bone mets

bdean
bdean Member Posts: 259
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
I have been reading alot about bone mets and the pain involved. Has anyone ever been dx with cancer in their bones with just minimal pain (no worse than normal aches from a long day of work)to hardly noticeable. What degree of pain would you classify yours on a scale of 1 to 5? How much or how strong does your pain meds have to be to get relief?
I will deeply appreciate anyone's response to my question. Thank you and God bless you.
Hugs from Brenda

Comments

  • tiger
    tiger Member Posts: 277
    #2
    Brenda, Rosa here, you know I dont have bone mets, but your question caught my eye and now has me worrying. ARe you having pain? I sincerely hope not, you are such a trooper and an inspiration to me, I just hate to think of you having any pain. I know that Pam in NZ was having pain, maybe ask her, she does not get on the site much but try her at home.
    Take care
    hugs and love from Tiger
  • bdean
    bdean Member Posts: 259
    #3
    tiger said:

    Brenda, Rosa here, you know I dont have bone mets, but your question caught my eye and now has me worrying. ARe you having pain? I sincerely hope not, you are such a trooper and an inspiration to me, I just hate to think of you having any pain. I know that Pam in NZ was having pain, maybe ask her, she does not get on the site much but try her at home.
    Take care
    hugs and love from Tiger

    Hi Rosa:
    Thank you for your concern. No, I am not even on pain med VIOXX any more. I was asking because I am not in pain, and everything I read about bone mets describe the severe pain involved and how to treat it. My question was trying to see if I am the only one with such a fantastic reprieve; and if so, maybe all those abnormalities left may be something else?!!? I have not had any pain in the areas left since the beginning of all of this--like 2 spots on my skull, a spot on my shoulder blade - left iliac of hip. No pain - so soreness - no tenderness at all. I am not complaining by any means, just curious if anyone else has same dx with no pain.
    Love & hugs, Brenda
  • bdean
    bdean Member Posts: 259
    #4
    tiger said:

    Brenda, Rosa here, you know I dont have bone mets, but your question caught my eye and now has me worrying. ARe you having pain? I sincerely hope not, you are such a trooper and an inspiration to me, I just hate to think of you having any pain. I know that Pam in NZ was having pain, maybe ask her, she does not get on the site much but try her at home.
    Take care
    hugs and love from Tiger

    Hi Rosa:
    Thank you for your concern. No, I am not even on pain med VIOXX any more. I was asking because I am not in pain, and everything I read about bone mets describe the severe pain involved and how to treat it. My question was trying to see if I am the only one with such a fantastic reprieve; and if so, maybe all those abnormalities left may be something else?!!? I have not had any pain in the areas left since the beginning of all of this--like 2 spots on my skull, a spot on my shoulder blade - left iliac of hip. No pain - so soreness - no tenderness at all. I am not complaining by any means, just curious if anyone else has same dx with no pain.
    Love & hugs, Brenda
  • jeancmici
    jeancmici Member Posts: 665 Member
    #5
    bdean said:

    Hi Rosa:
    Thank you for your concern. No, I am not even on pain med VIOXX any more. I was asking because I am not in pain, and everything I read about bone mets describe the severe pain involved and how to treat it. My question was trying to see if I am the only one with such a fantastic reprieve; and if so, maybe all those abnormalities left may be something else?!!? I have not had any pain in the areas left since the beginning of all of this--like 2 spots on my skull, a spot on my shoulder blade - left iliac of hip. No pain - so soreness - no tenderness at all. I am not complaining by any means, just curious if anyone else has same dx with no pain.
    Love & hugs, Brenda

    Hi Brenda,

    After you wrote last night, I did some reading on bone mets and it seems that severe chronic pain is when the condition is advanced or advancing. Perhaps yours could be described as 'in remission' - what does the onco say?

    I have finished AC and taxol and have never had any scans, tumor marker blood tests etc. Had a breast MRI before surgery which made the lump look large as did the mammo. Yet when operated on, it turned out the MRI's approx 3.2 turned out to be 1.8.

    My doctors tell me a lot of tests are worthless because they are not accurate enough. I will be asking about tumor markers tho' on Aug 2, when I have a follow-up with the onco after chemo.

    Wishes for continued good reports for you - love and hugs, too.

    Jean
  • pamtriggs
    pamtriggs Member Posts: 386
    #6
    Dear Brenda
    As you know I am stage 4 in recurrence with multiple bone mets (more than 20) & I have never heard of it coming with minimal pain. Mine is bloody awful at times. I have been hospitalized to try to sort out a pain regime. I am currently on 60mg morphine (Kapronol) twice daily & once when I forgot it I was in agony. I also need frequent top ups of a strong digesic & soemtimes another 20 mg of morphine for breakthrough pain. On a scale of 1-5 I would classify my pain as 3-4. Hope this helps. Since I started my chemo I have managed to drop morphine from 80mg twice daily so something is working.Love Pam
  • gammyo
    gammyo Member Posts: 2
    #7
    Brenda, I'm new to these boards. I was dx'd with mets last year. I have 3 lesions on my bones. My tumor markers (CA27-29) is at 9. I don't have any pain. I take Tamoxifen only. I am one of the 1% that they can't locate the primary tumor. I'm ER/PR + and HER2/Neu +3. The only way I knew something was wrong was I had a sore knee. Right now, by the grace of God, I'm healthy and living my life. God is AWESOME. Hugs from Barbara
  • gammyo
    gammyo Member Posts: 2
    #8
    Brenda, I'm new to these boards. I was dx'd with mets last year. I have 3 lesions on my bones. My tumor markers (CA27-29) is at 9. I don't have any pain. I take Tamoxifen only. I am one of the 1% that they can't locate the primary tumor. I'm ER/PR + and HER2/Neu +3. The only way I knew something was wrong was I had a sore knee. Right now, by the grace of God, I'm healthy and living my life. God is AWESOME. Hugs from Barbara
  • lynnephil
    lynnephil Member Posts: 14
    #9
    Hi Brenda
    I am back to front - that is I had secondary cancer in the femur bone before finding primary in my breast in 1999.
    My doctors do not believe me that I have no pain (I was in a lot of pain before operation) but after radiotherapy (over 3 years ago I don't even take a painkiller). My legs will ache from time to time but I am sure thats due to the Tamoxifen.
    I have taken a supplement of Starflower Oil since my operation and I really feel that this helps.
    Having faith in god and being just a stubborn head also helps!
    God bless - Lynne
  • gottod
    gottod Member Posts: 37
    #10
    hi,
    i too, have had bone mets since 8/00, to sternum and lower back, with minimal to no pain and these areas have not grown though my liver mets has grown considerabley and i did have discomfort to pain in my right upper abdomen before trying a new chemo for me, gemzaar,
    so yes, bone cancer can be without pain - my father inlaw has mets to ribs from prostate cancer without pain,
    I feel fortunate i'm not having pain there,
    hugs dg

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