lung, bone mets

My father's recently been diagnosed with extensive and widespread mets to
bone - pelvis, shoulder, and spine. They found the primary today, in his lung,
I'm assuming it's adenocarcinoma.

Four weeks ago the pain started. Because he had an extensive Hx of
degenerative lower back problems, at the time I didn't give much thought to
it being something more insidious. When he was'nt improving, and unable to
get out of bed, it did cross my mind, briefly, but needless to say we're
pretty devastated.

The data's still coming in, but we know this is terminal. I'm assuming that
because he was reasonably healthy until 4 weeks ago, and now has extensive
mets to bone, that this is a rapid and aggressive process, and he won't be
around too long. They are, perhaps, going to offer him a palliative radiation.


I'm hoping to get him home ASAP, and I'll be his primary caregiver. I'm a
registered nurse, and although I've been in Emergency for many years, I do
have previous experience with palliative cancer patients.

I'm anxious and worried, not because of the unknown, but rather because of
what I do know, and what I've seen with my own eyes. I remember one patient I
had with bone mets required truly unconscionable doses of drugs simply to
keep him from moaning constantly. He had a Morphine gtt running at 500mg/hr,
a Dilaudid gtt at 30mg/hr, a Versed gtt at 10mg/hr, and I was giving up to
100mg morphine, push for breakthrough every 1/2hr of so. The simple act of
turning him in bed had fractured his spine and he had to remain in that
position for two days before he finally died.

I hope and I pray my dad won't go through something like this

GordC wrote:

> My father's recently been diagnosed with extensive and widespread mets to
> bone - pelvis, shoulder, and spine. They found the primary today, in his lung,
> I'm assuming it's adenocarcinoma.
>
> Four weeks ago the pain started. Because he had an extensive Hx of
> degenerative lower back problems, at the time I didn't give much thought to
> it being something more insidious. When he was'nt improving, and unable to
> get out of bed, it did cross my mind, briefly, but needless to say we're
> pretty devastated.
>
> The data's still coming in, but we know this is terminal. I'm assuming that
> because he was reasonably healthy until 4 weeks ago, and now has extensive
> mets to bone, that this is a rapid and aggressive process, and he won't be
> around too long. They are, perhaps, going to offer him a palliative radiation.
>
> I'm hoping to get him home ASAP, and I'll be his primary caregiver. I'm a
> registered nurse, and although I've been in Emergency for many years, I do
> have previous experience with palliative cancer patients.
>
> I'm anxious and worried, not because of the unknown, but rather because of
> what I do know, and what I've seen with my own eyes. I remember one patient I
> had with bone mets required truly unconscionable doses of drugs simply to
> keep him from moaning constantly. He had a Morphine gtt running at 500mg/hr,
> a Dilaudid gtt at 30mg/hr, a Versed gtt at 10mg/hr, and I was giving up to
> 100mg morphine, push for breakthrough every 1/2hr of so. The simple act of
> turning him in bed had fractured his spine and he had to remain in that
> position for two days before he finally died.
>
> I hope and I pray my dad won't go through something like this

Hello Gord and welcome to alt.support.cancer
I'm very sorry to hear about your father.

I hope that he was diagnosed early enough that the bone mets can be treated and
won't have the fracture that you're concerned about and still have some quality of
life while you care for him at home. I do hope that will happen for you.

I expect that only the radiation oncologist would be able to inform you of what to
expect.
Can you arrange to meet with him (or her)?
I'll be here caring. Talk to us any time. Let us know how we can help, please.
J

"GordC" <u34012@uwe> wrote in message news:71d7a5c433509@uwe...
> My father's recently been diagnosed with extensive and widespread mets to
> bone - pelvis, shoulder, and spine. They found the primary today, in his
> lung,
> I'm assuming it's adenocarcinoma.
>

Why are you assuming that? It could just as easily be squamous cell cancer.

> Four weeks ago the pain started. Because he had an extensive Hx of
> degenerative lower back problems, at the time I didn't give much thought
> to
> it being something more insidious. When he was'nt improving, and unable to
> get out of bed, it did cross my mind, briefly, but needless to say we're
> pretty devastated.
>
> The data's still coming in, but we know this is terminal. I'm assuming
> that
> because he was reasonably healthy until 4 weeks ago, and now has extensive
> mets to bone, that this is a rapid and aggressive process, and he won't be
> around too long. They are, perhaps, going to offer him a palliative
> radiation.
>

That would certainly be the best treatment to improve his quality of lfe.

>
> I'm hoping to get him home ASAP, and I'll be his primary caregiver. I'm a
> registered nurse, and although I've been in Emergency for many years, I do
> have previous experience with palliative cancer patients.
>
> I'm anxious and worried, not because of the unknown, but rather because of
> what I do know, and what I've seen with my own eyes. I remember one
> patient I
> had with bone mets required truly unconscionable doses of drugs simply to
> keep him from moaning constantly. He had a Morphine gtt running at
> 500mg/hr,
> a Dilaudid gtt at 30mg/hr, a Versed gtt at 10mg/hr, and I was giving up to
> 100mg morphine, push for breakthrough every 1/2hr of so. The simple act
> of
> turning him in bed had fractured his spine and he had to remain in that
> position for two days before he finally died.
>
> I hope and I pray my dad won't go through something like this
>

Analgesic therapy has come a long way in recent years. With judicious use of
drugs and radiotherapy, very few patients indeed suffer like that

"GordC" <u34012@uwe> wrote in news:71d7a5c433509@uwe:

> My father's recently been diagnosed with extensive and widespread mets
> to bone - pelvis, shoulder, and spine. They found the primary today,
> in his lung, I'm assuming it's adenocarcinoma.
>
> Four weeks ago the pain started. Because he had an extensive Hx of
> degenerative lower back problems, at the time I didn't give much
> thought to it being something more insidious. When he was'nt
> improving, and unable to get out of bed, it did cross my mind,
> briefly, but needless to say we're pretty devastated.
>
> The data's still coming in, but we know this is terminal. I'm assuming
> that because he was reasonably healthy until 4 weeks ago, and now has
> extensive mets to bone, that this is a rapid and aggressive process,
> and he won't be around too long. They are, perhaps, going to offer him
> a palliative radiation.
>
>
> I'm hoping to get him home ASAP, and I'll be his primary caregiver.
> I'm a registered nurse, and although I've been in Emergency for many
> years, I do have previous experience with palliative cancer patients.
>
> I'm anxious and worried, not because of the unknown, but rather
> because of what I do know, and what I've seen with my own eyes. I
> remember one patient I had with bone mets required truly
> unconscionable doses of drugs simply to keep him from moaning
> constantly. He had a Morphine gtt running at 500mg/hr, a Dilaudid gtt
> at 30mg/hr, a Versed gtt at 10mg/hr, and I was giving up to 100mg
> morphine, push for breakthrough every 1/2hr of so. The simple act of
> turning him in bed had fractured his spine and he had to remain in
> that position for two days before he finally died.
>
> I hope and I pray my dad won't go through something like this

Hello, Gord & welcome,

Ny husband Socks enjoyed over 4 good years with Stage IV lung cancer with
bone mets. He took Zometa for the bone mets which strengthened the bone
area. The bone mets were painful but they didn't fracture. A female
friend with end-stage breast cancer suffered micro-fractures to the
lower spine which put her in a wheel chair. Sock's mets were higher, in
the ribs.

The first Zometa treatment was very painful, but subsequent ones less so.
He got his greatest relief from the bone pain from a cream formulated
with lavender (in addition to pain meds).

You might want to see if Zometa is appropriate for your father.

Try to get some help with caring for your father. It's a gift of love
but you will need some relief. And stick with us here. We're a
supportive community & a safe place for you to vent.

Figgertoes

On May 7, 5:33 pm, "GordC" <u34012@uwe> wrote:
> My father's recently been diagnosed with extensive and widespread mets to
> bone - pelvis, shoulder, and spine. They found the primary today, in his lung,
> I'm assuming it's adenocarcinoma.
>
> Four weeks ago the pain started. Because he had an extensive Hx of
> degenerative lower back problems, at the time I didn't give much thought to
> it being something more insidious. When he was'nt improving, and unable to
> get out of bed, it did cross my mind, briefly, but needless to say we're
> pretty devastated.
>
> The data's still coming in, but we know this is terminal. I'm assuming that
> because he was reasonably healthy until 4 weeks ago, and now has extensive
> mets to bone, that this is a rapid and aggressive process, and he won't be
> around too long. They are, perhaps, going to offer him a palliative radiation.
>
> I'm hoping to get him home ASAP, and I'll be his primary caregiver. I'm a
> registered nurse, and although I've been in Emergency for many years, I do
> have previous experience with palliative cancer patients.
>
> I'm anxious and worried, not because of the unknown, but rather because of
> what I do know, and what I've seen with my own eyes. I remember one patient I
> had with bone mets required truly unconscionable doses of drugs simply to
> keep him from moaning constantly. He had a Morphine gtt running at 500mg/hr,
> a Dilaudid gtt at 30mg/hr, a Versed gtt at 10mg/hr, and I was giving up to
> 100mg morphine, push for breakthrough every 1/2hr of so. The simple act of
> turning him in bed had fractured his spine and he had to remain in that
> position for two days before he finally died.
>
> I hope and I pray my dad won't go through something like this

Hi, Gord,

Upon some reflection, I am wondering why you think this is fast-
spreading. The mets are widely disbursed, not good, but could they
have been there for some time?

Socks had complained of being 'so tired' for a long time, maybe a year
or so prior to diagnosis, but given all of the things he was involved
with, I would have attributed that to lack of sleep, certainly not to
disease. I really think now that the cancer had been present for some
time.

I have seen a vast range of discomfort levels here over time. Also a
lot of different pain meds. Some things seem to work like a miracle
for awhile & then something different is needed. For awhile, Socks
got more relief from Vioxx than from some of the narcotics. Your
father's experience may not mirror your previous observation at all.
I hope not.

Fig

Figgertoes wrote:

> "GordC" <u34012@uwe> wrote in news:71d7a5c433509@uwe:
>
> > The data's still coming in, but we know this is terminal. I'm assuming
> > that because he was reasonably healthy until 4 weeks ago, and now has
> > extensive mets to bone, that this is a rapid and aggressive process,
> > and he won't be around too long. They are, perhaps, going to offer him
> > a palliative radiation.
> >
> Ny husband Socks enjoyed over 4 good years with Stage IV lung cancer with
> bone mets. He took Zometa for the bone mets which strengthened the bone
> area. The bone mets were painful but they didn't fracture. A female
> friend with end-stage breast cancer suffered micro-fractures to the
> lower spine which put her in a wheel chair. Sock's mets were higher, in
> the ribs.
>
> The first Zometa treatment was very painful, but subsequent ones less so.
> He got his greatest relief from the bone pain from a cream formulated
> with lavender (in addition to pain meds).

<
http://patient.cancerconsultants.com...x?LinkId=53863

>
Lung cancer: Zometa® is a safe and effective treatment for bone metastases
associated with lung cancer. In a clinical trial, 773 patients with lung
cancer were randomly assigned to receive Zometa® or placebo via a 15-minute
infusion every 3 weeks for 21 months. Results from the two groups were
directly compared and showed that the number of patients experiencing at
least one skeletal-related event was lower among those who were treated with
Zometa® (39%) than patients who received placebo (46%). The patients who
received Zometa® went nearly 3 months longer without developing a
skeletal-related event and also experienced fewer skeletal-related events.6
6) Rosen LS, Gordon D, Tchekmedyian NS , et al. Long-term efficacy and safety
of zoledronic acid in the treatment of skeletal metastases in patients with
nonsmall cell lung carcinoma and other solid tumors: A randomized, Phase III,
double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Cancer 2004;100(12):2613-21.

"J" <nexsw@nvalid,anon> wrote in message
news:4640D287.FC75528C@execulink.com...
>
>
> Figgertoes wrote:
>
>> "GordC" <u34012@uwe> wrote in news:71d7a5c433509@uwe:
>>
>> > The data's still coming in, but we know this is terminal. I'm assuming
>> > that because he was reasonably healthy until 4 weeks ago, and now has
>> > extensive mets to bone, that this is a rapid and aggressive process,
>> > and he won't be around too long. They are, perhaps, going to offer him
>> > a palliative radiation.
>> >
>> Ny husband Socks enjoyed over 4 good years with Stage IV lung cancer with
>> bone mets. He took Zometa for the bone mets which strengthened the bone
>> area. The bone mets were painful but they didn't fracture. A female
>> friend with end-stage breast cancer suffered micro-fractures to the
>> lower spine which put her in a wheel chair. Sock's mets were higher, in
>> the ribs.
>>
>> The first Zometa treatment was very painful, but subsequent ones less so.
>> He got his greatest relief from the bone pain from a cream formulated
>> with lavender (in addition to pain meds).
>
> <
> http://patient.cancerconsultants.com...x?LinkId=53863
>
>>
> Lung cancer: Zometa® is a safe and effective treatment for bone metastases
> associated with lung cancer. In a clinical trial, 773 patients with lung
> cancer were randomly assigned to receive Zometa® or placebo via a
> 15-minute
> infusion every 3 weeks for 21 months. Results from the two groups were
> directly compared and showed that the number of patients experiencing at
> least one skeletal-related event was lower among those who were treated
> with
> Zometa® (39%) than patients who received placebo (46%). The patients who
> received Zometa® went nearly 3 months longer without developing a
> skeletal-related event and also experienced fewer skeletal-related
> events.6
> 6) Rosen LS, Gordon D, Tchekmedyian NS , et al. Long-term efficacy and
> safety
> of zoledronic acid in the treatment of skeletal metastases in patients
> with
> nonsmall cell lung carcinoma and other solid tumors: A randomized, Phase
> III,
> double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Cancer 2004;100(12):2613-21.
>

Just to clarify - it reduces the incidence of new bone mets (moderately)
It does not treat existing bone mets

"Steph" <steph@vancouvers.island> wrote in
news:Xsa0i.169759$6m4.6281@pd7urf1no:

>
> "J" <nexsw@nvalid,anon> wrote in message
> news:4640D287.FC75528C@execulink.com...
>>
>>
>> Figgertoes wrote:
>>
>>> "GordC" <u34012@uwe> wrote in news:71d7a5c433509@uwe:
>>>
>>> > The data's still coming in, but we know this is terminal. I'm
>>> > assuming that because he was reasonably healthy until 4 weeks ago,
>>> > and now has extensive mets to bone, that this is a rapid and
>>> > aggressive process, and he won't be around too long. They are,
>>> > perhaps, going to offer him a palliative radiation.
>>> >
>>> Ny husband Socks enjoyed over 4 good years with Stage IV lung cancer
>>> with bone mets. He took Zometa for the bone mets which strengthened
>>> the bone area. The bone mets were painful but they didn't fracture.
>>> A female friend with end-stage breast cancer suffered
>>> micro-fractures to the lower spine which put her in a wheel chair.
>>> Sock's mets were higher, in the ribs.
>>>
>>> The first Zometa treatment was very painful, but subsequent ones
>>> less so. He got his greatest relief from the bone pain from a cream
>>> formulated with lavender (in addition to pain meds).
>>
>> <
>> http://patient.cancerconsultants.com...e_Cancer.aspx?
>> LinkId=53863
>>
>>>
>> Lung cancer: Zometa® is a safe and effective treatment for bone
>> metastases associated with lung cancer. In a clinical trial, 773
>> patients with lung cancer were randomly assigned to receive Zometa®
>> or placebo via a 15-minute
>> infusion every 3 weeks for 21 months. Results from the two groups
>> were directly compared and showed that the number of patients
>> experiencing at least one skeletal-related event was lower among
>> those who were treated with
>> Zometa® (39%) than patients who received placebo (46%). The patients
>> who received Zometa® went nearly 3 months longer without developing a
>> skeletal-related event and also experienced fewer skeletal-related
>> events.6
>> 6) Rosen LS, Gordon D, Tchekmedyian NS , et al. Long-term efficacy
>> and safety
>> of zoledronic acid in the treatment of skeletal metastases in
>> patients with
>> nonsmall cell lung carcinoma and other solid tumors: A randomized,
>> Phase III,
>> double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Cancer 2004;100(12):2613-21.
>>
>
> Just to clarify - it reduces the incidence of new bone mets
> (moderately) It does not treat existing bone mets
>
>
Hmmm. That may be true, but that is not what Socks was told by the onc
administering it. I remember one occasion when Socks told me the onc had
said the areas where mets were present were stronger & less likely to
fracture than the rest of his bones b/c of the Zometa. That was a very
memorable statement & I don't know how it could be misinterpreted by him
or me.

Fig

"Figgertoes" <me@privacy.net> wrote in message
news:Xns992B344ED7A1figgertoes@216.168.3.44...
> "Steph" <steph@vancouvers.island> wrote in
> news:Xsa0i.169759$6m4.6281@pd7urf1no:
>
>>
>> "J" <nexsw@nvalid,anon> wrote in message
>> news:4640D287.FC75528C@execulink.com...
>>>
>>>
>>> Figgertoes wrote:
>>>
>>>> "GordC" <u34012@uwe> wrote in news:71d7a5c433509@uwe:
>>>>
>>>> > The data's still coming in, but we know this is terminal. I'm
>>>> > assuming that because he was reasonably healthy until 4 weeks ago,
>>>> > and now has extensive mets to bone, that this is a rapid and
>>>> > aggressive process, and he won't be around too long. They are,
>>>> > perhaps, going to offer him a palliative radiation.
>>>> >
>>>> Ny husband Socks enjoyed over 4 good years with Stage IV lung cancer
>>>> with bone mets. He took Zometa for the bone mets which strengthened
>>>> the bone area. The bone mets were painful but they didn't fracture.
>>>> A female friend with end-stage breast cancer suffered
>>>> micro-fractures to the lower spine which put her in a wheel chair.
>>>> Sock's mets were higher, in the ribs.
>>>>
>>>> The first Zometa treatment was very painful, but subsequent ones
>>>> less so. He got his greatest relief from the bone pain from a cream
>>>> formulated with lavender (in addition to pain meds).
>>>
>>> <
>>> http://patient.cancerconsultants.com...e_Cancer.aspx?
>>> LinkId=53863
>>>
>>>>
>>> Lung cancer: Zometa® is a safe and effective treatment for bone
>>> metastases associated with lung cancer. In a clinical trial, 773
>>> patients with lung cancer were randomly assigned to receive Zometa®
>>> or placebo via a 15-minute
>>> infusion every 3 weeks for 21 months. Results from the two groups
>>> were directly compared and showed that the number of patients
>>> experiencing at least one skeletal-related event was lower among
>>> those who were treated with
>>> Zometa® (39%) than patients who received placebo (46%). The patients
>>> who received Zometa® went nearly 3 months longer without developing a
>>> skeletal-related event and also experienced fewer skeletal-related
>>> events.6
>>> 6) Rosen LS, Gordon D, Tchekmedyian NS , et al. Long-term efficacy
>>> and safety
>>> of zoledronic acid in the treatment of skeletal metastases in
>>> patients with
>>> nonsmall cell lung carcinoma and other solid tumors: A randomized,
>>> Phase III,
>>> double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Cancer 2004;100(12):2613-21.
>>>
>>
>> Just to clarify - it reduces the incidence of new bone mets
>> (moderately) It does not treat existing bone mets
>>
>>
> Hmmm. That may be true, but that is not what Socks was told by the onc
> administering it. I remember one occasion when Socks told me the onc had
> said the areas where mets were present were stronger & less likely to
> fracture than the rest of his bones b/c of the Zometa. That was a very
> memorable statement & I don't know how it could be misinterpreted by him
> or me.
>
> Fig

There is no evidence of that at all. But that doesn't mean it isn't true.
But zometa is not a treatment for painful bone mets..............radiation
is.

"Steph" <steph@vancouvers.island> wrote in
news:Jre0i.171040$aG1.76874@pd7urf3no:

>
> "Figgertoes" <me@privacy.net> wrote in message
> news:Xns992B344ED7A1figgertoes@216.168.3.44...
>> "Steph" <steph@vancouvers.island> wrote in
>> news:Xsa0i.169759$6m4.6281@pd7urf1no:
>>
>>>
>>> "J" <nexsw@nvalid,anon> wrote in message
>>> news:4640D287.FC75528C@execulink.com...
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Figgertoes wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> "GordC" <u34012@uwe> wrote in news:71d7a5c433509@uwe:
>>>>>
>>>>> > The data's still coming in, but we know this is terminal. I'm
>>>>> > assuming that because he was reasonably healthy until 4 weeks
>>>>> > ago, and now has extensive mets to bone, that this is a rapid
>>>>> > and aggressive process, and he won't be around too long. They
>>>>> > are, perhaps, going to offer him a palliative radiation.
>>>>> >
>>>>> Ny husband Socks enjoyed over 4 good years with Stage IV lung
>>>>> cancer with bone mets. He took Zometa for the bone mets which
>>>>> strengthened the bone area. The bone mets were painful but they
>>>>> didn't fracture. A female friend with end-stage breast cancer
>>>>> suffered micro-fractures to the lower spine which put her in a
>>>>> wheel chair. Sock's mets were higher, in the ribs.
>>>>>
>>>>> The first Zometa treatment was very painful, but subsequent ones
>>>>> less so. He got his greatest relief from the bone pain from a
>>>>> cream formulated with lavender (in addition to pain meds).
>>>>
>>>> <
>>>> http://patient.cancerconsultants.com...one_Cancer.asp
>>>> x? LinkId=53863
>>>>
>>>>>
>>>> Lung cancer: Zometa® is a safe and effective treatment for bone
>>>> metastases associated with lung cancer. In a clinical trial, 773
>>>> patients with lung cancer were randomly assigned to receive Zometa®
>>>> or placebo via a 15-minute
>>>> infusion every 3 weeks for 21 months. Results from the two groups
>>>> were directly compared and showed that the number of patients
>>>> experiencing at least one skeletal-related event was lower among
>>>> those who were treated with
>>>> Zometa® (39%) than patients who received placebo (46%). The
>>>> patients who received Zometa® went nearly 3 months longer without
>>>> developing a skeletal-related event and also experienced fewer
>>>> skeletal-related events.6
>>>> 6) Rosen LS, Gordon D, Tchekmedyian NS , et al. Long-term efficacy
>>>> and safety
>>>> of zoledronic acid in the treatment of skeletal metastases in
>>>> patients with
>>>> nonsmall cell lung carcinoma and other solid tumors: A randomized,
>>>> Phase III,
>>>> double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Cancer
>>>> 2004;100(12):2613-21.
>>>>
>>>
>>> Just to clarify - it reduces the incidence of new bone mets
>>> (moderately) It does not treat existing bone mets
>>>
>>>
>> Hmmm. That may be true, but that is not what Socks was told by the
>> onc administering it. I remember one occasion when Socks told me the
>> onc had said the areas where mets were present were stronger & less
>> likely to fracture than the rest of his bones b/c of the Zometa. That
>> was a very memorable statement & I don't know how it could be
>> misinterpreted by him or me.
>>
>> Fig
>
> There is no evidence of that at all. But that doesn't mean it isn't
> true. But zometa is not a treatment for painful bone
> mets..............radiation is.
>
>
I wonder how 'a skeletal-related event' is defined. More mets? Fracture?
Either/or? Neither? Other?

Fig

"Figgertoes" <me@privacy.net> wrote in message
news:Xns992B4BE5CCBFFfiggertoes@216.168.3.44...
> "Steph" <steph@vancouvers.island> wrote in
> news:Jre0i.171040$aG1.76874@pd7urf3no:
>
>>
>> "Figgertoes" <me@privacy.net> wrote in message
>> news:Xns992B344ED7A1figgertoes@216.168.3.44...
>>> "Steph" <steph@vancouvers.island> wrote in
>>> news:Xsa0i.169759$6m4.6281@pd7urf1no:
>>>
>>>>
>>>> "J" <nexsw@nvalid,anon> wrote in message
>>>> news:4640D287.FC75528C@execulink.com...
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Figgertoes wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> "GordC" <u34012@uwe> wrote in news:71d7a5c433509@uwe:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> > The data's still coming in, but we know this is terminal. I'm
>>>>>> > assuming that because he was reasonably healthy until 4 weeks
>>>>>> > ago, and now has extensive mets to bone, that this is a rapid
>>>>>> > and aggressive process, and he won't be around too long. They
>>>>>> > are, perhaps, going to offer him a palliative radiation.
>>>>>> >
>>>>>> Ny husband Socks enjoyed over 4 good years with Stage IV lung
>>>>>> cancer with bone mets. He took Zometa for the bone mets which
>>>>>> strengthened the bone area. The bone mets were painful but they
>>>>>> didn't fracture. A female friend with end-stage breast cancer
>>>>>> suffered micro-fractures to the lower spine which put her in a
>>>>>> wheel chair. Sock's mets were higher, in the ribs.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> The first Zometa treatment was very painful, but subsequent ones
>>>>>> less so. He got his greatest relief from the bone pain from a
>>>>>> cream formulated with lavender (in addition to pain meds).
>>>>>
>>>>> <
>>>>> http://patient.cancerconsultants.com...one_Cancer.asp
>>>>> x? LinkId=53863
>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> Lung cancer: Zometa® is a safe and effective treatment for bone
>>>>> metastases associated with lung cancer. In a clinical trial, 773
>>>>> patients with lung cancer were randomly assigned to receive Zometa®
>>>>> or placebo via a 15-minute
>>>>> infusion every 3 weeks for 21 months. Results from the two groups
>>>>> were directly compared and showed that the number of patients
>>>>> experiencing at least one skeletal-related event was lower among
>>>>> those who were treated with
>>>>> Zometa® (39%) than patients who received placebo (46%). The
>>>>> patients who received Zometa® went nearly 3 months longer without
>>>>> developing a skeletal-related event and also experienced fewer
>>>>> skeletal-related events.6
>>>>> 6) Rosen LS, Gordon D, Tchekmedyian NS , et al. Long-term efficacy
>>>>> and safety
>>>>> of zoledronic acid in the treatment of skeletal metastases in
>>>>> patients with
>>>>> nonsmall cell lung carcinoma and other solid tumors: A randomized,
>>>>> Phase III,
>>>>> double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Cancer
>>>>> 2004;100(12):2613-21.
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Just to clarify - it reduces the incidence of new bone mets
>>>> (moderately) It does not treat existing bone mets
>>>>
>>>>
>>> Hmmm. That may be true, but that is not what Socks was told by the
>>> onc administering it. I remember one occasion when Socks told me the
>>> onc had said the areas where mets were present were stronger & less
>>> likely to fracture than the rest of his bones b/c of the Zometa. That
>>> was a very memorable statement & I don't know how it could be
>>> misinterpreted by him or me.
>>>
>>> Fig
>>
>> There is no evidence of that at all. But that doesn't mean it isn't
>> true. But zometa is not a treatment for painful bone
>> mets..............radiation is.
>>
>>
> I wonder how 'a skeletal-related event' is defined. More mets? Fracture?
> Either/or? Neither? Other?
>
> Fig
>

Symptomatic bone mets or fractures, basically. Zometa reduces the incidence
of future events moderately, but it is not a treatment for them when they
occur.

GordC wrote:

> My father's recently been diagnosed with extensive and widespread mets to
> bone - pelvis, shoulder, and spine. They found the primary today, in his lung,
> I'm assuming it's adenocarcinoma.
>
> Four weeks ago the pain started. Because he had an extensive Hx of
> degenerative lower back problems, at the time I didn't give much thought to
> it being something more insidious. When he was'nt improving, and unable to
> get out of bed, it did cross my mind, briefly, but needless to say we're
> pretty devastated.
>
> The data's still coming in, but we know this is terminal. I'm assuming that
> because he was reasonably healthy until 4 weeks ago, and now has extensive
> mets to bone, that this is a rapid and aggressive process, and he won't be
> around too long. They are, perhaps, going to offer him a palliative radiation.
>
> I'm hoping to get him home ASAP, and I'll be his primary caregiver. I'm a
> registered nurse, and although I've been in Emergency for many years, I do
> have previous experience with palliative cancer patients.
>
> I'm anxious and worried, not because of the unknown, but rather because of
> what I do know, and what I've seen with my own eyes. I remember one patient I
> had with bone mets required truly unconscionable doses of drugs simply to
> keep him from moaning constantly. He had a Morphine gtt running at 500mg/hr,
> a Dilaudid gtt at 30mg/hr, a Versed gtt at 10mg/hr, and I was giving up to
> 100mg morphine, push for breakthrough every 1/2hr of so. The simple act of
> turning him in bed had fractured his spine and he had to remain in that
> position for two days before he finally died.
>
> I hope and I pray my dad won't go through something like this

How's it going, Gord?
We'll be here for you.
As Fig mentioned, you'll need some help for home-caring your father.
Hoping to hear you.
J

>>
>> I hope and I pray my dad won't go through something like this
>>
>
>Analgesic therapy has come a long way in recent years. With judicious use of
>drugs and radiotherapy, very few patients indeed suffer like that
>


Steph:
Thanks for hope. I've been looking desperately for it here.
--Joe

"46erjoe" <46erjoe@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:c0s443h34qv6dgc2oqno5fi8mc87sc9uoh@4ax.com...
>
>>>
>>> I hope and I pray my dad won't go through something like this
>>>
>>
>>Analgesic therapy has come a long way in recent years. With judicious use
>>of
>>drugs and radiotherapy, very few patients indeed suffer like that
>>
>
>
> Steph:
> Thanks for hope. I've been looking desperately for it here.
> --Joe

It's not just hope, Joe. It's fact