Bone metastasis without pain? Can be possible?

Hi everyone,

My dad has been diagnosed with liver cancer and bone metastasis. Can you please tell me if it is possible to have bone metastasis and have no pain at all, no fracture, nothing?
From what I have read on the Internet, I understood that you have terrible pains when you have bone metastasis. So can be a mistake?

Thank you for your help.

 

I have widespread bone metastases but no pain. Although I have prostate and not liver cancer, it is not unusual to have no pain. This can of course change as the disease progresses and is all down to the amount of cancer in the bone (known as the tumour burden) plus the location. Although not possible to cure this form of secondary cancer, it is possible to manage it and even heal local "hot spots" with radiotheraphy or drugs.

Yes. I have Bone Metastasis (Ribs and Spine) that was diagnosed in 2003. Chemo and Radiation seemed to have halted progression. No pain at any time.

Hi Alathays,

Thank you for your message. I'm sorry to hear you have more or less the same problem as my father has. Our doctor didn't prescribe any treatment yet since we are still waiting to get the results of AFP test and Tumour markers.

God bless you.

 

 

On 8/7/2008 Alathays wrote:

I have widespread bone metastases but no pain. Although I have prostate and not liver cancer, it is not unusual to have no pain. This can of course change as the disease progresses and is all down to the amount of cancer in the bone (known as the tumour burden) plus the location. Although not possible to cure this form of secondary cancer, it is possible to manage it and even heal local "hot spots" with radiotheraphy or drugs.

Hi

I have just come across your email and just wanted to ask a few questions.  My sister has been diagnosed with secondary bone cancer.  Her primary cancer was in her breast 7 years ago.  She received chemo and radiation.  After a wait of nearly a month she goes to see her oncologist tomorrow morning. (new zealand time).  I have been searching the internet for information and for any ideas on treatment that may be more advanced that we have here in nz.  She was left a message on her answer phone by her gp saying that her bone scan had shown up a hot spot on her chest bone and that the 3 - weeks wait to see the oncologist would make no difference.  I thought that was terrible to told like that, and what does the term "make no difference mean".  Is that a death sentence or what.

I pray that you will be ok and that my sister will survive this.  Both my parents died of cancer when they were young so it is pretty scary.

I would appreciate any comments that you might have.

thank you so much.

 

cheryl

Hi Richard,

Thank you for your answer. You gave me hope since you have the Bone Metastasis since 2003. The doctor gave me the impressions that my father will not have more than 1 year.
God bless you.

 

Hi Cheryl

I am in theh same situation as your sister.  I had breast cancer about 4.5 years ago and all was fine blood results and i pushed my doctor for a scan as i was trying to become pregnant and wanted to ensure all was really ok.  Then oops, there was a reoccurrance on my lungs and the bones...it has now been a little over a year, and i just got the results back that there are no more hot spots...leading them to tell me the cancer is in remission...I first tried Xeloda which is chemo in a pill and zometa which was the only drug i was told tohelp the bone metasis.  There was no change...then i switched to Abraxane and Avastin which are both IV every 3 weeks (the avastin is every other treatment)...and for now all seems well.  I don't know what treatment they have in NZ but this is worth exploring with your oncologist. I did 6 cycles of this, and then another 6 with the avastin alone...now i do the zometa for every other month for about 2 years, and then they said i get a break....and scans every 3-6 months...hope this is helpful...and i wish you all the best of health...

 

Erika

Hi Cheryl

 

I get Zometa every month for my bones. New research in the UK & Finland has shown that pre-treatment with chemo (doxorubicin) followed by Zometa has a dramatic effect on breast cancer, halting or completely removing the bone metastases. Good luck to you and your sister.

 

Allister

Thank you so much for that information.  I will pass it onto my sister.

thank you again.

 

shaazza 

 

 

On 8/7/2008 Richard b wrote:

Yes. I have Bone Metastasis (Ribs and Spine) that was diagnosed in 2003. Chemo and Radiation seemed to have halted progression. No pain at any time.

Dear Richard,I was diagnosed with breast cancer jan 08 had chemo ,surgery and finished radiotherapy in oct08 I now have  pain in my upper spine and following xray my gp thinks the cancer may have spread as there is sclerosis.I am awaiting bone scan but can you tell me what symptoms you had before your bone metastasis was diagnosed.