Hi everyone. I have been on here before but not used for a while. I have been living with secondary Breast cancer for a couple of years. Before Christmas I had a bone scan which showed something on my spine and ribs so onc suggested an MRI scan for a better picture. The scan people were so worried they called him straight away and I was called in the next day. Unfortunately he said it was worse then expected and fast growing as was in my whole spine. I’m a bit scared now. I start the first of my 6 cycles of paclitaxol next week. I never had chemo before. I had a bit of a meltdown yesterday but have pulled myself through it now. I have already been fighting for 7 years so hopefully this time it will kick its backside. Some advice will be greatly appreciated as I am going into the unknown. Thank you all you courageous people xxx
Hi Anita
The majority of us have some form of bone mets as it seems that’s where BC initially spreads to so you are. It alone. From what you’ve written I’m assuming you also have mets somewhere else and have had treatment for those? What it does mean in that case is that the current treatment hasn’t held them at bay and therefore another approach is needed. This is also usual and chemo can definitely blast everything! Although bone mets will always show up on future scans (unlike soft tissue mets which can show as NED - no evidence of disease) it doesn’t mean they aren’t responding to treatment it’s just that the bones show the scarring. What will happen is that they harden (sclerose) which is something you want to happen. This is also helped along by having a bone strengthener as well so you will probably have denosumab alongside your chemo, lots of us have this newest drug and it has very few side effects. As to the mets being in all of your spine I’m sure mine are as well as they are pretty extensive now! They started off in a couple of places 8 years ago and have now spread to other parts of my skeleton as well. I don’t ask exactly where they are and they have never caused me any problems, luckily I haven’t ever needed pain killers. If you have had a recent scan they will know that you don’t need any surgery for the spine mets, this can happen but only when there’s a really bad problem and risk of collapse. There are various threads, which you may have seen that are worth checking out for your treatment options ie ‘weekly taxol’, ‘denosumab’ and of course the busy ‘bone mets’ thread where many ladies post. Just know you are not alone, we all know what it’s like moving on to another treatment and the fear of the unknown.
Take care
Nicky x
Thank you Nicky for your reply that has helped a lot x