Stage 3c (in 2016) with current hip/back pain = stage IV now?

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elise24601
elise24601 Member Posts: 155
edited April 2019 in Stage III Breast Cancer

I have had moderate pain on my hip that spreads to butt/thigh/lower back, worse when sitting, 3 weeks now, and pretty consistent. Went to GP and had an xray, am waiting for results. I've gone straight to worse-case scenario (bone mets on spine/pelvis) since I'm so high risk!

Questions, feel free to answer whichever ones you have experience with:

1. Can an xray detect or rule out bone mets or do I *need* MRI? If I need the MRI, can I be fully sedated (due to anxiety/claustrophobia?)

2. Will my bone biopsy (if needed) be painful?

3. How often do patients end up getting benign biopsy results and false positives on scans?

4. If I'm Stage IV, is it irresponsible of me to rescue a pet? Since I'll die before the pet does and may be too sick to care for it soon? I love pets.

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  • beeline
    beeline Member Posts: 308
    edited March 2019

    elise, I don’t have experience to share but wanted to reach out as I can relate as a fellow stage 3C.

    What I’ve been told to look out for in terms of bone mets is pain that is consistent (doesn’t come and go) and is worse at night. I had hip/butt pain that was awful when sitting when I was first diagnosed with bc. I was totally convinced it was mets, but it wasn’t. There are lots of things that can go wrong and cause pain in that area so there is a good chance it is something else.

    As for scans, I wouldn’t think an xray would be good enough to rule it out but you also don’t necessarily need an mri. Lots of MO’s do bone scans for bone and CT for soft tissue/organ mets and neither of those are enclosing.

    I also don’t think it’s irresponsible at all to get a pet! Even if it were to be mets, I don’t think you need to deny yourself that pleasure and comfort. If you read the stage IV boards here there are lots of women living a long time, especially with bone mets. Some of the newer targeted therapies have really changed the game and the stats online are way out of date. They even talk about a category called oligometastic as potentially curable.

    I hope you get some answers soon and that the pain is from another cause. Please keep us posted and let us know what happens with the X-ray and any next steps. Sending support and hugs to you.


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  • xxyzed
    xxyzed Member Posts: 230
    edited March 2019

    I’m also a 3C from 2016. My severe hip, back, leg pain was diagnosed as hip bursitis by ultrasound. It is common in middle aged women. Fingers crossed for something similarly benign for you

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  • santabarbarian
    santabarbarian Member Posts: 3,085
    edited March 2019

    First, lets hope it's sciatica or something similar!

    Second, I adopted two kittens before my last chemo. It was sort of impulsive, but iin retrospect t was a great move and I am so glad I did. If I have a recurrence or die, a family member will take the kitties (I asked). I think you should feel free to adopt and if you are concerned about the pet outlasting you, you could adopt an adult pet, or provide foster care. Pets are a ray of sunshine. I think the joy they provide is healing!



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  • exbrnxgrl
    exbrnxgrl Member Posts: 12,424
    edited March 2019

    Hi,

    I have lived, and lived fairly well for over 7 years with a bone met. It was discovered on a PET scan and confirmed by biopsy. PET scans are commonly used to detect mets of the bone and organs as well. The biopsy wasn’t at all painful (upper femur) thanks to lots of good drugs. All hail Versed!

    Adopt a pup. Dogs are loving, loyal companions 🐶 . Wishing you the best

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  • Denise-G
    Denise-G Member Posts: 1,777
    edited March 2019

    elise24601 - as a woman who was one node shy of Stage 3C and who has a sister Stage 3C, I relate to your fears and pain.

    A few years ago, I had the same pain you were describing. I was terrified to even tell my MO. So I told my lymphedema therapist

    LOL. She told me the #1 cause of hip pain in women is bursitis. She showed me how to do exercises that stretched that area.

    It was gone in a few weeks. That was four years ago.

    Hoping and praying yours is bursitis or sciatica.

    Good luck to you!

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  • Valstim52
    Valstim52 Member Posts: 1,324
    edited April 2019

    Elise just chiming in. I've had hip/groin pain since before dx. In the last couple of months, it hurts to walk, and sometimes when sitting. I went to my ortho dr and he did several xrays. Bursitis and Severe Arthritis. My Mo said she knew that already, as I had the arthritis show on scans before and after treatment.

    My mind went wild at first with the pain, but only for a while, as the pain would come and go. I'm scheduled for a steroid injection in the hip in a week. My ultrasound and xray both showed the horrid arthritis. My Dr said: Good news, no cancer, bad news Arthritis...

    Hope this helps.

    Val

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