Is it bone metastases or side effect?

edbravo
edbravo Member Posts: 63
in Head and Neck Cancer #1

Hi everyone. Hope all is doing well.

Just to recap, I am 6 months post treatment from NPC cancer. However about 2 months ago, I am having this pain on my left pelvis right up to my knee (left leg). The pain often comes and goes and it tends to be worse at night and while laying down. And may be relieved by movement. My concern is that bone pain is often the first symptom of cancer that has spread to the bone. Or is it just some side effects after post treatment? Thus, before I go for any full body scan, hopefully someone could provide some advice. Thanks  

 

Comments

  • corleone
    corleone Member Posts: 312 Member
    #2
    Another NPC survivor

    I am 2 years post treatment for NPC. The treatment we receive (radiation, chemo) doesn’t usually create the type of ailment you described. Before jumping to conclusions (that this is bone mets) I can tell you that I was confronted with a similar concern a few months after my treatment: 6 months after I finished radiation, I started to have pain over my right shoulder, triggered by some specific movements. The pain was most bothersome during night, and alleviated (somehow) by light exercises. I mentioned this to my oncologist, and he didn’t even bother to follow that up, dismissing as a cancer related issue. The pain went gradually away, in a few months. In retrospect, this was caused by some injuries inflicted during exercising. So this might be a thing to consider, maybe during your walks, jogging, whatever you are doing, you pulled some muscle, tendons etc. Of course, you have to discuss this further with your oncologist.

  • phrannie51
    phrannie51 Member Posts: 4,716
    #3
    If this were me....

    I'd get an xray first....they're cheap, and your insurance won't make a fuss about getting one.  If they see something amiss, then a PET scan.  I don't know what the symptoms of bone cancer are besides pain....so a "come and go" type pain makes me think it might be structural.....like a pulled tendon or something (tendonitus).  We're pretty weak when we finish treatment, and getting back into the groove with even mild exercise could cause injury to the soft tissues. 

    p

  • edbravo
    edbravo Member Posts: 63
    #4
    phrannie51 said:

    If this were me....

    I'd get an xray first....they're cheap, and your insurance won't make a fuss about getting one.  If they see something amiss, then a PET scan.  I don't know what the symptoms of bone cancer are besides pain....so a "come and go" type pain makes me think it might be structural.....like a pulled tendon or something (tendonitus).  We're pretty weak when we finish treatment, and getting back into the groove with even mild exercise could cause injury to the soft tissues. 

    p

    Thank you. 
    I am not too sure

    Thank you. 

    I am not too sure if the pain is coming directly from the bone or the tendon / ligament, But when it starts to ace, I will feel the pain all over my left leg. Never experince this before and something really new for me. Undecided

  • edbravo
    edbravo Member Posts: 63
    #5
    corleone said:

    Another NPC survivor

    I am 2 years post treatment for NPC. The treatment we receive (radiation, chemo) doesn’t usually create the type of ailment you described. Before jumping to conclusions (that this is bone mets) I can tell you that I was confronted with a similar concern a few months after my treatment: 6 months after I finished radiation, I started to have pain over my right shoulder, triggered by some specific movements. The pain was most bothersome during night, and alleviated (somehow) by light exercises. I mentioned this to my oncologist, and he didn’t even bother to follow that up, dismissing as a cancer related issue. The pain went gradually away, in a few months. In retrospect, this was caused by some injuries inflicted during exercising. So this might be a thing to consider, maybe during your walks, jogging, whatever you are doing, you pulled some muscle, tendons etc. Of course, you have to discuss this further with your oncologist.

    corleone, thanks.
    I had a

    corleone, thanks.

    I had a black-out experience (about 2 weeks after my treatment) and i fell (head first to the wall and backwards), breaking my nose and I had surgery to straighten back my nose for that. It could probably be the fall and some old injury, hopefully. Seen my doctor today, he was concern but advise to do a MRI if the pain gets worst in 2 months time. What you think? should i wait?   

  • corleone
    corleone Member Posts: 312 Member
    #6
    edbravo said:

    corleone, thanks.
    I had a

    corleone, thanks.

    I had a black-out experience (about 2 weeks after my treatment) and i fell (head first to the wall and backwards), breaking my nose and I had surgery to straighten back my nose for that. It could probably be the fall and some old injury, hopefully. Seen my doctor today, he was concern but advise to do a MRI if the pain gets worst in 2 months time. What you think? should i wait?   

    Not sure how to advise you.

    Not sure how to advise you. If things were easy, I would just do the MRI as soon as possible, to get an answer, instead of worrying for such a long time. But there are many things to consider here. I don’t know if this procedure would be covered; then waiting time, once doctor agrees to schedule one, etc. The regular X-ray might help, but it might also miss some more difficult spots.

    But yes, that fall might explain it.

     

  • edbravo
    edbravo Member Posts: 63
    #7
    corleone said:

    Not sure how to advise you.

    Not sure how to advise you. If things were easy, I would just do the MRI as soon as possible, to get an answer, instead of worrying for such a long time. But there are many things to consider here. I don’t know if this procedure would be covered; then waiting time, once doctor agrees to schedule one, etc. The regular X-ray might help, but it might also miss some more difficult spots.

    But yes, that fall might explain it.

     

    Corleone, I do have insurance

    Corleone, I do have insurance but i have not utilise it yet for my cancer treatment. Been paying out from my pocket all this time.

    Yes, worrying about it realy sucks. I am not really concern about the MRI or whatever medical cost, however I am just at a point that I can't take anymore bad news. Even going to see my doctor today freak me out. 

  • edbravo
    edbravo Member Posts: 63
    #8
    Is there any NPC or closely

    Is there any NPC or closely related cancer survivors who experience the same or alike symptoms like me and what was the out come? was it bone mets, how did you get treated? would realy appreciate some more feedbacks. thanks Laughing

  • phrannie51
    phrannie51 Member Posts: 4,716
    #9
    edbravo said:

    Thank you. 
    I am not too sure

    Thank you. 

    I am not too sure if the pain is coming directly from the bone or the tendon / ligament, But when it starts to ace, I will feel the pain all over my left leg. Never experince this before and something really new for me. Undecided

    The fact that the pain

    radiates over your whole leg makes me wonder if you didn't pull or tear a tendon.  I've had tendonitus in my elbow.....the pain comes and goes....but when it's hurting, my arm....from shoulder to hand aches....and it's very painful. 

    I'm glad you saw your doc, and he said to get an MRI.....I'd probably be wanting one sooner than later, just so I could take it off the worry list.

    p 

  • longtermsurvivor
    longtermsurvivor Member Posts: 1,842 Member
    #10
    edbravo said:

    Is there any NPC or closely

    Is there any NPC or closely related cancer survivors who experience the same or alike symptoms like me and what was the out come? was it bone mets, how did you get treated? would realy appreciate some more feedbacks. thanks Laughing

    the thing is

    By this description, this leg pain is not likely metastatic disease.   Generally all new complaints should receive a thorough work up starting with a detailed history and physical exam.  Then followed by targeted lab and radiological testing.  Your FP is likely better trained at this than the oncologist.  But an MRI is probably ok to do.  It may be overkill, but it will certainly put your mind at ease regarding cancer.  If the MRI is negative, you can always be referred by the oncologist, that works ok. So do this however makes sense to you.  Just be prepared to push on if the MRI is negative.

  • jim and i
    jim and i Member Posts: 1,788 Member
    #11
    I know that when Jim had bone

    I know that when Jim had bone mets to his ribs the pain was localized, not radiating to other areas. The pain also was extreme and required heavy doses of morphine to ease it, not get rid of it. Sounds to me like the fall caused you to twist your body, probably getting something out of wack or tearing a lihament. Try ice and advil next time it hurts. If that helps it probably isn't matastic. 

    Hope this helps. I know every ache and pain is scarry after treatment. I pray your mind can be put at ease soon.

    Debbie 

  • edbravo
    edbravo Member Posts: 63
    #12
    jim and i said:

    I know that when Jim had bone

    I know that when Jim had bone mets to his ribs the pain was localized, not radiating to other areas. The pain also was extreme and required heavy doses of morphine to ease it, not get rid of it. Sounds to me like the fall caused you to twist your body, probably getting something out of wack or tearing a lihament. Try ice and advil next time it hurts. If that helps it probably isn't matastic. 

    Hope this helps. I know every ache and pain is scarry after treatment. I pray your mind can be put at ease soon.

    Debbie 

    Hi Debbie,
    Thanks and I

    Hi Debbie,

    Thanks and I appreciate your positive support, very much. Was worried last night and did some research on the internet and found out that the pain from my butthocks straight down my left leg could be caused by an inflamed pririformis muscle, usually from sitting too long in which I do everyday in front of my computer. Medically it is called piriformis syndrome  http://www.spine-health.com/conditions/sciatica/what-piriformis-syndrome . I am feeling a little relieve now knowing there is other causes than bone metastases. Smile

  • debbiejeanne
    debbiejeanne Member Posts: 3,102 Member
    #13
    edbravo said:

    Hi Debbie,
    Thanks and I

    Hi Debbie,

    Thanks and I appreciate your positive support, very much. Was worried last night and did some research on the internet and found out that the pain from my butthocks straight down my left leg could be caused by an inflamed pririformis muscle, usually from sitting too long in which I do everyday in front of my computer. Medically it is called piriformis syndrome  http://www.spine-health.com/conditions/sciatica/what-piriformis-syndrome . I am feeling a little relieve now knowing there is other causes than bone metastases. Smile

    ed, that can also be the

    ed, that can also be the siatic nerve which is very painful and i don't think pain meds help it.  you may want to ask your doc about that.  good luck.

    dj

  • AgentJester
    AgentJester Member Posts: 14
    #14
    MY SON HAS THE SAME PAIN

    Hi, my 14 yo son has the exact same complaint but the right side.  His pain started within a week after his NPC  radiation was ending.

    A mass was present on his PET and MRI.  He had a biopsy which showed NO MALIGNANCY!!

     

    The problem is the docs still dont know the cause, which means more scans next month.

     

     

     

     

     

  • edbravo
    edbravo Member Posts: 63
    #15
    AgentJester said:

    MY SON HAS THE SAME PAIN

    Hi, my 14 yo son has the exact same complaint but the right side.  His pain started within a week after his NPC  radiation was ending.

    A mass was present on his PET and MRI.  He had a biopsy which showed NO MALIGNANCY!!

     

    The problem is the docs still dont know the cause, which means more scans next month.

     

     

     

     

     

    So far the pain is most

    So far the pain is most painful at night while i am laying down about to sleep and if i get up and do some walking the pain reduces. The last couple of days i did some straching and it was not very painful at night. Does it sound like a bone related issue?

Discussion Boards