[MatthewS]

Stringent complete response and bone pain

by MatthewS on Mon Mar 29, 2010 11:16 pm

Dear Dr. Lacy,

I was diagnosed in mid-2009. After nearly eight months of continuous treatment (CyBorD + Zometa), I am in stringent complete response (sCR).

But I continue to have bone pain. It's not nearly as excruciating as it was when I was first diagnosed (at diagnosis, the pain, on a 1-10 scale, was 10/10; now, it's about 3/10 – some days a little better than that, some days a little worse, particularly on cold days). My doctor tells me that, at this point, he's treating only my symptoms, because if he went by my tests results, there would be nothing to treat.

I am wondering if this is common, i.e., stringent CR, yet continuing bone pain. Does the pain perhaps indicate that I am not really in a CR, despite my test results?

Thank you for taking the time to answer my question.

[Beacon Staff]

Re: Stringent complete response and bone pain

by Beacon Staff on Fri Apr 02, 2010 2:10 pm

Dr. Martha Lacy from the Mayo Clinic said:

"I am sorry to hear you are still in pain. While it is a possibility that you are not truly in CR, other possible (and more likely) explanations include:

1. The pain is neuropathy pain due to Velcade.
2. The pain is mechanical pain due to the stress the previously damaged bones put on your muscles/joints.
3. Zometa occasionally causes bone pain.
4. Do you also suffer from arthritis?

Your doctor should be able to work with you to figure out what is causing your pain and address it."