If you are not Stage IV but have questions, you may post here

vampeyes, I'm curious about this, too. I had a negative MRI and bone scan, but the lower back/hip/spine area pain persists. That makes me feel better until I read about how many others have negative scans only for it to show up as mets months later. Is this back pain just the new normal? I hope so, I guess.

ucfknights, my liver mets were found accidently when I had a CT to check for pulmonary embolism..trouble with shortness of breath.

I did not have a PE, but DID have tumor emboli in lung arterioles which are not seen on chest xray, CT or MRI scans. A VQ scan confirmed it. That was a gift from my liver mets!

I also had a T12 met, but I like to pretend it didn't exist.

vampeyes and lexica

I had lower hip and back pain. in 2017 I attributed it to bursitis. I had bone scans etc I have osteoarthritis. I did all the things you're supposed to do. I eventually had a cortisone injection in my hip. It temporarily resolved things. My back and hip continued to hurt on a off (mostly on) for a year. I finally noticed that it had gone, what made the change for me was I had stopped sitting at my computer for most of the day. I knew sitting was part of the problem but it wasn't until I was actually away from the computer for nearly six months that I noticed the huge difference. I still get the occasional twinge, but the constant aches and pain has gone.

My mom had no MRI as of yet but Thursday doctor already put her on chemo pills and supposed to give her a shot ( forgot name)to help strengthen bones. She said they believe that’s what it is so as a precaution their just going to go ahead and prescribe it. I’m guessing they noticed something on previous PET scan but is it normal for a doctor to do that without a MRI. The doctor isn’t even sure what it is as my understanding

Trinigirl, thank you for your response. It's nice to hear that it is likely the osteoarthritis and nothing more serious, the pain just seems to be getting worse no matter what I do to try to help relieve it. My feet and hands tingle, thankfully not all the time. I think maybe I best be calling the physiotherapist on Monday!

Lexica - thank you for your response as well. It's nice to hear that I am not alone and if we are all feeling the same maybe it's nothing too serious.

I can't tell you how much I appreciate this site since my diagnosis, I have made friends, found tips and tricks to dealing with the SEs of Tamoxifen and had wonderful women/men there to answer questions. Thank you to all. You are wonderful,

HUGS to all.

I have had a cough since the beginning of October, figured it was fall allergies. It hasn't gone away and seems to be worse. I have my check up Wednesday with MO and I always get a little squirrelly, but I'm officially worried now.

Can anyone describe how mets to lungs was dxd or symptoms?

Thank you for your response. Why do you say of it seems worse it probably isn't mets? I see MO in the morning so I guess we will see what he thinks.

I just finished treatment for my Stage 1 breast cancer at the end of May. I felt like things were starting to get back to normal, and even went to Mexico for 4 days with my husband. But since I've been back (about 2 weeks) I've had horrible headaches, been way more tired, and just generally out of sorts. I feel like I shouldn't worry about metastases so soon, or maybe at all because I was only Stage 1 with no node involvement, but I can't seem to help it. Should I be worried, or write it off as stress?

Anyone stage 4 on regular Medicare? Wondering what the coverage is for pills and iv. If it doesn't cover some chemo meds, what do you do? Are you hosed?

Sorry, flashlight, I didn't get the info put into until after I posted the question. I'm on Tamoxifen and I had 16 rounds of chemo. I've felt better and thought most of the side effects were clearing up, but I guess it could just be a really crappy setback.

bone mets alone has a fairly good prognosis....treatment depends on her hormone and HER2 status...plus she will get a bone strengthener, either Xgeva or Zometa. Radiation can be done if there is pain, or large tumors, or sometimes is done to treat a single met.

It is very manageable for many of us. For me, my life is going on as before except for those visits to the cancer center. Stay hopeful...I am sure your mom wants you to focus on your studies and to live your life.

Hi Everyone,

It's been 01/31/2017 that I finished treatment for cancer. I've been diagnosed with bone loss in 2018, been taking Anastrozole since 11/2016. Also, I had DX degenerative disk for 20 years. I try to exercise and take calcium, Vitamin D but recently, I felt the tissue along my spine in upper back feeling knotted. At the same time my hips feeling weird, not pain. Could this be results of bone loss or bone Mets. Is there anyway to help with bone loss? Thanks for your inputs.

Hi Houston,

Asking for a bone scan is a good suggestion. I had 3 bone mets (ribs, hip, and lower back). I had no pain, only aches once in awhile.