I am joining this forum in an effort to share my wife’s journey with everyone in an effort to exchange information that might be helpful to all of us. Maria was diagnosed with stage II lobular carcinoma in 2007 at the age 43. Now 7 years later it came back as Bone Mets in her spine, hips and ribs. Right away she had radiation and was put on Examestane, afintor and once a month injections of Denosub (prolia). She has gone from barely able to walk (broke her back, that’s how we found it) to almost a normal life. However, she continues to have aches and pain in her lower back daily. Despite the great progress she worries and she really can’t go more than four five hours a day before ache and pain sets into her lower back and hips. She has a great oncologist and team, positive forward thinking and a God send. Thanks to them over the past seven years I would have never made it.
Does anyone have a similar case? What works for you regarding aches and pain? What about exercise? Other coping mechanisms?
You have come to the right place for support from our experienced users who I’m sure will be along to support you and your wife soon.
In the meantime maybe you or your wife would like to talk things through with a member of our helpline staff who are there to offer emotional support as well as practical information. The free phone number is 0808 800 6000 and the lines are open Monday to Friday 9.00 to 5.00 and Saturday 10.00 to 2.00.
Hello Leonidas sounds like like your wife has a great team and is coping quite well. I have had rads to help with pain but still find the need for pain relief aswell so I think maybe that’s something she needs to discuss with her gp a lot of us bone mets ladies take full dose paracetamol and ibuprofen daily as they are considered good for bone pain, along with omeprozole to protect the stomach. There is another thread here " bone mets please join in" witch is longstanding so you may get more replies jumping in on that one.
Best wishes
Hi,leonidas,so sorry to hear about your wife. A lot of us with bone mets have pain or are in constant pain.Has she talked to anybody about managing the pain with pain meds. It could also be a side effect from the treatment she’s on.or has she had rads on spine to help with pain. I think you need to mention it to onc next time you see him.
Huge hugs,Helen xxxx
Hi Leonidas, sorry to hear about your wife, what a wonderful supportive husband she has.
I am very simalar to your wife, my primary was 2007 and got diagnosed with mets last year
I have mets in exactally the same places, and the hips and ribs don’t give me too much pain just the odd twinge but i do get some pain in my lower back, i can go for months with hardly any then i will have a good few wks where i struggle a little with it, however i seem to manage ok on paracetamol and naproxen.
Take care J x
I have mets in my spine diagnosed last May when I had a spinal cord compression. Radiotherapy on the tumour causing the pain (lower back, hip, down my leg, then numbness down to my feet) was like a miracle, I recovered almost all the sensation and the pain has almost disappeared. I am now on denusumab injection every 4 weeks for the bones.
I find it does help to keep moving and I try to walk as much as I can. Standing for a long time will make my back achey for the rest of the day.
Im thinking of trying pilates/yoga has anyone else tried these?
Also find my hands are stiff just first thing in the morning but hard to tell if that’s cancer or a side effect of Anastrazole? Does anyone else have that? It goes away after I’ve moved them a bit.
I do pilates and yoga. It helps with my aches and pains. They think they are tamoxifen related, but have just had tests for mets. The strecthing does help. I go to classes but also have a wii pilates and yoga ‘game’ so I can do it at home when I feel like it and am not too tired