thank God. Like Chrissy said, good luck,
Anita
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Redroan, A difficult decision but I think you probably know the answer already. The tough part is acknowledging the loss of an important part of your life. I am not surprised that you have been shedding a few tears over making this choice.
Deanna, I am still waiting for the results of the biopsy they took when they inserted my femoral rod and that was 4 weeks ago. They may be there now but I didn't get a chance to see my onc. this week. They cancelled my weekly taxol because I had a bladder infection and I usually see him the same day. When I asked why it was taking so long last week, I was told that the decalcification process has to be done very slowly or the specimen is sub-optimal for testing. Good luck with the recovery from your hip surgery.
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Redroan, you are thinking you should take the office job and it leaves you with sadness and that's understandable. It's possible that if you do chose that route, once you've made the switch, you may be glad you did. There may be additional benefits to it that you don't see now. Transitions aren't easy. Best wishes on your decisions.
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Redroan, I agree with others here - you already know the answer. The thing is, your are losing your identity. A professional who cares for patients expects to slow down eventually, and maybe even retire, but does NOT expect the emergency break to be put on suddenly, with no further options to be that professional that they have been for an entire life. I am still grieving that loss, but each day is a little less painful as I find other things to fill my life. I am not able to work even part-time, and that was such a loss for me going from a 14-16 hour day to less than 6 hours of energy and activity. My boss initially said to "take as much time as you need" but we were both thinking it would be maybe a month or so, but when it dragged on and I kept having additional problems, we both had to acknowledge that I could not come back and do the job I was doing and do it right. So that was that. Unfortunately, there was no other part-time or less active work for me to do, and I miss the social aspect of being with my peers terribly. So if you have a chance to at least work in the office around people who are still in the field, that might at least keep you engaged a little. And the idea that this could be temporary is a good one - who knows - you may improve much more quickly if you are getting more rest, taking care of yourself, let your body heal. It is possible you may get back to part-time or even full-time nursing. Nursing is a VERY demanding profession, physically, mentally, and emotionally, and if you are weak in any of these areas, you cannot provide the kind of care that you would want to provide; you have to take care of yourself before you can take care of others.
I am sorry to run on so long - I just really understand why you need a pity party, and I am sending you virtual hugs and shoulders to cry on, a tissue to wipe your nose, and a helping hand to get you back to whatever work you decide to try. Sending much lovingkindness.
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Thank you for the support everyone, I think I have made up my mind and you all are right, I know what I have to do, Just hate reality I guess. I really appreciate all the thoughts and positive thinking. Thank you all so much. I did quit crying. Trying to deal with it now. Redroan
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Blessings to you redroan, whatever your decision is it will be the right one for you. Having this disease we all have to make a lot of changes in our lives and it is not always easy. You will be fine.
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hello ladies! HELP. I am only 5 weeks into Arimidex and this is first HT for me post hysterectomy. I have horrible muscle pain/stiffness. I emailed dr and his response was take it at night and if that doesn't get better we switch.
i don't want to feel defeated 6 weeks in as I know they are precious to living longer (hopefully) BUT, for the love of pearl I hate this. Lol. I emailed him back just now and said, I do take it at night. Any suggestions, advise???? I have been off work from rads and hysterectomy back tomorrow but damn sitting for 8 hours. I am just a little worried but excited to have work to return to. I have been taking Motrin and half norco twice a day to stay comfortable, ok now I am just rambling!! 
thanks y'all!!! 0 -
Kate,
I had lots of joint & stiffness from Femera, most lasted for 6 months. I was on this for 4 years. I'm now on Aromasin without many SE, except from the Affinitor. Hope your Dr. lets you switch.
Terri
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I was on arimidex for over a year, I had aches too, I took a claritan with it and it helped a ton, Plain Claritan, I do not know why it works but it sure helped me.
Redroan
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Kate I was on Arimidex for fifteen months and had such bad SEs even my children were worried. My doc switched me to Femara and within a couple of weeks all those SEs disappeared and other than the hot flashes I have had no major SEs at all. There have been some that come and stay for a few weeks and then just disappear but overall, from my point if view, I really have none to complain about.
If it gets way too much for you, don't be afraid to ask for a change.
Love n hugs. Chrissy
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I used to take Claritin when I got my Neulasta shots and it realllllly helped with the bone aches & pains. The nurse explained that the antihistamine has something to do with it. I'm on Arimidex with no SE other than some stiffness. But if I get achy I will surely take Claritin again.
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Terri. Did you get 4 years no progression on femara ? Sounds like it. I hope so. Very encouraging. I have been taking it 10 months. No real complaints. Could def be worse se.
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