New primary and bone mets

mari55

I had a right mastectomy 10 years ago at age 43.  DCIS- no radiation, chemo or tamoxifen. Thought I was done  This last sumer I started having more back and leg pain.  I attributed this to my active lifestyle.  I went into menopause at age 46. Went to PT had a chest x-ray because of rib pain and they missed a compression fracture at T-9.  I would get better and then get worse.  I had a hysterectomy with BSO for repeated abnormal PAPs, history of personal cancer and grandmother with ovarian cancer. ( They missed the compression fracture again on preop x-ray)  No cancer in this path.  Back wasn't better so went for MRI.  Found compression fracture.  Went to oncolgist.  ad CT scans, bone scans, enzymes - all looked good ( except the bone scan didn't get read right away).  I went to see if a vertebroplasty could help but the interventional radiologist said the injury was too chronic.  They did a biopsy and found metastatic adenocarcinoma -estrogen positive, herceptin negative.  To top it off I have a new primary DCIS in the left breast.  The bone mets seems limited to the t-9 area and my trochantar.  Unfortunately the area in the hip fractured this week ( horrible pain) and I now have metal rod and some pins.  Good news is I am finally getting mobile, I was only in two days and the procedure is so much simpler than in years past.  My oncologist was upset with himself for not acting to stabilize the hip earlier but I am not sure he was aware or that I would have been so open to it at that point.  The up side is that I out of major pain and on the road to getting back to work and "normal".   I will have  an mastectomy on the left in the next few weeks. A plastic's doc I consulted a year or so ago about revising the right reconstruction said he thought I had breast tissue on the right still so I plan to have them start from scratch and do both but for me the mastectomies and reconstruction are the way I want to go. I will probably have to have surgery on the compression fracture so it will be a big year .  I am on Femera, Zometa and will finish radiation to the spine in the next week or so.I am encouraged overall and realize that  I have been given a chance to know what really is important and to enjoy everyday.  I have asked for PET scan and a close look again at the bone scan.  Knowing what I am dealing with is the biggest part of the battle.  It is comforting to read the posts and know I am not alone out there.  

cancersuks

Hi Mari55,

I'm sorry for all you've been through; I can't decide which is worse, the 1st time I was

diagnosed with cancer or the 2nd with the mets to my spine.  I had the vertebroplasty but to be

honest, since I've started the femara and zometa infusions, my back has been in

constant pain.  I'm still trying to work so I need to find a drug that will work and still

allow me to function, even if marginally at work.  Everything sounds like me, the first

radiologist missed my fracture and cancer as well; my internist was treating me

for a pinched nerve.  I never dreamed in a million years after 12 years my cancer

would return.  They say it's rare after 10 years... we're now in that rare 1% club.

You have a great attitude, most days, I'm just numb and try not to think too much.

This morning I almost wet myself in my office, hope to God, I'm not going to

have bladder control problems on top of it all.   

mari55

 Wow, your story is mine. The 1% club I was hoping for had more to do with the lottery. It is not always easy to keep the positive but it seems better to push anger towards the cancer when I can.  I want to go back to work and hope I can in a month or so. Mornings are the worst with pain. I have only had one infusion of Zometa and only on the Femara for 3 weeks so time will tell on the ability to help.  I have been on MS Contin for pain but l have been able to decrease it once the hip was fixed and of course will need to limit it to nightime when I return to work.   I will see the neurosurgeon about surgery on the compression fracture.  My oncologist feels I should do it since if I need chemo later it will be more difficult. I just want to make sure the surgery will make a difference and no just add to my misery. I still have to deal with the new DCIS. Luckily I tolerate anesthesia and surgery well -so far.  Thanks for responding- it does help to know I am not all alone in this.

cancersuks

Hi Mari55,

Let me know how you're doing with your treatments!  I went to see my oncologist today about the pain and he's put me on a fentanyl patch; so far so good.