Has anyone had a bone biopsy?

[Barbara H.]

I will probably have to have a bone biopsy to find out more information about the status of my cancer. I was originally diagnosed in 98, and it could have changed somewhat. I only have bone mets in three places and they are small. However, my CEA is rising. Navelbine worked for awhile, but now I will probably have try a different chemo. I just had a PETCT this morning. If you have had a bone biopsy, what was your experience?
Thanks,
Barbara H.

[StephN]

Dear Barbara -

Sorry to hear that the bone spots are still present. What I hope for you is that the PET/CT will not show activity in those spots. Bone can be difficult to figure out - sort of like our brain mets problem!

If the bone spots do light up, can you have some radiation treatment to them?? There are supposed to be good results this way.

With a rising CEA, I would want a brain MRI, which I know you have fairly often. When did you have the last one?? I am on an every 3-month schedule now.

[Lani]

They Try To Biopsy Non Weightbearing Bones So You Don't Have To Use Crutches While It Heals. Is It A Rib, A Sternum, A Pelvic Bone?

Some Areas Are More Accessible--easier To Get To Without Having To Approach Them Through Areas With Important Structures And More Have The Biopsy Technique Be Certain To Actually Sample The Area In Question.

If You Give More Info It Would Help.

[Barbara H.]

I have bone mets in three areas: One vertibrete, the clavicle, and somewhere on the hip.
Thanks,
Barbara H.

[Lani]

they can biopsy a vertebrae with but that is much trickier than biopsying your collar bone (depending on its location in the collar bone) The top of the lung lies behind the middle of the collar bone, but if the lesion lies near either end and particularly if it lies superficially (skin-side of the bone) it would make it easier.

Is the "hip" lesion, truly in the hip which is a ball and socket joint made up of the top of the thigh bone (femur) and the socket called the acetabulum which is part of the pelvis or in what is commonly referred to as the hip which includes much of the pelvic bone as well.

Pelvic bone lesions that are near the less "upholstered" parts are relatively accessible for biopsy.

Will your biopsy be done by an interventional radiolgist or orthopaedic surgeon? If an orthopaedic surgeon, will it be one who specializes in tumors (usually only at major medical centers)?

It is hard to answer what a bone biopsy would be like as it depends on which bone, where in the bone (deep or superficial, what important structures are nearby), whether the bone is weightbearing or not (hip is, clavicle is not, vertebrae is) so I am not sure YET what help others can provide until you know which bone they are thinking of biopsying.

Biopsies can be done with instruments that are like apple-corers and it depends on the size of the apple-corer how much the biopsy weakens the bone (if it is weightbearing) and how near a joint that moves the bone is in
terms of how sore the overlying muscles might be with movement after the biopsy.

Hope some of this helped!

[Barbara H.]

Thank you, Lani. The whole procedure does not sound exciting. I am being treated at the Dana Farber. I have only spoken with my oncologist about the possiblilty. I have not had a referral yet. I am not sure which bone would be of interest at this point.
Barbara H.

[Lani]

among the most respected in the country. I would think they would try for the easiest bone which is most accessibly, likely to cause you the least pain and require the least annoyance (avoiding use of crutches, causing you the least difficulty bending or getting out of bed) Not knowing where it is but based on a best bet, it sounds like your clavicle may be the way to go, unless the "hip" lesion is infact in your pelvic bone and in an "unupholstered" area.

Feel free to ask the many knowledgeable people on this board when you know more, but chances are, if it is the clavicle and it is superficial it won't particularly painful or disabling.

Let us know when you know more.

All the best

[lu ann]

Hi Barbara, I had a bone biopsy in my spine, T-9. They were just going to give me a local but I insisted on something that would take the edge off mentally. I'm not sure what they gave me, but I didn't have the anxiety that I would of had without it. I think it put me in a twi-light sleep. The pain as I recall was barable. I have had many procedures done and this one isn't at the top of my list for causing much anxiety other then waiting for the result. They were able to determine that my reocurrance was her-2, so this was an important biopsy. I hope this helps. Love, Lu Ann

[Barbara H.]

I am scheduled for a bone biopsy in a part of the hip this Thursday. I just hope that they are able to determine my cancer status so that I do not have to repeat it. I will give an update when it's over. I was told I could go back to work the next day, but that I couldn't drive for 24 hours. I am somewhat anxious about the procedure.
Barbara H.

[Lani]

is it part of the hip or part of the pelvis (ilium, ischium and sacrum) The parts of the hip are the femoral head , femoral neck, intertrochangeric region.

If it were truly part of the hip I would think they would put you on crutches afterward, so maybe it is the pelvis????

Best of luck!

[Barbara H.]

Hi Lani,
This is what the pet scan stated: There are multiple FDG-avid bone metastases. The intensity of tracer uptake has increased in most of these lesions. These are seen in the left clavicle, rihgt iliac bone, right ischium and right acetabulum, L1 and T11 vertebrae. There are no new bone metastases. Apparently, it is easiest to go into the hip area, but I am not sure exactly where the biopsy will be taken. I hope I will not need crutches because I was told I could go to work the next day. Although the bone mets are progressing, I have been told that they are still small. At this point I do not feel them. I hope the biopsy will yield information for more targeted treatment.
Thank you for your post.
Barbara H.