Degenerative disease

scorpiox55
scorpiox55 Member Posts: 18 Member
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Hi all, I have another question for you. After having a bone scan last July, I found out that I have degenerative disease in my shoulders and upper back. Also a mild case of scoliosis in my lower back. Since these pains are constant, how in the world am I supposed to know if anything else is happening? My doctor isn't one to do scans all the time. I am not even getting any after treatment. She is monitoring me through blood tests and next time I am having a ca 27-29 I think. That's 3 months from now. I know I have arthritis, but what if I don't catch something? Can they tell from your blood if you have bone mets? Thanks everyone. JoAnne

Comments

  • krisrey
    krisrey Member Posts: 194
    #2
    Hi JoAnne,
    I finished my treatments 2 weeks ago and my doctors do not run any blood or any scans..so I wonder how they can tell that it has not already spread...I do not dwell on it, but I do wonder!!
    Kris
  • hummingbyrd
    hummingbyrd Member Posts: 950 Member
    #3
    Good question, seeing as how when we do get older, praise God, we do get new aches and pains.
    I think there in lies the key...PRAY for guidance and wisdom and...NEW, watch for any changes to the old aches and pains, and let your doctor know if something new hurts and/or hurts differently.
    Blood tests, while not totally accurate, can be a good indicator with what's going on, especially if all things are considered.
    Hope this helps. God bless. hummingbyrd
  • jeancmici
    jeancmici Member Posts: 665 Member
    #4
    Hi JoAnne,

    Almost hate to add my 2 cents worth but in July 03 I had an annual chest x-ray which was fine - blood tests ok also.

    Then the 'arthritic' pain became DIFFERENT - actually had been more prevalent but suddenly was CONSTANT and WORSE.

    They found in August extensive bone mets, lung and liver involvement - however, remember the July x-ray was ok and blood tests after all this was found still indicated all was ok.

    That's how sly cancer can be. I capitalized the important things to look for as Hummer indicated also - DIFFERENT is a red flag yet even that could be sciatica or more arthritis.

    Enjoy each day - pointless to worry ahead of time.

    I hope I helped a little, at least.
    Jean
  • scorpiox55
    scorpiox55 Member Posts: 18 Member
    #5
    Thanks Kris, Humm and Jean for your replies. Jean, Kris and Humm how are you doing? What kind of treatments are you going through? Bless you all! JoAnne
  • scorpiox55
    scorpiox55 Member Posts: 18 Member
    #6
    scorpiox55 said:

    Thanks Kris, Humm and Jean for your replies. Jean, Kris and Humm how are you doing? What kind of treatments are you going through? Bless you all! JoAnne

    Jean, How can all that happen so fast? No test could pick that up just one month before? What have they said about your lungs and liver? I am praying for you and everyone on this board. JoAnne
  • jeancmici
    jeancmici Member Posts: 665 Member
    #7
    scorpiox55 said:

    Jean, How can all that happen so fast? No test could pick that up just one month before? What have they said about your lungs and liver? I am praying for you and everyone on this board. JoAnne

    JoAnne,
    All that did not happen overnight. I was too slow in complaining thinking pains in my hips were from renewed walking in the spring and other increased pains were too much housework - spring cleaning - and the blood tests even now are mostly all in normal range except for the Red blood cells - anemia - and alk phos - which is high due to tumor progression despite the wonder worker-herceptin.

    I walked around for a week with a perforated colon with an abscess in 1996 - the gastroenterologist even felt my stomach but thought I had irritable bowel syndrome and scheduled a CT scan a week later. After the CT scan, I was in the hospital within an hour for 8 days. Again I did not have classic symptoms - I think I did have peritonitis by the time I got in the hospital but not even sure.No vomiting - not much fever!

    Now lungs and liver also continue to worsen along with bones BUT had first Navelbine last Monday - my best hope now for extra time.

    To get back to you, Joanne, as I reread your initial posting, mild scoliosis does not cause pain usually. Arthritis and bone mets can be confused in a scan but I had some lesions on ribs(not a spot for arthritis), and the growth thruout my spine while on two months of Femara could not be an increase in arthritis in that amount of time so thus cancer is the diagnosis.
    Don't stress over it but do keep tabs on tests etc. - don't take anything for granted - and keep in touch with us.

    hugs and prayers,
    Jean
  • hummingbyrd
    hummingbyrd Member Posts: 950 Member
    #8
    scorpiox55 said:

    Thanks Kris, Humm and Jean for your replies. Jean, Kris and Humm how are you doing? What kind of treatments are you going through? Bless you all! JoAnne

    Thanks for asking JoAnne, you are very sweet!
    I have been on Zometa and Herceptin for 2 1/2 years now for bone mets. I just completed radiation to my right arm, for the second time, because bone met started growing again. I found both of my bone mets based on 'muscle strains' that would not go away. A low back strain is not normal for me so I insisted on a bone scan.
    When met in arm became active again pain was very suttle. Actually only bothered me after being on computer, tendonitis right? WRONG! In my book it's cancer till proven otherwise, IF it's a persistant problem that won't go away, and stay gone. Sure enough, asked for arm to be x-rayed and tumor was active again.
    Last thing, I've incorporated alternative medicine into my current treatment program. I've made some dietary changes, added vitamins, and anti-oxidants to my list of meds and am still doing research to see what else is available.
    I firmly believe God would not lay any affliction on us, and not provide the cure, so I'm looking!
    Hope and pray this finds you well. Remember, while it's important to be vigilent, don't be obsessed over 'it' coming back. God is in control, pray for peace and wisdom, then you won't worry about it coming back, and if it does
    God will guide you and show you what to do.
    God bless you. (((HUGS))) hummer
  • scorpiox55
    scorpiox55 Member Posts: 18 Member
    #9
    Thanks Jean and Humm, You both are an inspiration and I appreciate it very much your input and suggestions. We are all in this together and I like Humm have started on supplements and trying to eat better. I bought flax oil today to mix in w/cottage cheese. I read this in "How to fight cancer and win" I am also taking vit c, selenium, coral calcium, zinc, chlorella, flax oil, fish oil, multi vitamin, garlic, msm, wheatgrass, barley, and that's all I can think of right now. What kind of water does everyone drink? What else do you drink? I have stopped drinking coffee, cut back on tea, and all I drink is water and fruit juice. I do drink green tea once a day so far. I just need something else! Help......JoAnne
  • hummingbyrd
    hummingbyrd Member Posts: 950 Member
    #10
    scorpiox55 said:

    Thanks Jean and Humm, You both are an inspiration and I appreciate it very much your input and suggestions. We are all in this together and I like Humm have started on supplements and trying to eat better. I bought flax oil today to mix in w/cottage cheese. I read this in "How to fight cancer and win" I am also taking vit c, selenium, coral calcium, zinc, chlorella, flax oil, fish oil, multi vitamin, garlic, msm, wheatgrass, barley, and that's all I can think of right now. What kind of water does everyone drink? What else do you drink? I have stopped drinking coffee, cut back on tea, and all I drink is water and fruit juice. I do drink green tea once a day so far. I just need something else! Help......JoAnne

    Tea they think is good for you, especially green, but even the black tea. I'm bad, I still have an occasional coke and I love root beer! I just get plain bottled water, but I do check the source.
    Instead of flax seed oil I chose 'Forti-Flax'. I mix it up in oatmeal, muffins, top off salads with it, etc. It's ground up flax seed, but imagine you'd want to be carefull if you had a history of diverticulitis or IBS. Also on vit C and CoQ10. I'm adding supplements one at a time to see what, if any, make a difference! Oh yes, I eat lots of garlic, love to sautee it then add to recipe and I take a multi-vitamin...AND....don't know if it matters, but it tastes good! I drink the 'organic whole milk', 'organic cottage cheese', 'organic cream cheese'...ohhh I'm getting hungry! Next step is to ask doc for indole-3-carbinol. All this may not save my life, but I'll die healthy! ; ) (((HUGS))) hummer

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