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Cab Breast Cancer Metastasis Occur In Knees And Hips?

Posted on Sat, 21 Jun 2014

Question: I am 45 female 2.5 year breast cancer survivor double mastectomy 4 months chemo taxotere and cytoxan. Both knees and hips have hurt for over a year now. Right hip has gotten so bad I am limping. I feel like it is a muscle trying to pop out at times that almost brings me to my knees screaming and then it goes right back to normal and is sore for a few days. I constantly guard this hip and try not to twist certain ways that causes this painful sensation. I just was referred by my oncologist to an orthopedic surgeon. He did xrays and I got a cortisone shot in one knee to start. He saw a spot on my LEFT hip, not the RIGHT one I'm having such a time with and ordered an MRI. I had the MRI and go Monday morning for results and a cortisone shot of the other knee. I am confused and wondering if a spot on the left can cause pain in the right? Surely not!! Im planning cortisone shots in both hips too but doctor will only do one area at a time. I am praying the cancer has not returned in my left side. He did say he felt it was just a cyst but needed to MRI because of my history.

Answered by Dr. Som Biswas (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
NOTHING to do with your breast cancer.

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Thank you for your query. I can understand your concerns.

The pain in your hips and knees has NOTHING to do with your breast cancer.

It is very very rare for breast cancer metastasis to occur in knees and hips though it can occur in spine.

Pain/Cyst in one leg can cause pain in other leg as you walk with both legs and so if one is not properly used the weight of body gets unevenly distributed to the good leg and that starts paining.

The doctor is right. Do one steroid shot at a time.

MRI will certainly help in knowing the exact disease.

I will also advise some physiotherapy with it till the MRI reports come.

Regards,

Dr. Som Biswas MD

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Som Biswas (6 minutes later)

So, if this is not a cancer spot and its just a cyst causing me such pain anyway, would it need to be surgically removed? If not, what treatment would be given. Would a cortisone shot to the hips resolve this?

Answered by Dr. Som Biswas (5 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
The treatment can be decided only after the MRI

Detailed Answer:
Dear ,

The treatment can be decided only after the MRI. It will tell what type of cyst it is. That will decide whether it needs surgery or just cortisone shot.

Regards,

Dr. Som Biswas MD

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Som Biswas (1 hour later)

The XXXXXXX Cancer Society website contradicts you saying it has NOTHING to to with my breast cancer. True the spine is most common, but it says the hip is also a common site. I just looked at many blogs in Breastcancer.org where women got mets to the hip bone. What say you?

Answered by Dr. Som Biswas (12 hours later)

Brief Answer:
I am talking about probability .

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

I am talking about probability . YES there might be few patients with mets at hips or at even rarer places like toes .But that does not mean you have a HIGH chance .

Lets wait for the MRI report and that will confirm it.

YES you have a slight chance and NO you do not have a high chance of mets in hips and knees

Note: For further queries related to kidney problems Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar