didier Posted August 25, 2004 Posted August 25, 2004 Last week the liver, this week the bone. Doc doesn't want to do radiation at this point because it would delay chemo (topotecan) by about a month. Evidently it would be too toxic to do simultaneously. Anyone have any experience or thoughts with mets to bone/liver and treatment? Thanks. D Quote
Don Wood Posted August 25, 2004 Posted August 25, 2004 Yep, Lucie already had 5 bone mets at diagnosis. If the mets caused pain or threatened integrity of the bone, they were irradiated. If not, they were left alone for the chemo to take care of them. Don Quote
stand4hope Posted August 25, 2004 Posted August 25, 2004 Ditto Don! Exactly the same here. No pain, no radiation and let the chemo, Zometa (and now Iressa) do the work. Quote
Margaret Posted August 25, 2004 Posted August 25, 2004 Yes, I have mets to liver and to bone. Never had any radiation to bone mets because there really wasn't pain, especially after I started on Celebrex. However, the bone met to my forehead started growing to the point of pushing into my brain and so right now I am finishing up 14 radiation treatments to that spot...they didn't start until I had been off chemo (chemo intensifies the effects of the radiation). I do get a monthly infusion of Zometa to strength bone so that hopefully the mets will not fracture the bones. Are the bone mets causing pain for you? other than the mental anguish of knowing they are there. Good luck with your chemo. Margaret Quote
betplace Posted August 26, 2004 Posted August 26, 2004 Didier, I am sorry to here about the new mets. If there is pain they should do radiation to ease it up. Otherwise with extensive, Chemo is all they will do. I hope your Dad is doing better soon. Blessings Betty Quote
didier Posted August 26, 2004 Author Posted August 26, 2004 I hope I'm responding correctly. I'm not sure if I hit the right button. Anyhow, thanks everyone for your thoughts and ideas. The bone mets, although according to doc aren't bad overall, give my dad quite a lot of pain. The doc increased his dose to 45mg of MS Contin and 15-30mg of Dilaudid as a breakthrough med. We'll see if this helps. As of now, chemo is the recommended course of action. I guess I'm okay w/that, providing the pain killers help w/the pain. I'm afraid to start radiation because they say it would delay chemo which the doc thought might be better overall because it works systemically as opposed to radiation which attacks the disease only at the problem area. Overall a very disheartening and trying time. On the upside though, I'm fortunate to have docs that are working to make my dad as comfortable as possible. I've got to be grateful for that because otherwise focusing on all of the bad stuff has really messed me up psychologically. I need to get back on track so that I can fight this fight and be a strong advocate and support for my dad. Thanks again everyone. I wish you all peace and as much happiness as possible. Quote
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