Radium Treatment

[nailit]

My mum's had the results of her bone scan today. Unfortunately the cancer is not confined to her arm (as hoped) but is widespread as suspected.
She has to go back to oncology on Thursday and has to see if she may be suitable to receive radium therapy to give her some pain relief.
However, I've just googled radium treatment for bones and all results are suggesting that radium is used for treating men who have had prostate cancers???

Am I missing something here or have I misheard radium treatment? (my sister told me this on the phone so its a possibility)

TIA.

[nailit]

Should know a bit more on Thursday 237, fingers crossed.

[237SJ]

It's the not knowing that drives you wild with speculation.

[nailit]

She was taken to A&E a few weeks ago with a painful arm 237...never expected this. Thought it was an infection.

[237SJ]

My Mum's started when her pelvis fractured. I suspected what it was when they said they wanted to do blood tests as I knew what they were looking for (high calcium in the blood). I kind of think that maybe it's a good thing that we didn't know what was coursing through her body as it least we had (as you have had) some years of living in ignorant bliss.

[Peter Pedant]

radium radiation - so what

It is used for pain relief of all sorts of cancers
and works well

you aim it at the bits that hurt and dont really worry about where the other stuff is, so long as it is not causing pain

just say 'yes' and ask they do everything to keep her out of pain in her last days. Steroids for example work well

[nailit]

Thanks PP
(I actually understood that post ;-) )

[tinkerbell23]

Thanks for the update Nailit. Not surprised sadly- really hopinh radiotherapy helps Mums bone pain!!! It usually does!!!

Hope theres a bit more support around you now & that having a “plan” in place helps xx

[Jordyboy9]

Hang in there nailit mate we are thinking of you and your dear mum ,we know what you’re going through,

[waterboatman]

Radiation treatment nailit. My Vera had it.

[waterboatman]

It's also called radiotherapy, depends were you are.

[LadyCG]

Your mother should also be started on Denosumab, providing there are no contraindications.

Whereabouts on the arms is she affected? That is an unusual place for a metastasis from breast cancer. One would normally expect spinal, rib, pelvic or even scapular mets, but mets in the (fore) arm are highly unusual.

[Sqad]

Lady CG....the metastasis IS in the cervical spinal and the pain in the forearm is referred pain from the spinal roots.

[nailit]

Thanks for all additional replies, appreciate them.
LCG, its the upper arm that's affected, (at least that's where the pain is) she also has a plate in the same place as she broke it 2 yrs ago so don't know if that has any bearing on it.

[murraymints]

oh dear..hope it does some good nailit , a very difficult time for mum and the whole family...as I know ..xx

[nailit]

Thanks minty,
Got have some sort of tests first to see if she's suitable for it, might know some more on Thursday after she's been back to oncology.

[Smowball]

So sorry to hear this Nailit. Sending you all my best wishes and support x

[nailit]

Thank you Smow.