Severe arthritis?Bone Mets?Something else?

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Anonymous
Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
edited February 2017 in Stage IV/Metastatic Breast Cancer ONLY
Severe arthritis?Bone Mets?Something else?
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  • MymomisstageIV
    MymomisstageIV Member Posts: 14
    edited February 2017

    Dear ladies,

    I´m writing on behalf of my mother. She was diagnosed with Stage IV BC de Novo in dec, 2014. ER+PR+HER-. Since then she has been on hormonal treatment. First Arimidex (few months) then Faslodex (For almost 2 years now). She also gets Zometa for bone mets. Up until this autumn she did fine. Almost as nothing had ever been wrong (I sure am aware that with this dgn. you cannot have such luck forever) In oct/nov she started to complain joint pain in right ankle. Then her knees started to feel painful while climbing stairs. Then there was pain in her thumb and one of her wrists. She has constantly reminded it to her onc as well but he does not seem to make much out of it think it is anything remarkable. Two months ago she started to see pain doctor on her own initiative. She has been on opioids since then, rather strong ones I suppose. She uses all kinds on ointmets etc, puts on cold compress but absolutely nothing seems to work. The situations gets worse actually. Today she is almost unable to walk because knees hurt so bad. As she describes it: bone to bone feeling. Hard to get up in the morning and hard to get up when sitting. Ankle is a bit swollen as well and hot. Finally, as she is almost crippled, bone scan was ordered for her. It is next week. Last CT was in november and it was stable.

    She is tired from the opioids, lost her appetite as well. Unable to go out, because she is in so much pain when walking. I am just wondering, what on earth is going on? Has anyone of you ever experienced anything like this. I mean, you eat tons of narcotic painkillers and get no relief what so ever...is it mets? arthritis? Something else? I understand it is hard to distinguish bone mets from arthritis...But if any of you have had something similar, could you please share your experience with us? Can I ever go for walks with her again?

    Thank you in advance...

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  • cliff
    cliff Member Posts: 290
    edited February 2017

    my oncologist said a lot of cancer meds take calcium out of boans, weakening them. that's why the xgiva shot every month. was she given anything like that? xgiva is also given to elderly with osteoporosis to help retain bone mass.

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  • Goodie16
    Goodie16 Member Posts: 446
    edited February 2017

    The pain from the hormonals can be terrible. Has her doc tried taking her off of Femara to see the pain is better?

    I had a terrible time with Tamox, so we switched to Arimidex and it's been much more tolerable. My onc also recommended taking Magnesium/Calcium combo and fish oil to help with joint pain. I find taking the supplements with my Arimidex has really helped.

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  • MymomisstageIV
    MymomisstageIV Member Posts: 14
    edited February 2017

    Goodie16, no he has'nt yet. As I've understood, the next option would be chemo, not hormonals anymore. Probably that is the reason that he has not hurried to make the switch. But If the current situation is from hormonals than I guess the chemo is next step because this in no quality of life anymore...Or there still is some miracle painkiller she has not tried.

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  • Fitztwins
    Fitztwins Member Posts: 7,969
    edited February 2017

    Long term chemo can do a number on your body. My knees recently starting hurting bad. Not to the extent your mother is experiencing. RA can cause the pain you described also. Maybe they can check her for that too?

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  • Bestbird
    Bestbird Member Posts: 2,818
    edited February 2017

    I am sorry to hear about your mother's pain, and please ensure she has spoken to her doctor about it. It may be caused by her current medications, but her medical team needs to determine whether that is the case.

    Also, please ask her medical team to get her Palliative Care to improve her comfort level, which is different from Hospice (end of life) Care. Below from my MBC Guide is a brief description. You and others are welcome to obtain a free copy of the 126-page booklet by visiting the top of this page: https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/8/topics/831507?page=3#idx_73

    Palliative care can reduce symptoms such as pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, constipation, nausea, loss of appetite and difficulty sleeping.It addresses the whole person and helps them to carry on with daily life.It can improve one's ability to go through medical treatments and help the patient to better understand their condition and choices for medical care. In short, it enhances the patient's Quality Of Life (QOL).

    Therefore, patients may wish to start palliative care early for best results, and they should request it from their doctor instead of waiting for their medical team to bring it up.

    Most insurance plans, including Medicare and Medicaid, cover all or part of palliative care treatment.Palliative care is generally available in a number of places including hospitals, outpatient clinics, long-term-care facilities, hospices, or home.Usually a team of specialists, including palliative care doctors, nurses and social workers, provide this type of care in conjunction with the patient's doctor.Massage therapists, pharmacists, nutritionists and others might also be part of the team.To obtain palliative care in order to manage cancer or treatment side effects, the patient should speak with her or his doctor or nurse. Alternatively, patients can look up Palliative Care providers in their area at: http://getpalliativecare.org/providers/

    I hope your mother begins to feel much better very soon!

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  • pajim
    pajim Member Posts: 2,785
    edited February 2017

    It sounds like the pain meds are not helping? It turns out that some people have a gene which prevents them from absorbing certain kinds of narcotics. FOr instance, they can't metabolize morphine. But they CAN metabolize a precursor to morphine.

    The only other thing I can think of is to switch treatments and see if it gets better.

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  • MymomisstageIV
    MymomisstageIV Member Posts: 14
    edited February 2017

    As I have now spent days to get anykind of information, I have found some from topic that is dedicated to hormonals and life during, after etc. I have found out that there are women who have suffered severe joint pain from AI and other hormonals..not so much from faslodex, but maybe it still possible to get SE from this treatment after more than 18 months. Some have described similar pain. I´ve picked up that maybe Cymbalta is smt to try for the pain. I also wonder about the fact that if she is switced to Chemo, is it possible to go back to Hormonals later? I haven´t understood really, why there was not tried any other AI besides Arimidex before faslodex. I have understood though, that faslodex is her last chance to hormonals.

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