what are the bone mets symptoms?

[CLTann]

I had mastec on 1.0 cm invasive carcinoma early 09/05. All ER/PR/HER2 positive. Cancer grade 1 to 2. No radiation. No chemo. Arimidex. After mastec middle of Sept, I had bone scan early October, all normal. Just after the bone scan, I feel sore at one side of pelvis. It is not real pain, just sore most of the time. Patients like me are always suspecting every symptom. I am wondering this is a sign of bone mets. I can comfortably sleep with no pain or no sore, only when I am standing for a while I feel the sore. By lightly hitting the sore spot, I feel better. Will anyone who had bone mets please describe the initial signs of problem? I don't know whether the onc would even suggest another bone scan, since the last was done only 2 month ago. Thank you for answering my question and put me at peace.

Ann

[Lisa]

My experience with bone mets was no symptoms, but others have had pain. Also, I had a bone scan one month that was perfect, then a few weeks later, when my mets were discovered, I had another one that showed mets literally from head to toe. That was 2 and 1/2 years ago. Many mets have now dissipated.


My advice is always check with your onc. If insurance will pay the scans, why not?

Love and light,

Hi!

I have a tumour that is invading my sternum -- and I can tell you it has been extremely painful at times. It comes and goes.

A big thank you to Lisa -- I had no idea how fast this could come on. I feel better knowing that someone else had such a rapid onset. I had no idea that the pain I was experiencing was from mets and neither I nor my doctor rushed to get scans done.

I guess that having gotten over the initial diagnosis and treatment looking for mets was the last thing on my mind...

I've started treatment with Taxotere and will be adding Herceptin in the New Year.

Thanks to everyone here who posts such encouraging messages.

Best wishes to all for the New Year.

[Gina]

make themselves known. I have had one --off and on-- in the manubrium part of my sternum. It is the only bone met I have had so far...although I have had lots of other mets in other places...mainly the liver and pelvic region. Anyway, a few years back..I hit the bone met with enough Herceptin to regress it completely. The CT actually said the bone had undergone "involution" this is when an organ--usually the uterus-- returns to its normal size and shape..it was bizarre for the radiologist to see this happen to a bone. Now, well over a year and 8 months later...the same bone met came back in the exact same spot this past September...so I am hitting it with more frequent dosing of herceptin and it is again...regressing...finally the pain is gone..but when it was at peak...I could hardly drive...so terrible and severe was the bone pain... So thank you very much for sharing.

Now, to address CLT Ann's other question, about how can you tell if it is a bone met or just the bone marrow aching as it rebuilds new cells, one of the simplest ways is to look at your blood chemistries...USUALLY, in her-2 mediated disease..., if the liver enzymes are going up, uP, UP at THE SAME TIME the alk phos is going uP, UP UP...odds are strong that you have bone mets brewing somewhere...if the alk phos is under 100 but the liver enzymes are heading for the highlands..., then, odds are strong, you have liver mets brewing. I always think it is better to be safe than sorry...get re-scanned, the sooner, the better. Also, be sure to look at the pattern your tumor markers are making..if both the CA 27/29 and serum her-2 are heading up..., this is usually indicative of active disease...sometimes, though, the numbers I have just mentioned elevate..LONG before the CT can pick up spots..fyi...so you need to stay on you toes and stay on regimen. Hopefully though, it is only the bone marrow making new cells... Sometimes you can tell this if it is a MOVING pain in the LONG bones..fyi.

Best wishes for the New Year, Gina

[kk1]

It may just be a side effect of the Arimidex which causes joint pain in 40% of the people. I am on Aromasin which also has the same side effects. I have had an ache in my right hip for the last 6 months that comes and goes. So far my bone scans have been clear ( had a scan last week) and my markers are all low. I am going for a bone density check because the Onc said that osteoporosis could also have the same achy symptom and that these AI's are know to cause bone loss.

kk1

Gina,

10/10

You are a mine of information - a star - you should write a book!.

I have lots of saved information on a variety of non invasive tests, many of which never seem to have been developed which puzzles me.

Does the medical profession in general make full use of the sorts of indicators you are suggesting?

What liver enzymes are you referring. I would be fascinated to know, and see if I have seen them mentioned in any dietary / liver links.

Many thanks

RAB