Bone mets in knees or feet?

todd121
todd121 Member Posts: 1,448 Member

When they do our scans, they stop mid thigh. Does anybody know if it's possible to get mets in your feet or knees?

I've had worsening pain in the large joint in my right foot for over a year. Starting yesterday, I started getting terrible pain in my right knee also. The pain was bad enough to keep me awake. I didn't injure my knee. It just started hurting. I've never had that before. It didn't matter if I was moving it or weight was on it or not, so it doesn't seem to be an injury. I suppose it's possible I'm getting arthritis. I am 53. I was chalking the foot up to that. They did a gout test a couple of times and it was negative.

Of course waking up to that bad of pain, my mind went immediately to the idea of a bone met in my knee and so I got a panic attack at 3 am. I almost called someone to talk, but I'm glad I didn't. Getting better at dealing with the panic. I took an ativan, some tylenol, and put on a meditation CD and tried to go back to sleep. I did manage to sleep.

Knee is still hurting. Not sure if I should bother my oncologist. He never sounds happy about stuff that doesn't sound like cancer to him.

Just wondering if anybody has ever heard of RCC mets in knees or below?

Thanks,

Todd

Comments

  • foxhd
    foxhd Member Posts: 3,181 Member
    femurs and humerus

    Todd, I know a guy that had no symptoms of renal cancer until he had pathological fracture in his upper arm. He then found out both femurs had to be rodded as well due to mets. He was on the nivolumab trial with me. He was one of those who had both surgery and drugs to control the mets without having his primary tumor removed. So bone mets can go anywhere. I believe the larger bones like pelvis and femur are more prone to mets like the spine is. That is because of a greater vascular supply. Distal bones in the lower extremity don't have the abundant blood supply needed. Generally. Just ask a diabetic about that. That is also the general rational for scanning the chest, abdomen and pelvis. Better vascularzation = better home for mets.

  • todd121
    todd121 Member Posts: 1,448 Member
    foxhd said:

    femurs and humerus

    Todd, I know a guy that had no symptoms of renal cancer until he had pathological fracture in his upper arm. He then found out both femurs had to be rodded as well due to mets. He was on the nivolumab trial with me. He was one of those who had both surgery and drugs to control the mets without having his primary tumor removed. So bone mets can go anywhere. I believe the larger bones like pelvis and femur are more prone to mets like the spine is. That is because of a greater vascular supply. Distal bones in the lower extremity don't have the abundant blood supply needed. Generally. Just ask a diabetic about that. That is also the general rational for scanning the chest, abdomen and pelvis. Better vascularzation = better home for mets.

    Mets

    Thanks Fox. People aren't very understanding of what we go through. I talked to my ex-wife this morning about the pain in my knee being so bad it kept me awake all night and the panic attack. She said I've turned into a hypochondriac. I love that lady, but really wanted to reach through the phone and.... Lol. It's not hypochondria when you have Stage 4 RCC and you feel something wrong. Still, I'll give it a few days and see if it gets better. If it is bone mets, what a day or two. Right? :) Maybe I did injure it without even realizing it. I've gained 12 pounds since my adrenalectomy. Could even be the extra weight. Being 40 pounds overweight is not good for your knees and feet (or the rest of you!).

    I heard a guy that had shoulder pain and they kept telling him it wasn't his RCC until you could actually see the tumor as a knot on his shoulder. I'm not sure who was treating him. I think he might not have been getting good followup from an oncologist. You hear these stories, and it makes you realize we have to be proactive. Catching it early is good if you're going to fight this damn beast. Better to whack it in the head while it's a toddler than wait till it's full grown to battle with it. That's what I think.

    Post a picture of you on your bike when you're out and about. Would love to see it.

    Hugs,

    Todd

  • APny
    APny Member Posts: 1,995 Member
    todd121 said:

    Mets

    Thanks Fox. People aren't very understanding of what we go through. I talked to my ex-wife this morning about the pain in my knee being so bad it kept me awake all night and the panic attack. She said I've turned into a hypochondriac. I love that lady, but really wanted to reach through the phone and.... Lol. It's not hypochondria when you have Stage 4 RCC and you feel something wrong. Still, I'll give it a few days and see if it gets better. If it is bone mets, what a day or two. Right? :) Maybe I did injure it without even realizing it. I've gained 12 pounds since my adrenalectomy. Could even be the extra weight. Being 40 pounds overweight is not good for your knees and feet (or the rest of you!).

    I heard a guy that had shoulder pain and they kept telling him it wasn't his RCC until you could actually see the tumor as a knot on his shoulder. I'm not sure who was treating him. I think he might not have been getting good followup from an oncologist. You hear these stories, and it makes you realize we have to be proactive. Catching it early is good if you're going to fight this damn beast. Better to whack it in the head while it's a toddler than wait till it's full grown to battle with it. That's what I think.

    Post a picture of you on your bike when you're out and about. Would love to see it.

    Hugs,

    Todd

    Get it checked. When people

    Get it checked. When people can get melanoma on their finger nail or between the cheeks of their rear end then nothing should be shrugged off as unlikely. Certainly not when you're stage 4 with this sneaky disease. And if your oncologist isn't happy, too bad. He's not the one having the panic attack in the middle of the night. If it doesn't improve definitely go and get it checked out. Most likely it's the extra weight putting stress on them but for peace of mind it's worth having a look.

  • angec
    angec Member Posts: 924 Member
    todd121 said:

    Mets

    Thanks Fox. People aren't very understanding of what we go through. I talked to my ex-wife this morning about the pain in my knee being so bad it kept me awake all night and the panic attack. She said I've turned into a hypochondriac. I love that lady, but really wanted to reach through the phone and.... Lol. It's not hypochondria when you have Stage 4 RCC and you feel something wrong. Still, I'll give it a few days and see if it gets better. If it is bone mets, what a day or two. Right? :) Maybe I did injure it without even realizing it. I've gained 12 pounds since my adrenalectomy. Could even be the extra weight. Being 40 pounds overweight is not good for your knees and feet (or the rest of you!).

    I heard a guy that had shoulder pain and they kept telling him it wasn't his RCC until you could actually see the tumor as a knot on his shoulder. I'm not sure who was treating him. I think he might not have been getting good followup from an oncologist. You hear these stories, and it makes you realize we have to be proactive. Catching it early is good if you're going to fight this damn beast. Better to whack it in the head while it's a toddler than wait till it's full grown to battle with it. That's what I think.

    Post a picture of you on your bike when you're out and about. Would love to see it.

    Hugs,

    Todd

    I guess I know why she is

    I guess I know why she is your EX-wife!  LOL  That is a very insensitive comment and my heart hurts for you!  People don't understand the fear that cancer instills in a person.  Even if you don't have cancer yourself, it is still nerv wrecking each time you go for a scan or a test for problems that come up with our bodies.  Why? Because we know that cancer is always a possibility!  I would definitely get it checked just to ease your mind. Can it be gout or anything else? My mom always gets a full body ct pet scan.  That checks the entire body from head to toe!  I don't know why that is not just the norm! I bet it turns out ok, but go and get checked.  Please let us know how it turns out!  XX hugs!  

  • Allochka
    Allochka Member Posts: 1,060 Member
    angec said:

    I guess I know why she is

    I guess I know why she is your EX-wife!  LOL  That is a very insensitive comment and my heart hurts for you!  People don't understand the fear that cancer instills in a person.  Even if you don't have cancer yourself, it is still nerv wrecking each time you go for a scan or a test for problems that come up with our bodies.  Why? Because we know that cancer is always a possibility!  I would definitely get it checked just to ease your mind. Can it be gout or anything else? My mom always gets a full body ct pet scan.  That checks the entire body from head to toe!  I don't know why that is not just the norm! I bet it turns out ok, but go and get checked.  Please let us know how it turns out!  XX hugs!  

    You are not a hypochondriac!

    You are not a hypochondriac! I know what I'm talking about, because I used to be one several years ago after major stress in life. You had cancer and you are being reasonably vigilant, especially if smth is suspicious.

    get it checked, most probably nothing but prudent thing to be sure. 

  • Jan4you
    Jan4you Member Posts: 1,330 Member
    Allochka said:

    You are not a hypochondriac!

    You are not a hypochondriac! I know what I'm talking about, because I used to be one several years ago after major stress in life. You had cancer and you are being reasonably vigilant, especially if smth is suspicious.

    get it checked, most probably nothing but prudent thing to be sure. 

    First of all, I am just sorry

    First of all, I am just sorry for all you are going through. Maybe it's Mets or could it be GOUT?

    Please let us know,Ok?

    I'll be praying for YOU...

     

    Hugs, Jan

  • todd121
    todd121 Member Posts: 1,448 Member
    Jan4you said:

    First of all, I am just sorry

    First of all, I am just sorry for all you are going through. Maybe it's Mets or could it be GOUT?

    Please let us know,Ok?

    I'll be praying for YOU...

     

    Hugs, Jan

    Thanks

    Well, they did blood tests for gout twice and they were negative. It seems to not be in the toe, but just the large joint in the foot, so I don't think that's typical of gout. I've been assuming it's arthritis. I didn't think we had a history of that in my family, but last time I was home I noticed one of my mom's fingers is completely crippled. I'd never noticed it. I asked her if we have a history of arthritis in the family, and she said "Oh heavens, yes! Your great great grandmother was so crippled she had to drag herself around on the floor to clean the house." Of course I never met my great great grandmother. I do remember my great grandmother.

    Maybe I just twisted my knee. I do overreact when I get something that feels like the cancer is coming back. Being scared of something that can kill you is probably normal. :)

    Appreciate all the comments.

    Todd

  • foroughsh
    foroughsh Member Posts: 779 Member
     
    Todd
     
    I'm sorry you are

     

    Todd

     

    I'm sorry you are having pain, whenever we -cancer patients- have something wrong, the very first thing comes to our mind is possible mets. but in your case it might be something else such as arthritis. My mum, a healthy athletic 60 old lady, had very bad knee pain for almost two weeks, she couldn't even easily walk, MRI showed it was mild arthritis of right knee. it got better by itself. It can be the same for you too. But it's best to check it out. Have you had bone scan yet? If  ALP(Alkaline phosphatase increases(blood work) it might be a sign of  bone mets. You can have that test and see the result.

    Forough

     

  • Jojo61
    Jojo61 Member Posts: 1,309 Member
    Hey Todd,
    Don't be so hard on

    Hey Todd,

    Don't be so hard on yourself! You know we ALL feel the same way...headache? brain mets. sore hip? bone mets. tummy ache? organ mets. pain in the arse? our EX spouse!

    Hoping the pain goes away soon!

    Hugs

    Jojo

  • Srashedb
    Srashedb Member Posts: 482 Member
    Bone mets

    Todd:

    my husband's oncologist has explained repeatedly that kidney cancer is different and how and where it spreads is unpredictable.

    He has a 30 minutes podcast which is a beginner's kidney cancer but actually has info on the uniqueness of this disease. It was the first time I understood that most cancers who are diagnosed stage 4 will not have their primary removed since the cancer had spread. Kidney cancer is unique in not falling into that.

    So, get yourself checked and who cares what your ex thinks?

    Sarah

  • Footstomper
    Footstomper Member Posts: 1,237 Member
    todd121 said:

    Thanks

    Well, they did blood tests for gout twice and they were negative. It seems to not be in the toe, but just the large joint in the foot, so I don't think that's typical of gout. I've been assuming it's arthritis. I didn't think we had a history of that in my family, but last time I was home I noticed one of my mom's fingers is completely crippled. I'd never noticed it. I asked her if we have a history of arthritis in the family, and she said "Oh heavens, yes! Your great great grandmother was so crippled she had to drag herself around on the floor to clean the house." Of course I never met my great great grandmother. I do remember my great grandmother.

    Maybe I just twisted my knee. I do overreact when I get something that feels like the cancer is coming back. Being scared of something that can kill you is probably normal. :)

    Appreciate all the comments.

    Todd

    Just because you're Hypochondriac

    Doesnt mean youre not sick.

    I now take all my aches and pains to my local doc, with the question of should I tell the oncologist. Since my surgery I have had extreme pain in my right hip, arthritis. Pain in my knee, possibly arthritis possibly, the arthritis in my hips causes me to walk differently on the knee - tell the onc. Numbness and pain in the balls of my feet, side effect of sutent.

  • todd121
    todd121 Member Posts: 1,448 Member
    Srashedb said:

    Bone mets

    Todd:

    my husband's oncologist has explained repeatedly that kidney cancer is different and how and where it spreads is unpredictable.

    He has a 30 minutes podcast which is a beginner's kidney cancer but actually has info on the uniqueness of this disease. It was the first time I understood that most cancers who are diagnosed stage 4 will not have their primary removed since the cancer had spread. Kidney cancer is unique in not falling into that.

    So, get yourself checked and who cares what your ex thinks?

    Sarah

    Thanks everyone

    The pain subsided over the next days, and is now completely gone. Assuming that's an indication of no bone mets. I guess it's either arthritis or I injured my knee without even realizing I'd done it.

    I had a nuclear bone scan (full body) but it's been 2 years since I had it. I'm not sure why they didn't do another when I had this met in my adrenal gland. I may ask my doc about having another once since it's been 2 years.

    Appreciate knowing I'm not crazy, or at least I'm not any crazier than all of you. Crazy loves company, ya know? Wink

    Todd

  • Jan4you
    Jan4you Member Posts: 1,330 Member
    todd121 said:

    Thanks everyone

    The pain subsided over the next days, and is now completely gone. Assuming that's an indication of no bone mets. I guess it's either arthritis or I injured my knee without even realizing I'd done it.

    I had a nuclear bone scan (full body) but it's been 2 years since I had it. I'm not sure why they didn't do another when I had this met in my adrenal gland. I may ask my doc about having another once since it's been 2 years.

    Appreciate knowing I'm not crazy, or at least I'm not any crazier than all of you. Crazy loves company, ya know? Wink

    Todd

    Well what I would do is go to

    Well what I would do is go to my beloved Orthopedics because they like a challenge to rule things in our out. I do this because often my pain/muscle issues conflict with a couple of medical things and I like them to rule it out. They are swift and persistent.

    My understanding is Gout can  anywhere there are joints, including knees. INflammation hurts like heck!

    I would suggest see an Ortho, get xrays,  to see if you need further evaluation=MRI.

    I did that and the ORTHO wrote on order for MRi ALL my diagnoses so the radiologists knew to be thorough.

    MRI would tell them ALL what is going on and who should treat it.

    Good luck and let us know k?

    Hugs, Jan