I have Stage 3 A NSCLC with no evidence of metastasis to the bones. My last PET scan in March didn't show any bone problems and the CT in July only showed a lesion in the lung. I have an area on the left side of my back that is hurting when I am sitting and it is tender to the touch also. It is right over a rib and I am trying not to make a mountain out of a molehill, but it is starting to worry me a little. I have some lymphadema in the same area but the pain from that is not usually quite as pointed in one area. Has anyone had an area of bone met that you can actually feel pain when you touch it? I also have a prominent and tender rib over the area they radiated. I did ask the oncologist about this and he said it was from the radiation and if it was cancer it would have shown on the CT. Jane
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Do bone mets hurt when you press on the area involved?
- By janiegirl
- Posted August 21, 2008 at 11:47 am · 7 replies
- In What, me worry?
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- Edited August 21, 2008 at 8:03 pm
7 replies
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- By Mach1
- Posted August 21, 2008 at 1:29 pm
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Janie, many of us have had mild to moderate pain from the inflammation left by radio. Mine was in the breast bone and was aggravated by surgery. It eventually gets better. You have done the right thing by discussing with your onc who has access to the CT and the radiologist's report. You touch on one of the biggest issues for survivors, which is not worrying about every change in your physiology and thinking it's ole cancer back on the scene. I know its tough but try and think positive. Do you have general confidence in your doc? - if so, and you have been happy with their judgement so far, I am sure he or she would be able to spot something bad if it was there. Lots of reassuring thoughts coming your way from me.
M.
- By gonehiking
- Posted August 21, 2008 at 2:52 pm
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Hi Janie,
You had that MRI not too long ago. Did you find it difficult to lie on the "bed" of the machine during the scan. My husband has had the worst problems with rib pain after any kind of scan that takes more than a few minutes. Sometimes he's left with pain that lasts several weeks before finally resolving. We can't figure out why they make machines that are so uncomfortable for people to lie still on for 20 or 30 minutes. Go figure!
take care,
bev
- By Rj
- Posted August 21, 2008 at 3:19 pm
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Janegirl,
I didn't know what to expect. The doc's waived the 'it will go away flag', so I didn't take any of the new pains after the lobectimy too seriously in the begining.
Now, I know it would not have helped anyway. The doc's took a long time to listen to my compliants of "hurts to touch " Eventually they diagnosed 'METS' to the bones.
Two + years later there's not too many options! BUTT, many oprutunities. Determination to excercise and build my own strength, became the key to having a good quality of life. That is the most important experience I can share. With that said, I am in a good place in life. and hope the same for you .
Keep on top of your doc's they too often ignore the obvious!
Rj.
- By Ramona
- Posted November 16, 2008 at 5:49 pm
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The radiation onc told me my right side back pain was from their hard table and that it happened to 1 in 25 or 30. It turned out to be shingles. Look shingles up on the net. There is not always a rash. Shingles can be difficult to diagnosis. It is a virus. Mine was increasingly painful and painful to the touch. It at times went from the center of my back to the center of my chest. It follows the nerve path. If you have ever had chicken pox you are suceptable. There is antiviral medication & expensive cream as well as alternative and TCM (traditional Chinese medicine) to deal with it. I did all of it plus acupunture. The good news is that it was not a met. I was suseptable in the first place because of reduced immunity as evidenced by low blood counts.
- By Gibby
- Posted November 16, 2008 at 6:34 pm
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RJ : I am Stage IV NSCLC with a recent bone METS....I have kiwi size tumor in my left knee joint. I found this out as I no longer could handle stairs. I begin radiation tomorrow and am wondering what chemo they put you on? I was diagnosed in March 2006 and went from Tarceva (didn't work) to Avasin and I was told I am going off of Avastin and on Alimta. Did you do chemo and radiation at the same time? You talked about not too many options - what are they? And opportunities....do you mean clinical trials? When I try to ask them how much time I have left they ignore my question which I know they have to, but would be nice to have some idea. Best Regards, Gibby
- By janiegirl
- Posted November 16, 2008 at 7:19 pm
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Gibby,
I had chemo and 37 radiation treatments for the stage 3a squamous cell NSCLC. I've read that Tarceva, Avastin and Alimta don't work well with squamous but I did have Tarceva and Avastin first round. Something worked between the Carbo, Taxol, Tarceva, Avastin and radiation but they just don't know which one. I just had a post treatment CT and Pet and it showed marked progression of disease since the 2 month post treatment scans. They looked really good. I'll find out Tues what they have in store for me now. Mine is inoperable due to involvement with mediatinal lymph nodes and now it is surrounding my aorta and thoracic artery by 50 per cent so they don't think surgery would work now either. I'm eager to get the new treatments on the road. I'll have to go off a vaccine trial I'm on but that's ok since it obviously hasn't worked or either I'm on the placebo. You can email me personally at mindwriter1@yahoo.com if you want to talk further or by phone. Jane
- By Rj
- Posted November 17, 2008 at 6:40 pm
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Hi Gibby,
I was dx nsclc 3b 9/05, biopsy confirmed 1/06, started carbo/taxol 1/06 and radiation at the same time,up to 5/06 had upper left lung removed. there were no other options/choices just had to trust my onc.doc. Pain was so bad I had to go to a pain specialist for many nerv blocks. Today still no feeling in left chest but back still hurts and spasms despite relaxer pills. bone dx is lesion in T-1 and "Hypertrophic Osteorthopathy" look it up in 'ask.com' for more info.
opt for a positive mind. do whatever you can to do to improve your health in general. And expect answers from your doc's ignoring your questions is unacceptable. Ask louder until you hear an answer but, be prepared for the answer and to do whatever "you" can do to better your life.
Hope I've answered some questions and I hope you feel my best wishes.
Rj.
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