on Sept 19 I had a bad fall because my femour snapped in half. Pain was unbearable. Had surgery that night and had a rod and plates and screws put in. Was home in 4 days. Walking with a walker.
Yesterday I saw my oncologist and the break was because cancer ate into the bone causing it to break. So now there is cancer in that area too. I had been having pain in that area for about a year and also physio. I guess it kind of got missed on the scans. It showed something but not that it was that bad. Now waiting to have radiation. Sorry for the long post but wanted to update and hopefully prevent it from happening to someone else. Theresa
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oh Teresa that is so horrible! Especially that you were having pain. They should have scanned it and prevented this. Can you remind me is this you first break? Had you had compression fractures prior!
It did show on my last few scans but they didn’t think it was that big. I have had compression fractures in my spine but they healed. This is first broken bone in 73 years. How are you doing?
Well I am pretty good… I should probably post again… to ask if others have had issues with doxil possibly causing the cardio toxicity… I’m wearing a 2 week holter monitor to find out as my heart rate is very very low especially when I sleep. I only have one heart and it needs to keep working for a while longer. But otherwise good. After 5 months on Doxil my HFS from xeloda finally lessened. I love walking my dog again and going into the grocery store etc. Feeling like a real person.
Teresa I'm so sorry for your fracture and subsequent surgery. Unfortunately cancer eats the bone from the inside out so it is difficult to get a total grasp of the situation until unfortunately it just snaps like yours did. I can relate as I had a similar incident in December 2022 in which out of the blue my left humerus fractured and the shoulder fell out of the socket(very weird feeling). While trying to stabilize myself I went to stand and then suddenly my right femur fractured. I have extensive bone mets since diagnosis and too many lesions to count. I've had several ribs fracture and also have fractures of my spine but never something like that. Good news is we do come back from that with lots of hard work. Unfortunately there is really no way to prevent this...it's a potential complication of anyone who has bone mets. As long as you have been taking a bone strengthener it's really a crap shoot.
Onward my friend and you will find things getting better day by day. Thinking of you. Take care.
Oh wow you sure have had a lot and I am happy to hear you are doing okay. It sure is a weird feeling when one minute your standing and the next minute falling. Yes we have to be strong to go forward and things will get better hopefully. I am having zometa bone strengthener every 3 months for almost 5 years.We have to be strong to be in this fight. You take care too💕
Dear Theresa, Thank you for the warning and I’m very sorry you had to go through the pain and surgery and I hope you come back strong soon.
I can add a related story. When I was initially diagnosed with MBC about two years ago, the bone scan showed a lesion on my femur which they decided to use for the biopsy. To prepare for biopsy, they did an MRI. This was early in the game so I really didn’t study the MRI closely but in retrospect, it showed the lesion to be in the bone marrow. Once I started targeted therapy, it never showed up on PET scans so I assumed it went away! (I think this was a miss by my onco). I kept feeling an occasional scant amount of pain in my thigh which didn’t affect my activity. This summer I went on a hiking trip and after that, the pain became more significant so we did an MRI which showed that the original lesion doubled in size (over two years) and there was a tiny fracture in the femur. We proceeded with radiation first which finished a couple weeks ago, with. the thought that the fracture should heal but I’m still limping so I’m going to see the orthopedic onco again to see what’s going on. I really hate not being able to hike or even walk over a mile.
The lesson here is that PET scans don’t show lesions in the bone marrow. So if you have any significant pain, get an MRI.
Thanks Helen. I have had pain in my right leg well over a year and going to physio for it. My radiation oncologist was going to radiate but got called away and the one taking his place did an MRI but did the hip but that was not where the pain was and so it was missed. A little frustrating. Hopefully they can strengthen your femour before it breaks. That is what my oncologist said that she should have sent me to orthopaedic surgeon but didn’t think it was that bad yet. Anyway forward from here. Let me know what your orthopaedic surgeon has to say. Best wishes going forward 💕
So sorry to hear that you’ve had to endure the horrors of treatment for fractures. Takes a lot of resilience. Can you get arm-leg -spine fractures despite using bone strengtheners since start of MBC diagnosis (denosumab in my case)? How do you work out if it’s the AIs ie Letrozole affecting joints/muscles that then don’t support bones as much as they should allowing them to break? I have so much discomfort in my legs and arms when walking now (3 yrs) that I didn’t used to have and often feel my shin bone is going to fold. CT scans show multiple rib fractures and Just assumed they were from cardiac surgery. What would be the way forward for you to prevent further breaks and what can you do if there is an issue found?
Mine wasn’t just a fracture, it literally snapped in half. My oncologist said they were watching this spot but did not realize it was this close to the bone. I have had compression fractures in my spine but they kind of heal . Most of my cancer is in my spine. Going forward She is going to scan every 3 months and continue with bone strengthener Zometa, Hope things continue to go ok for you too💕. It is a really tough journey we are on.
I am so very sorry to hear this. I hope your healing goes well and that you can get some physical therapy to help you get back on your feet. Sending you hugs and prayers.
Thank you. I am already in physio and he is really happy with how I am doing. I see the surgeon October 25 so will see what she has to say. Hope you are doing well💕
I am so sorry you had to go through all of this. I am glad you are doing well with therapy. I hope your appointment goes well. I am doing well. I go for a scan in December but have been stable for awhile. I have been on the Ibrance at 125mg and letrozole for almost 4 years now and am hoping to continue on these meds as I am not having side effects. Hugs and prayers.
Glad you are do well and that you have been on the meds for 4 years an hope they will keep working for you.I hit 5 years this summer. I will have scans next Month and hopefully will be stable. I asked my oncologist if she was going to change meds. She said if my scans are stable the not. Hugs and prayers to you too💕
Before my MBC was dxed I had a hip replacement. I know what you mean about feeling weird. I was at the fridge about to get a glass of water, my toe twitched and I fell on the floor. I thought my pain was arthritis in 2023 but physical therapist got me to do an MRI and discovered MBC in my arm. I went to an orthopedic oncologist who said if I didn't get the humerus bone stabilized, it would soon break. He put a plate and screw in it. My biggest concern is falling as it is a hazard for blind folks like me and has been all my life. I have been using my can in the house as well as outside after my last trip over the cat. Take good care of yourself.
Hello! I just wanted to share that the same thing happened to me almost two years ago. It was *crazy*, was just standing in front of the fridge, femur snapped, I fell to the floor with my leg in a bizarre, horror movie position!
I felt/feel *so* lucky that it happened there and not, like, in a mall parking lot (not that I go to the mall!), or - god forbid, while hitting the brake on the car!
But what I really want to tell you is that I bounced back even better and stronger than ever! The PT was a gift...made me not only recover but strengthened my whole body.
Also, a caveat: I did the PT and then did not really keep up so the muscles around the hip on my affected side are still weak. I know what I need to do to strengthen them...just need to prioritize this! But I encourage you to not backslide, like I have.
Also, I ended up with one leg longer than the other (the leg w/ the rod), a bit more than 1/2 inch. I took doctor's orders and went to the place for a...what is is called? an insert for your shoe that elevates the shorter side. And then opted out. I've bought heaps of "lifts" on Amazon, they're about 1/3 or 1/4 inch high each, adhesive, stick them inside my various shoes and they work well.
Oh! Orthotic? Is that the word? Anyway, I would have left with one orthotic for one shoe. Knew this would not be enough and that the low-key lifts would work as well and be so inexpensive that I could use in all my shoes.
Best of luck to you, it's a crazy thing to have happen, and while I'm sorry this happened to you I feel like there's another member of my club!
That is why I love this site. Always someone can relate. I am happy I was home to and not driving or somewhere alone. I already laid for an hour and a half before my husband came in. He was mowing the lawn and felt terrible but no one knows this is going to happen. I had been doing physio for about a year because my right leg hurt. My oncologist told me on Friday that they were watching something there but had not expected this to happen. No one really listened to where I had pain. Anyway I am glad you are doing good and I am on my way too💕. Theresa
Oh wow, I think this is everyone with bone mets quiet nightmare scenario. I am so sorry you had that happen! I believe I have lesions in both femurs now too, but I am not sure of the extent. What action were you doing when it broke? I've heard sometimes they can break while doing something as simple as standing up or the like.
It is scary. I did have a sore right leg and was going to physio for it but everyone just kind of brushed it off. I was just stepping up a step and it broke and felt like it sent me flying. I had no idea what just happened. First I thought maybe I tripped but I knew I didn’t . It was the weirdest and most painful experience. I had surgery Sept. 19 and I am walking quite well with a walker and a few steps here and there without. Make sure you ask about your lesions because my oncologist told me this past Friday that they sometimes do surgery to strengthen the femour. I think they kind of missed how bad mine was but find it worrisome wondering what will be next. Take care💕. Theresa
That is scary Theresa. I really can’t imagine how painful it must have been. I’m so glad you are walking again . I’m sure it will keep improving . I’ve just had a change of docs during this change of treatments (my old doc returned after time off) so I do need to make sure to look into the details of my last scans with her. Thanks for sharing your experience.
so this is how it’s gonna be…we just break up from the inside ? I’m so sorry about your poor femur… I hope it heals and yiu are feeling better ..I feel like a glass doll since I fractured my ilium last May. I was just feeling more and more sore after starting golf for the season. Unexpected finding. And now , 6months later the illium is still fractured but walking and staying active has strengthened my hip muscles and increased my walking endurance. One thing about radiation….yes it is great for bone cancer lesions but it can also cause the bone to become fragile…so be sure to ask about a very targeted radiation treatment. Also…it appears you didn’t know you had cancer in the bone…be sure to ask about bone strengthening infusions like Zometa for osteoporosis. I had taken a short hiatus from the Zometa and boom…bone fracture, I’m back on Zometa and hoping it helps to heal this darn thing.
Best wishes on your recovery! And just to end on some good news…there is a new drug just approved that works on a variety of breast cancers. Itovebi (inavolisib) in combination with palbociclib and fulvestrant as a new treatment for advanced breast cancer….onward and upward, ladies (and gents).
Thanks. I have mbc all through my spine and did know there was a bit of a lesion but nor to this extent that this would happen. I hope you heal good too from your ilium fracture. I have been on zometa infusions for almost 5 years. Like you said onward and forward on this journey 💕
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