Bone marrow biopsy to check for mets

If it is a bone marrow biopsy, my husband has had quite a few. Is that it?

Yes, in my pelvis. I have metastatic breast cancer that has spread there.

I have a very unique situation. BC w/mastectomy in 2018. I went to ER in 2020 with a pain in front abdomen. ER Dr said the CT scan looked just fine. She then found out I had BC in 2018 and decided to change the report to "possible mets" Since that time my Dr's have just started treating me as if I have mets. No biopsy taken. I also have bad rheumatism and pretty sure that can show up as a problem with scans too. I am finally getting a biopsy because I have insisted. Will this bone biopsy give me a definitive answer after 2 yrs?? I need to know if this is cancer or not.

Hubby has had them under local and general anesthesia. He said the best two were at Mayo using general. The worst was his first, the guy really wasn’t good with the local. He has had several under local that were better. He has had some achiness in the hip afterward in a few but nothing he couldn’t handle with Tylenol. Not a single infection or problem with the site of entry. This is not anything to be afraid of. Get the answers you need. I kind of ranted on your other thread. Maybe we should pick one thread to talk. Lol . Has your doctor ordered a PET scan yet? Is his your only met? We’re you just diagnosed with breast cancer or is this a return?

I've had two PET scans (2020 & 2021) I've had mets since 2020. They have never done a bone biopsy. They just started treating me from a CT scan 1 year ago. I'm glad they are finally doing the biopsy because it seems they have been just guessing at this so far. I need answers and hope the biopsy tells them what medications are needed.

I noticed on your other thread, that you were under treatment for Mets, but on another thread you indicated that you are only on tamoxifen.
You said they had not confirmed the mets , but a PET scan really is pretty definitive with cancer. Just for reference I will tell you I have MBC so I can understand and empathize even though I am mostly kind of a “just the facts” writer, I do feel the weight of your situation more than I can say. It sounds like you don’t have a lot of faith in your doctors. That is a really hard place to be, and if you have metastatic cancer you should have all the answers you need to deal with that diagnosis and make informed decisions about your care.
Have you considered getting a second opinion? Is there a cancer center or university hospital near you?

It does sound confusing, sorry. My original "mets" confirmation was from the ER CT scan that they did. The Dr first said they found nothing. I went in because of front rib pain. Then when she found out I has a dbl mastectomy she wrote down "get checked for possible metesis" From that day forward they started treating me for mets without any PET's or biopsy. I have since tried letrozole, Ibrance and Verzenio and had severe allergic reactions with all of them Now only on Tamoxifen. Hope that explains it.

Thanks for putting it all in one place. Hahaha I confuse easily sometimes. So moving forward you said they have done a PET or they have not? It is terrible that you have not been able to take some of the better drugs for MBC. I hope they are finding some form of treatment for you, I am surprised they are not offering something besides tamoxifen.

@deamo5339, if I were you, I would want more follow-up. If there is a possibility of metastasis, your doctor should order further testing or refer you back to your cancer team to follow-up. Metastasis can show up in various places, not only the bone. May I ask why a bone biopsy has been ordered? Have you considered going back to your oncologist?