Bone biopsy

Hi mounties

I'm sorry to hear how poorly you're feeling at the moment. It can't be much fun having tonsillitis on top of being told you need a bone biopsy.

I'm not a member of this group and haven't had a bone biopsy so don't have any personal experience to draw on but I noticed that your post had gone unanswered. By replying it will bump your post back to the top of the page where it may be seen by someone who has had this biopsy and can tell you about their experience.

You could also post this question in the secondary breast cancer group, which I see you're a member of. If you don't get any responses from either group you could post your question in ask a nurse and one of the specialist cancer nurses will aim to respond within 2 working days. 

I know it's not the same as hearing about someone's first hand experience but I've found this information on having a bone biopsy for you.

Do come back and let us know how you get on.

x

I have had a CT guided bone biopsy under sedation for spinal met. I was out like a light and woke up feeling fine. Had to lie flat for 3 hours and went home a couple of hours later. I am waiting for the results and decision about surgery. I am 64 and am scared too. It didn't hurt but take things very gently for the next few days.  Take care

Thank you for your kind reply. Knowledge really is key when you are dealing with this diagnosis.

Bone biopsy of Humerus booked in for Tuesday next week. Ive been told I will be given a local anaesthetic and hoping I can have a sedative as well. 

All feels like its happening to someone else at present. People tell me I'm brave, but I'm not.  Im scared to death as all I want is to live as long as possible with my wonderful husband and 4 lovely sons.

Hope you're getting on ok Catokitty ( great name ) and being treated well

Thank you again xx

I don’t have any experience to help hun but I just wanted to wish you luck and send lots of thoughts your way x hope all goes as well as possible and you get the results through quickly x 

I had a bone scan today it only took 20 minutes Just at the end my leg tightened up like a cramp has this happened to anyone else

Hi Mounties,

thanks for your posting as it is giving me advance warning. I am at start of diagnosis and still looking for Primary but I saw my CT scan which shows cancer in many areas. I have not seen regular oncologist yet but phoned this am to let her know scan had happened. 

I too, am very scared. I try to think positive but I can’t stop thoughts of, ‘is this the last time I do this, see this etc and oh! I planned to do that last week and now life is so upside down. I had cancer last week but didn’t know it. Life was normal even with the discomfort. This week, now I know, the discomfort seems worse in my head and body because I know. But I also like to know what’s going on like you. I want to be informed so to prepare and plan. I feel vulnerable and helpless so any sort of extra info and information from others I having found wonderfully supportive. 

I have a fab husband who is being a brave as he can for my daughter and I. My daughter is keeping me sane and makes me laugh still. I am treasuring my moments and life in a strange way feels richer. I  noticing the little things like the way she squints her eyes when she giggles. She has complex needs and learning difficulties and Am her full time carer so I have been occupying my putting support and care in place for met and husband. I have a huge list and feel great relief when I can place a tick next to a completed job. 

I have had great support here and now don’t feel ashamed or worried to share my darkest times which normally come now, at night.

I will be thinking of you and sending lots of love to you and family. 

DiAne xxx

Hi DiAne

I am newly diagnosed with bone mets all over. After extensive tests they have recently found primary under my nipple but only after doing a biopsy. MAmmagram clear, no lumps etc. 
I know how you are feeling I too am scared and angry.
Once your treatment plan is in place you will feel a bit better. It makes us cherish the little things and every minute with our families are precious.  

i have been told that I am not going nowhere soon my oncologist so have decided to carry on as normal as possible.

Thinking of you

Joanne xxx

Hi Joanne,

Thanks for replying to my post.

Sorry to hear about your diagnosis.  Amazing that they found your primary.  Still haven’t found mine but they haven’t looked since the mammogram and ultrasound were clear.  They are assuming it came from the breast cancer from 2015 when I was given the ‘all clear and cured’.

I feel much better now and continue to do lots of positive things in my life.  

I started treatment almost four weeks ago.  The first treatment was ok after three days but the second treatment really affect my body.  Blood in urine for two hours followed by a night of painful bladder but thankfully improved.  Now low urea results, nausea, diarrhoea and hair thinning.  Caught a cold which went straight to my chest and I don’t get chest infections.  After finally getting to see my GP this morning after a 4 day wait, I have antibiotics.  Next treatment on Thursday and I am just beginning to feel hungry again.  BUT I have a lovely relaxing reflexology session this afternoon, glorious!  I almost manage to walk locally everyday.  I can only manage 15 to 20 minutes but I walk to my favourite songs from The Greatest Showman which have encouraging lyrics and a great beat to walk to.  Or I listen to an audio book.

I like the sound of your oncologist.  A positive oncologist must help.

How are you now and do you have a treatment plan in place?  You are right, once I knew what was going to happen it was better.

DiAne X

Hi DiAne

I was referred to CUP and they only did a biopsy because they looked back in my notes and noticed that I had been to breast clinic in 2016 because my nipple had started to sink. I had a MAmmagram and ultrasound then and nothing showed up. Nipple went back to normal. Had another MAmmagram under breast screening in March this year which was clear. MAmmagram in middle of September was also clear. The cancer was behind nipple in milk duct.

They only found the cancer in bones at the beginning of September, 2 weeks later in nipple. I started my treatment a couple of weeks ago.

Letrozole
palbociclib
Denosumab injection every 4 weeks. Go back 4 th November for next one.

Apart from slight nausea in mornings, a limp, few muscle aches(hope it's muscular pain) I am feeling fine. Pain in back and ribs which was awful magically disappeared after diagnosis only an ache which I take paracetamol and ibuprofen. I have started to walk better that I could. Can only walk slow, I start to stoop after awhile and get a pain in lower back think this is because I am holding myself stiff, but I can bend a little bit more than a couple of weeks ago.  Onc said I can't bend or lift anything. 

I am still working full time which is keeping me sane at the moment.

Hope you feel better soon

Joanne xxx

Hello Joanne,

Well done to keep on working.  You are amazing!

I am (or was) full time carer to my daughter who has a complicated life.  I am sharing most of it with my husband now.  I am not able to support her with her physiotherapy or occupational therapist programmes now.  I plan to go back to swimming with her though since the radiotherapy finished. I am still getting over a cold which went straight to my chest.  It is my second infection (both different) in the last six weeks.  I find it frustrating because I didn't get infections before which needed antibiotics.  

I got a call today that my drugs tomorrow will be done from a different hospital from now on but that is fine because it is closer to home.  I am hoping that this time I am not affected so much or even better, not at all.  I can have better days with more energy almost like the old days if not for the pins and needles down one arm which I have increasingly had since before the diagnosis.  Most of the time it takes effort to get around at the moment.  My muscles become very heavy like having lead in my legs.  BUT I don't give up.  

It must be difficult not to bend far.  Thinking about it, I was like that a few months ago.  Further back, I couldn't get out of bed unless I tried to do a controlled slide off the edge.  Toileting was very awkward.  This was before I was diagnosed but a chiropractor helped me out which gave me more movement.  Then I was told that I could have treatment any time soon by the onc. because my vertebrae were crumbling.  I am pleased I saw her before I knew about it.

My daughter keeps me sane.  She is amazing.

Keep safe and take care.  Let me know how you get on.

DiAne x