Treatment for Bone Mets - newer options available ? Any in NYC ?

MTG

Ok, some background: I'm back to this site after a 3.5 year break (BC with rads, Lupron and Arimidex, no chemo) I strongly suspect that I'm about to be diagnosed with bone mets. Classic symptoms - Elevated Alk Phos, really high calcium in blood and urine, and most recently a bruised bone like feeling in my ribs. That plus my Breast Surgeon, completely unsolicited, told me to make an appointment with a particular oncologist. All of the above can be explained by something other than Bone Mets, but I just have a strong bad feeling.



Now the Question: I'm looking for options other than traditional chemo, 1) is there a thread here that lists/ discusses options like ablation, chemo just at the affected site and other newer treatments ? Does anyone know which hospitals in NYC are doing the new fangled stuff ? Any recommendations? Thanks.

sandilee

First of all, I really hope that you find out you have a bruised rib and your calcium is high for a different reason. Hyperparathyroidism?  There are other medical reasons besides cancer for high calcium.

 But  the first step will be scans and a thorough work up. A bone scan, CT and maybe an MRI, depending on what your oncologist thinks, will be very important. 

  As far as treatment, don't assume that chemo is the first step if bone mets are found. Even though Arimidex failed you, that doesn't mean that a different AI or similar anti -estrogen drug won't be helpful.  I was diagnosed with mets to my spine, ribs and skull after 3 1/2 years of Aromsin, and have been stable on Faslodex for 18 months.  I've never had chemo, and when Faslodex stops working, my onc wants to try another anti-hormonal, as long as the cancer stays in the bone. He wants to keep chemo for when the anti-hormonals stop working, and then there are a lot of those to choose from. And after that, back on the hormonal merry-go-round.  I have a great quality of life on Faslodex, and I hope it keeps working for years.

    I'm not in NYC- can't help you there- although I don't think that there is a big difference between what is happening in NY and LA, as long as you're getting treatment in one of the quality cancer centers or university hospitals. The key is finding a good oncologist that your trust, and it sounds like you have a good referral.  Take a deep breath. Even if you do have mets, life can be good, and probably much longer than you might expect.

 If you do have scans and nothing shows up, your onc may refer you to an endocrinologist to figure out what's going on with your blood levels. Best of luck to you, and hugs.

 I should add that if there is just one cancerous spot, and it's painful, radiation is often suggested, and it can kill the cancer in that spot and eliminate the pain. I had an area on my back zapped, and it helped tremendously.

  

  

MTG

Sandilee, Thank you so much for your response !

I just got another crappy test result; my Bone Specific Alk Phos is 3 x what it's supposed to be so I'm increasingly concerned. But your words have certainly helped....alot !  I didnt realize that other hormonals were an option ! And, I'm relieved as well that you answered a question that I was actually too scared to ask...re: quality of life. 

By the way,  I do recognize that it can be endocrinological but after two meetings with an endrocrinologist and a battery of blood and urine tests, nothing has jumped out  (other than bone density issues...aah, the joys of AIs and Lupron.)

The doctors appointments and testing continue !

exbrnxgrl

I agree with sandilee. ER+ women often do some type of AI drug and maybe a bisphosphonate rather than chemo. They can have a very long run on these and move on to a different one if one fails. Rads, to the sit of the met, are also used to alleviate pain and zap the met. I had a 2cm met to my upper femur, no pain, and did rads x15. The met was necrotic on my last two PET's. Wishing you the best.

Caryn