Cancer in the bones and treatment.

LaurenG

After having a bilateral mastectomy in 2013, residual IDC was found last week. After an MRI and PET scan, the IDC had traveled through my blood and is now in the bones. I am told there is treatment for this. Has anyone had experiences with this? Thank you.

Lillymillie

hi Lauren,

I'm in the same boat as you. Just found out a couple of weeksago I had spread to my pelvis. Its treatable but no longer able to cure it. I was on tamoxifen so most likely I will move to an Ai and get my ovaries shut down. Lots of great ladies on here doing great with lots of advice and positivity, am sure they'll be along soon. There is a lady called Bestbird and she has a guide to treatment (her guide is listed on thread below. I emailed her and she send me the guide. Very informative. The thread below has info on bone mets too

https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/8/topics/...

50sgirl

Lauren, Welcome to the Stage IV forum. I am truly sorry for the reason that you are here. There are many of us on these boards who have bone mets. There are many treatments available, and many people are living with bc with bone mets for a long time. Has your oncologist begun to discuss treatment options with you? Once you have a treatment plan, you will begin to feel a bit better about things, but I know that right now, you probably feel shock, sadness, confusion, and a number of other emotions.

I do hope that you request Bestbird's MBC Guide that Lillymillie mentioned in her post. It is full of so much valuable information. Bestbird has done extensive research and has pulled her results together for everyone in her guide.

I also suggest that you join us on the Bone Mets Thread. Hopefully, this link below will work. If it does not, just look for the thread called Bone Mets Thread. There are many people on that thread who are in the same boat as we are - stage iv with bone mets. They will be happy to answer any questions you have. Because everyone is different, we are receiving a variety of treatments. As you will learn, if one treatment isn't effective, there are others out there for your onc to recommend.

https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/8/topics/789492

Make sure you ask your onc all the questions you have. If you have an appointment coming up, make a list of questions ahead of time. Take someone with you to your appointment so you have two sets of ears listening.

I hope you have a supportive family and/or friends to help you through this. We will always be here for you, too. There are many of us her ready to answer your questions, listen to your fears, let you rant when you need to, and give you advice.

Sending you a big hug. Let us know when your next appointment is. Keep us updated on developments and treatment plans. I am looking forward to seeing you post again soon, either here or on the Bone Mets Thread.

Lynne

pajim

Hi LaurenG, welcome to the club no one wants to join. So sorry you need to be here. We all have experience with this. The first few weeks can be really really hard. It will get better over time and once you start treatment.

There are lots of treatments for this disease. Which one they give you will depend on the type of breast cancer you have. If ER+ you would start on an anti-hormonal. Tamoxifen, an aromatase inhibitor, etc. If HER2+ they'll give different drugs.

The treatment for MBC is a marathon, not a sprint. They idea is to stave off the disease with as good a quality of life as you can possibly have, for as long as you can. And by long, I mean decades. I've met women who have been living with mets in the bones for more than 20 years. I myself was on my first treatment for three years.

So do not despair. In the meantime, if you're having a lot of trouble with anxiety, depression, sleeping, whatever, ask your doc for some supportive medications. I took sleeping pills for two months after diagnosis. I thought I'd never get off them, but as I went back to work (I'd had surgery) my life righted itself and I'm pretty much back to normal. Well, except for the extreme menopausal symptoms.

Look around at the threads. Ask your questions. No question is too dumb. If you think it's too dumb for public, PM me.

Kandy

Lots of good advice has already been given but I did want to welcome you although I am sorry you had to join us. Hopefully you will get your treatment plan soon and everything will look a little brighter. Wishing you nothing but the best.

exbrnxgrl

Welcome, Lauren,

As has been said, your possible treatments will be based on certain things, key among them, hormonal status. I had my bone met radiated and have been on an aromatase inhibitor for almost 5 years. I lead a virtually normal life and the years have been happy and productive (not happy about the cancer, of course). I have never had chemo. Yup, many, many of us with bone mets, so feel free to ask any and all questions!

Lynnwood1960

Lauren, we have all stood where you stand now, many bone metsers here. We all understand all of the emotions you are feeling right now. Come on over to the bone mets thread, lots of great support and information