Home Forums All Categories Metastatic Bladder Cancer Devastated as my cancer spreads to bones……….

  • Devastated as my cancer spreads to bones……….

    Posted by Maria on January 6, 2009 at 12:54 am

    About 6 weeks ago I thought I was experiencing a very severe Rheumatoid Arthritis flare, to the point I needed to see a rheumatologist on an urgent basis, knowing he would prescribe steroids and pain relief.
    After about a week the inflamation settled in all my joints except the hip area.
    For a further 3 weeks the pain in my hip bone area continued to worsen to the point where I was taking pain killers every 4 hours i could not get any pain relief and very little sleep.
    Eventually, last Wednesday I had hip and lower back x-rays, i was told due to the holidays the results could be delayed by 4-5 days.
    The following evening I ended up in the ER I knew this was not arthritic pain, cancer never occurred to me, even then!

    A ct scan was arranged and the ER doc told me the ‘cancer had eaten portions of my bone, hence the severity of the pain’
    I was admitted to MDAnderson, will start radiation for the pain relief and continue on an outpatient basis for about 8-19 sessions.

    I am in state of shock and devastated and i just never expected this, I am angry, crying, very scared and confused. I know my life expectancy decreases with this new dx

    Thanks for listening, hospitals are cold places under these circumstances.
    SORRY for the ramblings on, I have been on huge amount of steroids (stopped today)I feel they have made me a little bit unhinged ……………. got to laugh and I can do that on here, with my cancer family!
    take care Maria xx

    ladyjd replied 16 years, 1 month ago 17 Members · 19 Replies
  • 19 Replies
  • Ladyjd's avatar

    Ladyjd

    Member
    January 12, 2009 at 6:48 pm

    Maria,

    I hope that the radiation will help you and that all questions will be answered to your satisfaction. From other posters, it would appear that radiation may be helpful. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.

    Judy

  • melodie's avatar

    melodie

    Member
    January 11, 2009 at 10:03 pm

    Dear Maria,

    The insurace company and the medical establishment has put you through so much and now this…I am so sad to read the latest development. Yet I am hopeful the radiation will be of benefit to you. I have a friend who has been fight ovarian cancer for maybe 4 years now…she recently started radiation and her body has tolerated it very well…her condition is showing improvement. I can only hope and pray that you too will be so blessed.

    You have been a real warrior over the last 18 months. I was glad to see by your notes that you haven’t given up the fight. The doctors so routinely go about discharging orders and seeing patients, all too often without considering that what for them is routine, is not routine for us, and they need to slow down to answer our questions and offer some reassurance. I hope your doctors are doing that for you. You have been in my daily prayers….I will have to pray harder. Sending you positive thoughts. Hugs, Melodie


    Melodie, Indy Pouch, U.W.Medical Center, Seattle, Dr. Paul H. Lange & Jonathan L. Wright
  • lisaloo's avatar

    lisaloo

    Member
    January 8, 2009 at 12:12 pm

    Hi Maria
    I am so sorry you are going through this.Its great though that you are getting treatment so quickly.Radiation has really helped me to function again I only had a weeks worth of treatment and it was easy to cope with as the dosage isnt high.
    It is really hard to cope with the change in status but at least the radiation therapy should enable you to do it without pain.Good luck and please feel free to get in touch if I can help at all
    Lisa xxx

  • clara's avatar

    clara

    Member
    January 8, 2009 at 4:05 am

    Please do ask ALL the questions you want to…it is your right to know.

    Radiation seemed to help Bob more than anything else.

    Good Luck and know that we are all behind you and want you to keep us posted.

    Prayers are with you and your family.
    Clara


    Caretaker of husband, Bob.
    Stage IV
    Diagnosed Jan, 2007
  • Todays4me's avatar

    Todays4me

    Member
    January 7, 2009 at 11:25 pm

    Maria, I am new here and I am so sorry to hear that you are going through so muchs but remember you are not alone as long as you have everyone here. I am sending you a vertual smile to let you know we are here to support you. We understand exactly how you are feeling. It’s ok to be angry, sad or what ever else you feel like being. All those jumbled up emotions are perfetly normal for all you are going through. I’m on the emotional roller coaster called cancer as well and have felt those same feelings. I pray you have an easy time during your treatment and that you are succesful managing your pain. Mary:)

  • cynthia's avatar

    cynthia

    Administrator
    January 7, 2009 at 9:50 pm

    Maria,

    This is a place you can always come and cry, kick the walls, rant and laugh. We are here for you and care deeply. So post away if it helps and know we are listening and though we can not understand unless we have walked in your shoes we will do the best we can and it comes from our hearts.


    Cynthia Kinsella
    T2 g3 CIS 8/04
    Clinical Trial
    Chemotherapy & Radiation 10/04-12/04
    Chemotherapy 3/05-5/05
    BCG 9/05-1-06
    RC w/umbilical Indiana pouch 5/06
    Left Nephrectomy 1/09
    President American Bladder Cancer Society
  • stephany's avatar

    stephany

    Member
    January 7, 2009 at 2:05 am

    Sweet dreams. Maria. Life just isn’t fair. Get your long list of questions, and tape it to your forehead, so he HAS to see the list.

    Stephany in IOwa

  • momof4's avatar

    momof4

    Member
    January 7, 2009 at 1:35 am

    Maria….Angelo always had great pain relief from the radiation…and the effects are long lasting…within a few treatments you should be able to tell the difference…also very few side effects…I hope this is the case for you as well…((((HUGS))))


    Caregiver for my Wonderful Husband Angelo, who has Metastatic Bladder Cancer.

    Life isn’t about how to survive the storm, but how to dance in the rain.

  • maria's avatar

    maria

    Member
    January 7, 2009 at 1:10 am

    Thanks to you all. I very much appreciate your prayers and kind thoughts at this deeply stresful time for me.
    Tomorrow I will have my first radiation treatment and still have no idea what to expect, the doc was doing his rounds today and I was having another ct scan. I have never met this doc before and he just left a message with the nurse saying “i will see her tomorow in the treatment room” Well he obviously doesn’t know me very well because I still have lots of questions to be answered before I go anywhere near any treatment rooms …………..hmm cheek of it, he might be rushed, but i am not. Anyway, goodnight.

  • harry-s's avatar

    harry-s

    Member
    January 6, 2009 at 10:26 pm

    I am so sorry…words can’t express how sorry I am. I know you have had so much to deal with for a long time now…you will continue to be in my thoughts and prayers DAILY. Margot

  • webs's avatar

    webs

    Member
    January 6, 2009 at 9:08 pm

    Maria
    I am so sorry to here of the cancers spread. MDAnderson is a good place and hopefully they will have some answers for you. I am so sorry that you are having to deal with this escalation. I can only echo the others {{HUGS}}.

    Charlotte

  • leigh's avatar

    leigh

    Member
    January 6, 2009 at 6:30 pm

    Dear Maria,

    This news hits hard to your forum friends here and I cannot imaging the thoughts you are having in your mind.

    I wish I could help in someway but all I can do is offer my hand of support and send you positive thoughts for a rapid relief from your pain.

    Thinking of you…

    Leigh


    Leigh, 39
    Dx July 2007
    TURBT July 2007
    RC/Neobladder ,Studer Pouch, September 2007
    Erasmus Centrum Rotterdam
    TNM Classification: pT4 N2 Mo
    4 cycles aduvant chemo Gemzar & Cisplatinum
  • bobmac2's avatar

    bobmac2

    Member
    January 6, 2009 at 3:19 pm

    I was so sorry to read this devastating news. I hope the radiation will help with the pain. Regards, Lorrie

  • 's avatar

    Guest
    January 6, 2009 at 2:08 pm

    Maria, I am so sorry to hear about your news. Thoughts and prayers are with you and your doctors as you plan your next steps in treatment. Hopefully you will have significant relief from the pain so that you can focus on further treatments.

    Rebecca

  • lady-jane's avatar

    lady-jane

    Member
    January 6, 2009 at 1:17 pm

    I am so sorry to read this maria. I pray that the radiation will help you and that you can get some good pain medicine.


    Ta Grade 1
    6 TURBS
    15 BCG
    dx Jan 07
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