Bone Cancer as a secondary cancer to Breast Cancer?

47round2

CypressCynthia said:

I had breast cancer 23 years
I had breast cancer 23 years ago. I was in remission for 22 years when we discovered that I had bone metastasis. I had been having rib pain and my bone scan was read as "bone metastasis". My oncologist and I had a hard time believing it after so many years, but my markers were elevated. On April 1st last year, I had 2 ribs biopsied and both came back positive for breast cancer, estrogen receptor + (same cancer that I had in 1987). I am now on zometa and arimidex and doing well. Markers are way down, nearly normal. I have been working fulltime throughout it all.

bone metastasis
I just read your post and feel we are in the same / similar situation. If I may ask, you said the marker were elevated - was this determined via bloodwork or some other test. I ask because my BC was 10 years ago, also estrogen receptor positive. Had lumpectomy, 11 neg lymphnodes dissected, chemo and radiation. 2 1/2 years of Tamoxifen, had probs with the effects of it - and been cancer free up until this year. Well, as far as we know... I have noted pain in my R hip / abdominal area for several years along w/ what seemed like RLS / sciaticia in R leg which I complained constantly about to all docs. Was told was normal menopausal pain, related to the meds, etc... Now, this year, exactly 10 years later - pain was so intense my husband took me to the ER, we thought it was a kidney infection, that type of pain. At days end, after exam, ultrasound, and CT, they referred me for bone scan and advised me to contact my onc. Much to my surprise! It has now been 3 months, bone scan showed white on iliac crest which they are "70% sure is bone mets" and ct assisted biopsy of hipbone came back bone only. Had mammo today, was clean. Chest ct was clear, no lung issues. Now we r waiting for another bone biopsy, wanting to go at different angle. Onc sez as far as blood work goes, only 1 of 4 markers were slightly irregular but not to enuf worry about. I am so confused and simply bewildered at this. I am curious if you - or anyone out here - has had such a hard time trying to determine what the pain is, if it is cancer, is it spreading through me during this 3 month waiting period? ..... Any input will be appreciated. I know now why they used to lock our great-grandmothers up in the attic when they went thru "the change"... this is worse!

1maladywc

bone cancer after breast cancer
I had breast cancer in 2001 doing ok until 2007 broke my left arm found bone cancer taking herceptin. then started to lose the use of my left arm and hand. changed Dr. they found 3 large cancers under my left arm pushing on the nerves. March of 2010 . started on pill form of chemo. June 2010 they had swrink by 50%. go back in in 3 months. hope they tell me all is gone. All my blood work done did not show this. hope this helps. know your Dr's and body.

penelope jones

Diagnosed with Breast Cancer
Diagnosed with Breast Cancer in May of 2004...did well until my tumor markers continued to climb for a whol year with nothing showing on the Pet Scans (every three months). Finally in March of 2010 I broke my right shoulder while excerting my arm trying to button my levis's (they obviously had shrunk!),..... The pain was excruciating to say the least. I actually heard it pop... With all the authorizations involved with HMO's I finally had a shoulder biopsy in May and it was Breast Cancer Mets. Had no pain at all prior to fracture. Found to have it in a rib in the back and sternum also. have been radiated and taking Faslodex injections and Zometa infusion.... No side affects with either one and only difficulty swallowing with the chest radiation. I had ten of them. I am 74 and just taking one day at the time....So far my TM came down 30 points, I hope they will continue to go down. If not, I will be moving on to Herceptin and praying a lot....However, I am grateful that I do not have much pain. Took the fracture almost 6 months to heal...and movement is still somewhat limited...Prayer Angel...How are you doing...?

penelope jones

CypressCynthia said:

I had breast cancer 23 years
I had breast cancer 23 years ago. I was in remission for 22 years when we discovered that I had bone metastasis. I had been having rib pain and my bone scan was read as "bone metastasis". My oncologist and I had a hard time believing it after so many years, but my markers were elevated. On April 1st last year, I had 2 ribs biopsied and both came back positive for breast cancer, estrogen receptor + (same cancer that I had in 1987). I am now on zometa and arimidex and doing well. Markers are way down, nearly normal. I have been working fulltime throughout it all.

Cypress Cynthia...You go
Cypress Cynthia...You go Girl...! ! I love just around the corner from you..almost West Anaheim....

smartinez200

bone cancer mets from breast cancer
7 years after being diagnosed with breast cancer, going through chemo and drug treatments, it matastasized to my bones. I am now taking a monthly shot and infusion to strengthen my bones. I am on morphine and ibuprophen, some days I have pain spasms on my ribs and have a rough time but others days I feel better and just a little sore. It's mostly on my ribs. They discovered it after a bone scan and pet scan when I thought I pulled a muscle in my upper back, neck area. It turned out to be a large tumor which I went through radiation treatment for and it is much better, doesn't hurt much, only once in awhile and I wear a soft neck brace on those days when I am sitting and working. My doctor is recommending more radiation treatment, this time for the ribs but I want to wait until after the holidays if I can, radiation treatment gets me very tired. Hope some of this info was beneficial. God Bless...

camul

bone mets 9 years after stage 1 bc
Yes, in aug 2010 my left ribs were killing me (no pun intended), stopped at urgent care thought I had pleursy. They took an xray, said it showed pneumonia in the lower lobe, sent me to the hospital to have a ct scan. ER dr and radiolgist said no to pneumonia but that I had a 3mm nodule on my right lung. Told me with my history to see my oncologist to follow up but it was no rush. Said I had just pulled a muscle, nothing to worry about.
Went to Seattle 2 weeks later and walked up the stairs by Pike's Market, and my legs and hips ached so bad that I tried sitting. The pain continued for the 3 days I was there.
Came home on Monday and went to work Tuesday, by Thursday, I had pain in my right abdomen. Called the Onco and was seen Friday morning. He ran bloodwork and told me he thought that the bc had metastized to my rt lung, and the pain in my abdomen could be with my bladder (had resection for tumors in 2009, but they were atypical, but not cancer, yet).
Had a pt scan on Wednesday, was scheduled for the followup with onco the following Wednesday, but got the results of the pt scan online. It showed hotspots in my bones throughout my body. The scanned from the base of the skull to mid thigh. Almost every bone in my body was involved. I had rads on my hips and pelvic which helped greatly with mobility, but I still can feel the tumors (bone pain) in my ribs, sternum, neck, thighs and tailbone. Have difficulty doing stairs, lifting (it is heavy in my shoulders, clavical and arm joints).
I am currently on Chemo, Zometa, Neupogen, Tamoxifen, Thyroid Meds (tumors in my thyroid in 2009, removed--atypical but not full blown cancer, yet!), pain meds, anti nausea and sometimes Zanex!
Believe it or not, I am still functional! It has been 6 months since the mets were diagnosed, and they didn't think I would still be here, much less walking, cooking, cleaning and basically still finding so much enjoyment in my life! I have some really down days, but they are just that days or hours not my whole life!

24242

camul said:

bone mets 9 years after stage 1 bc
Yes, in aug 2010 my left ribs were killing me (no pun intended), stopped at urgent care thought I had pleursy. They took an xray, said it showed pneumonia in the lower lobe, sent me to the hospital to have a ct scan. ER dr and radiolgist said no to pneumonia but that I had a 3mm nodule on my right lung. Told me with my history to see my oncologist to follow up but it was no rush. Said I had just pulled a muscle, nothing to worry about.
Went to Seattle 2 weeks later and walked up the stairs by Pike's Market, and my legs and hips ached so bad that I tried sitting. The pain continued for the 3 days I was there.
Came home on Monday and went to work Tuesday, by Thursday, I had pain in my right abdomen. Called the Onco and was seen Friday morning. He ran bloodwork and told me he thought that the bc had metastized to my rt lung, and the pain in my abdomen could be with my bladder (had resection for tumors in 2009, but they were atypical, but not cancer, yet).
Had a pt scan on Wednesday, was scheduled for the followup with onco the following Wednesday, but got the results of the pt scan online. It showed hotspots in my bones throughout my body. The scanned from the base of the skull to mid thigh. Almost every bone in my body was involved. I had rads on my hips and pelvic which helped greatly with mobility, but I still can feel the tumors (bone pain) in my ribs, sternum, neck, thighs and tailbone. Have difficulty doing stairs, lifting (it is heavy in my shoulders, clavical and arm joints).
I am currently on Chemo, Zometa, Neupogen, Tamoxifen, Thyroid Meds (tumors in my thyroid in 2009, removed--atypical but not full blown cancer, yet!), pain meds, anti nausea and sometimes Zanex!
Believe it or not, I am still functional! It has been 6 months since the mets were diagnosed, and they didn't think I would still be here, much less walking, cooking, cleaning and basically still finding so much enjoyment in my life! I have some really down days, but they are just that days or hours not my whole life!

I was wondering
I was wondering if you were treated after your stage 1 bc diagnosis and if so what treatments did you have? I am stage 3 breast cancer survivor who had 11 out of 21 pos nodes and doctors just don't believe I could have another kind of cancer let alone in my bones. I just found my third lump two were found in my arm a year ago one biopsied and benign other thought to be fat cyst and now just found another on opposite side of cancer just under mastectomy scar. Funny how I have found every single lump and scans prove they are there yet none of my main doctors have ever felt any of them. I had only one doctor out of six who actually felt the lump. I find them because there is a pain in the area and usually a lump attached to pain.
It is hard to believe most often a bone has to break before diagnosis occurs.
YOu have done amazingly well and the strength. I am helping a women who sounds much like you and she too goes onto do most things.
You are definitely a bright light in all of it and shine shine shine...
Tara

camul

24242 said:

I was wondering
I was wondering if you were treated after your stage 1 bc diagnosis and if so what treatments did you have? I am stage 3 breast cancer survivor who had 11 out of 21 pos nodes and doctors just don't believe I could have another kind of cancer let alone in my bones. I just found my third lump two were found in my arm a year ago one biopsied and benign other thought to be fat cyst and now just found another on opposite side of cancer just under mastectomy scar. Funny how I have found every single lump and scans prove they are there yet none of my main doctors have ever felt any of them. I had only one doctor out of six who actually felt the lump. I find them because there is a pain in the area and usually a lump attached to pain.
It is hard to believe most often a bone has to break before diagnosis occurs.
YOu have done amazingly well and the strength. I am helping a women who sounds much like you and she too goes onto do most things.
You are definitely a bright light in all of it and shine shine shine...
Tara

Yes, I was treated with
Yes, I was treated with cytoxin and arubimiacin (sp?). Then followed by tamoxifin for about 6-9 months, had so many side effects that determined that it was such a low grade cancer that I should be fine.

Unfortunately from the time that I finished the treatment, I had so pain in my joints and bones, then started in 2009 with the tumors. It is amazing now because all of the areas that I was having the pain, which they would do the bone scans on, are the areas now where the tumors are. Which is the hips, ribs, neck and sternum, but now my left thigh is being a bugger.

I have a new pt scan and mri in 4 weeks and that will show if there are new tumors or the same ones. I am scared to have new scans, sounds silly but there has not been one that has come back negative in so long....

24242

camul said:

Yes, I was treated with
Yes, I was treated with cytoxin and arubimiacin (sp?). Then followed by tamoxifin for about 6-9 months, had so many side effects that determined that it was such a low grade cancer that I should be fine.

Unfortunately from the time that I finished the treatment, I had so pain in my joints and bones, then started in 2009 with the tumors. It is amazing now because all of the areas that I was having the pain, which they would do the bone scans on, are the areas now where the tumors are. Which is the hips, ribs, neck and sternum, but now my left thigh is being a bugger.

I have a new pt scan and mri in 4 weeks and that will show if there are new tumors or the same ones. I am scared to have new scans, sounds silly but there has not been one that has come back negative in so long....

Thanks for responding
I always think to myself I can only hope that lumps are benign but it is my duty to myself to catch things as early as I can and get them checked out. Yet I get the feeling doctors just think I am anxious something I am not but smarter than my when diagnosed the first time around.
I had a lump dx'd as fibrous with no diagnostic checking at all. 6 months later when I cannot work any more I am dx'd stage 3. The last thing I want are more doctor visits but until they can tell me what the lumps are I need to keep trying. I don't spend my life worrying about and don't check unless I have a pain that doesn't seem to go away. Have had lumps attached to the pains.
I too was the side effect queen suffering everything one can suffer but still managed to regain quality to my life after fighting to find out the reasons for the pain instead of ignoring the side effects.
I feel very forunate and not scared of the tests just get tired of trying to get doctors to understand the pain that occurs.
Thanks again
Tara
Here's HOPING for a few negative tests!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lynn Smith

24242 said:

Thanks for responding
I always think to myself I can only hope that lumps are benign but it is my duty to myself to catch things as early as I can and get them checked out. Yet I get the feeling doctors just think I am anxious something I am not but smarter than my when diagnosed the first time around.
I had a lump dx'd as fibrous with no diagnostic checking at all. 6 months later when I cannot work any more I am dx'd stage 3. The last thing I want are more doctor visits but until they can tell me what the lumps are I need to keep trying. I don't spend my life worrying about and don't check unless I have a pain that doesn't seem to go away. Have had lumps attached to the pains.
I too was the side effect queen suffering everything one can suffer but still managed to regain quality to my life after fighting to find out the reasons for the pain instead of ignoring the side effects.
I feel very forunate and not scared of the tests just get tired of trying to get doctors to understand the pain that occurs.
Thanks again
Tara
Here's HOPING for a few negative tests!!!!!!!!!!!!

OMG
I thought I would come over here from the BC Board because of bone mets.My oncologist said I won't get them. I've had bc but maybe it is the type I have.Still I worry about bone cancer and why I am here.I know my friend/classmate just passed away after it went to her bones.She was a 13 year survivor.She did fight for 1 year with the bone cancer but lost her battle.She never got strong enough for her twin to give her bone marrow. Some do live much longer with bone mets as I see from this Board.How wonderful.Still you don't want bone cancer. Very very scary. You read also about those having bc for over 22 years and back in the bones. Just when you think like is treating you good,Cancer catches you off guard.

HollyT-You mentioned you get a bone scan every year.What is that test??? MRI, ultrasound etc.I am interested but totally not wanting radiation tests.I wondered if the bone scans are radiation. I had alot of radiation xrays my first year after bc dx and done with them.I probably will get my FUB for my kidneys(low dose radiation) but want to kick back with the high dose radiation tests.

I will be going to my doctor the first time I get bone pain.That is if it lasts more than a few days.A few weeks.

Lynn Smith

Lynn Smith

Lynn Smith said:

OMG
I thought I would come over here from the BC Board because of bone mets.My oncologist said I won't get them. I've had bc but maybe it is the type I have.Still I worry about bone cancer and why I am here.I know my friend/classmate just passed away after it went to her bones.She was a 13 year survivor.She did fight for 1 year with the bone cancer but lost her battle.She never got strong enough for her twin to give her bone marrow. Some do live much longer with bone mets as I see from this Board.How wonderful.Still you don't want bone cancer. Very very scary. You read also about those having bc for over 22 years and back in the bones. Just when you think like is treating you good,Cancer catches you off guard.

HollyT-You mentioned you get a bone scan every year.What is that test??? MRI, ultrasound etc.I am interested but totally not wanting radiation tests.I wondered if the bone scans are radiation. I had alot of radiation xrays my first year after bc dx and done with them.I probably will get my FUB for my kidneys(low dose radiation) but want to kick back with the high dose radiation tests.

I will be going to my doctor the first time I get bone pain.That is if it lasts more than a few days.A few weeks.

Lynn Smith

Bone breaks
WOW I am reading so much about some of you being dx with bone cancer afte a injury or break. The cancer must have been there in the first place.I worry about this because i've had a couple problems with my bones but it heals.Just hurts when I get the injury and then gets better.I am not quite 2 years into my bc dx but bone mets I worry about even though my doctor said I will be fine.


Lynn Smith

pegalina

1maladywcancer said:

bone cancer
Did you hand and arm go numb?. I also was told They could not remove the ones under my arm pit. or would have to take the arm. NO way. I'm on pill form chemo. 50% swrink since I started in March went back for check up in June thats when they said the meds are working.
What are you taking to swrink them?

need advice

Hi, my name is Peggy, I'm 48..when I was 42 was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer..went thru chemo, surgery(double mastectomy & complete hysterectomy) then radiation..my question is..I had 17 lymph nodes removed from my right armpit..now my right arm goes numb..hand is cold..my doctors have done the bloodwork..there is no elevation of the cancer marker..I'm not stupid..yes..maybe I over used the arm..but..I'm just sick & tired of doctors..what was your final diagnosis?

pegalina

Hi, I'm Peggy 48 yrs old, was

Hi, I'm Peggy 48 yrs old, was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer @ 42..had chemo, double mastectomy & complete hysterectomy & radiation..my question to you is..could they detect bone cancer from the bloodwork..I have blood drawn twice a yr..they look to c where the cancer marker is..I was told that if/when the cancer comes back..it will be in the bone..just curious if someone responded or god forbid you had to go thru it..please answer..it would mean so much..my husband turned 50 in april of this yr..passed away in june suddenly of a heart attack..its just me & my boys..no grandparents are alive..hoping u will respond

SeekingInfo

Stage IV

My mother is currently in a nursing home with cancer that started out as breast cancer but has spread to her bones.  The doctors want to stop treatment and enter her into hospice care.  I know every person and case is individual and specific, but has anyone out there done something (holistic, or otherwise) that turned around a situation that was not positive?

Blueshine

CypressCynthia said:

I had breast cancer 23 years
I had breast cancer 23 years ago. I was in remission for 22 years when we discovered that I had bone metastasis. I had been having rib pain and my bone scan was read as "bone metastasis". My oncologist and I had a hard time believing it after so many years, but my markers were elevated. On April 1st last year, I had 2 ribs biopsied and both came back positive for breast cancer, estrogen receptor + (same cancer that I had in 1987). I am now on zometa and arimidex and doing well. Markers are way down, nearly normal. I have been working fulltime throughout it all.

I was just diagnosed with bone cancer, after 6 years ago breast

how often you check your bones and what kind tests

 

Zatochi

Bone Cancer

I know this is an old thread but I'll share my experience...

I'm a male and did not have breast cancer but I'm soon to have surgery to remove a cancerous tumer from inside my left lung. On the CT Scan when they were looking for the lung cancer, the Oncologist noticed that I have what appears to be bone cancer in one of my rib bones. Having full body scan on Monday 12/11/17. Is it not enough to have one cancer at a time? What did we do to deserve this?

anniemshe

anniemshe

anniemshe Posts: 16 Joined: Oct 2017

Nov 29, 2017 - 6:22 pm Hi i just joined recentply after being diagnosed with 4th stage breast cancer that spread to bone in my shoulder. Initially I had breast cancer in 2007 n did the whole mastectomy, chemo radiaction n tamoxifen n completed it. Went for yearly blood tests n mammograms n ultra sound all was great til this April when I had a stiff shoulder n thought it was a frozen shoulder. But when physiotherapy didn't work then did an MRI that showed cancer in the ball of my upper arm bone.  Radiation followed by hormone therapy now as I am oestrogen n progesterone positive. It's been 7 months n the cancer is keeping quiet n less pain in my shoulder n better mobility for my hand. My Dr is optimistic that I am responding. It was devastating to find out the cancer returned after almost 10 years but it is what it is. I feel a bit upset that the blood work that I did were all clear with all cancer markers low but 2 months later was diagnosed with bone mets!!  Thank God,  I have a supportive family and friends. I think we just need to keep positive n pray.  Log in or register to post comments