bone cancer symptoms

Hi Joan, welcome to Connect.
How concerning it must be to have such severe bone pain and spasms. Naturally, the first reaction is to think it is related to breast cancer, even 5 years of being NED (no evidence of disease). But these spasms and pain could be related to so many different things.

I'm tagging fellow members @rae3 @wandering @berit @leemiller and @theda on this discussion to get their thoughts.

Joan, April seems like a long way away and a long time to live with this concern. Can you call your PCP and ask for an earlier appointment?

The only post BR CA muscle bone pain was caused by Tamoxifen and that was very severe .<br><br>

I have metastatic breast cancer metasticised to the bone which I think is different than bone cancer. I agree that waiting so long does not seem appropriate. Your oncologist should be able to get you to a specialist sooner. I have been living with MBC for over 2 years. This past August I experienced severe pain in my hip bone. My oncologist called the radiologist immediately and I had 10 concurrent days of radiation to the spot. The pain disappeared completely. Maybe radiation would help you.

Good post, Rae. I too have metastatic breast cancer in my bones. No radiation I think because the issues were too widespread and numerous. I have been on Xgeva for 3.5 years and that seems to be getting the job done. (Bone scans reflect that pretty obviously.) I feel better than I have in years and my tumor markers are going down.

I've been having pretty bad hip and back pain, my oncologist recommended stopping tamoxifen which I did for >5 weeks but pain persists. He told me to restart tamoxifen and see my primary dr. I hate the anxiety as much as the pain

Hi @lap0330, I know what you mean about the anxiety of the unknown. I'm tagging @cindylb and @wandering on this post for their thoughts.

Hip and back pain are certainly worrisome. Can you update us on the followup? Were any scans ordered? Did you restart Tamoxifen? Would be great to hear from you.

I had leg spasms which lasted about 3 weeks and then cleared up. Was given a bone scan to check out everything. I'm doing well know and no spasms.

Oh, how I identify with the ANXIETY aspect of breast cancer. I was diagnosed with 2A, E+P+HR- cancer in 12/16. Lumpectomy 1/26/17, nodal dissection 2/6/17 (16 negative nodes) because sentinel node was positive. Opted out of chemo and had 36 radiation treatments and then began Arimidex 5/17. I am crippled by fear and anxiety. Every twinge, pain or unusual symptom I attribute to my cancer reoccurring. Tomorrow is my 18 month post diagnosis mammogram and I feel as though I will receive a death sentence. Anxiety and depression are not new to me. I have taken Lexapro and Welbutrin since well before my diagnosis, but I did not feel this kind of doom and gloom, day in and day out. Should I face metastatic breast cancer I don't think I could handle it. But then, I didn't think I could handle the breast cancer diagnosis, either. Sorry I did not stay on topic, but when I read of your anxiety, it just spilled out. I too have intermittent pain in my back, ankles and knees but manage to blame it on the Arimidex. I am wishing you well, lap0330 and hoping for the very best outcome for you. Molly Miller

Just the words "Bone Scan" scare me. There are times when I can make myself busy doing something I enjoy and for brief periods of time I feel upbeat and don't focus on breast cancer ~ But those times are few and far between. Molly

Scan-xiety is real. I'll be thinking of you tomorrow, @mollymiller. Please check back in pre, during and/or post mammogram.