Bone Mets - cervical spine treatment

lesleyb

Just found out today via bone scan that my mets have now progressed to my cervical spine and humerus but have disappeared in my sacrum, and one lumbar sprinal vertebrae. Has anyone had therapy of any sort to the cervical spine. I would like to know your thoughts. I'm beginning to think, after 2 years of good living, that I am starting the horrible progression process.

Heidihill

lesley, I dont have any experience with cervical spine mets but systemic therapy should be the same as for other bone mets, which usually includes xgeva or zometa to strengthen the bone. I hope your doctors have a treatment plan for you soon. They may, however, want to do a biopsy first, if at all possible. Progression sucks.

LindaE54

Hi Lesley - I have 3 or 4 mets in cervical spine. Nothing was done in my case other than systemic therapy and Xgeva, at least so far. They don't really bother me, no fractures no compression. I know we hate the word progression but it seems to balance out with your other mets that have healed. Same thing happened to me about 2 years ago, new cervical mets popped up and other mets showed improvement. No tx change for me as I was considered "overall stable". Cervical mets have stayed stable since. Take a deep breath, your progression (although unwelcome guest for sure) is not dramatic. What is your MO's plan? I'd be very interested to know.

lesleyb

Linda, I don't get to see him for another 2 weeks so will update then.

ABeautifulSunset

I had mets to my c7. We watched it for a while,until ONC got nervous it was getting kind of big ,so I saw a radiologist and underwent a couple of Cyberknife treatments. And tada... All gone c7 bone mets. And thatwas a year ago.

I'm also on xgeva, Ibrance and letrozole.

lesleyb

Well I went to the onc yesterday and he confirmed that one of my cervical bones had almost disappeared leaving a gap. He is treating it as matter of urgency and looks like I will be having Radio soon and changing my AI. He is also trying to get me into the Ibrance trial here in Australia. Only small downside if I get in is travel to the trial hospital once a month he says which is a 4 hour round trip but I hope I make it in.

lesleyb

So have just come back from the local onc and he tells me that I cannot have stereotactic radiotherapy to try and heal my C2. The bone is too diseased. Surgeon can't do surgery as there is not enough left to connect everything. I'm shattered. Onc seems to think we can keep it at bay for a bit longer on hormonals. Only ever had Arimidex but hope to be starting a trial soon with a new drug plus tamoxifen. Anyone else had good response which such advancement to spine?

pajim

lesley, can they do a vertebroplasty or a kyphoplasty? Sorry I don't know the difference and am too lazy to look it up, but basically they inject cement to stabilize the vertebra. It won't help with the cancer but it will keep your neck together.

lesleyb

Hi Linda, well I went for 2 months without treatment other than radiotherapy to my cervicall spine whilst they decided on whether or not I was eligible for a trial. I was refused for both trials as I was ineligible so my onc has started me on Afinitor/Avastin. It is dreadful. i am diabetic and it has thrown my blood sugars way out. I have mouth sores, headaches, insomnia, worsening neuropathy in my feet, bloody noses, sinus infection. He started me on 10mg, lkoss of appetite as everything tastes disgusting. I am going to see him this week to get it reduced to 7.5 mg or 5 mg. My worst nightmare.

Only thing I have left to try is Tamoxifen before I start chemo. Wish we could get fulvestrant and ibrance here in Australia.

LindaE54

Hi Lesley - I sure hope that reducing the dose will help and that SEs will taper off. Shame you couldn't join a clinical trial. One of the best ways to have access to new drugs here in Canada as well.