Hello

Hi Pam.

You are only the second I have come across to have BC mets in bones!!

I was diagnosed with bone mets in 2007 after initial breast cancer in 2001. Iniatally, I had lumpectomy and radiation then was on tamoxifan for five years. I believe that very soon after being told all was good and go off tamoxifan, bone mets started. It was after nearly a year of complaining of leg and hip pain that diagnosis was finally made!

By this time bone in left femur was deacyed to almost breaking and I had a metal rod inserted tp support the bone. Three years later, after some months of continued pain, the rod snapped unexpectedly! This was, apparently, because the bone was broken and the rod had been 'free wheeling'! Back for more surgery last June to have a metal plate inserted the length of my thigh with 13 screws to hold it in place!! I was convenced this had to hold!

I changed surgeons (because i didn't like this rude, pompous prick, not because of his work) and this new surgeon was concerned the bone was not healing and metal could again be compromised. More surgery! he wanted to do a bone graft. When he went in he found the bone was dead (hence the metal not holding) and had to cut out 5cm of bone before he could attach the graft. Now, with leg shorter, I am on 'strictly non-weight bearing for at least 3 months to give bone a good chance to heal. I feel I definitely made the right decision to change surgeons. He also took out the plate.

The positive in all this is that the mets have barely changed over the 4 years so the zometa infusions and femara tablets are doing their job by protecting bones and suppressing oestregen.

What treatment are you currently having? Hopefully yours has been able to be controlled also. Look forward to hearing more of your story.

Take care, julie.