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Ovarian Cancer (Expert Forum)
Painful bones and joints after finishing chemo treatment
Answered by
Annekathryn Goodman, M.D. - Gynecologic Cancers, Complex Gynecologic, Surgeries, Palliative Care, Acupuncture
Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center
Boston - MA
Painful bones and joints after finishing chemo treatment
by jldny, Jul 07, 2006 12:00AM
I finished taxotere treatments for ovca 2 months ago, and am now experiencing very painful bones and joints. I had a bone density test (showed bone loss) and a bone scan (normal). My gyn/onc says pain is not related to the chemo. The pain does not subside and intensifies after exercise or prolonged rest (like overnight). OTC pain relievers do not help. I am taking 1200mg of calcium everyday. Could there be some explanation for this pain?
Doctor's Answer
by Annekathryn Goodman, M.D., Jul 08, 2006 12:00AM
, Jul 08, 2006 12:00AM
Hello, unless you are taking estrogens right now, the most likely cause of your pain is estrogen deficiency. Taxanes (taxol, taxotere) are associated with joint and muscle pain during active therapy. In fact about 75% of people taking these drugs will experience some amount of bone or muscle pain within the week of their infusion. However, there is no associated between long term bony and joint pain and the prior use of taxanes. In fact, taxanes have been used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.
Estrogen deficiency is a well-known cause of bone and joint problems. Subjectively, women will feel very achy when they stop estrogen replacement therapy and the bone pain will resolve when they resume taking estrogen. Objectively estrogen deficiency leads to progressive bone loss that ultimately leads to osteopenia and osteoporosis.
If your gyn onc feels it is reasonable for you to try estrogen replacement, you should consider it. Other options for the treatment of bone loss include bisphosphonates (such as alendronate (fosamax)), calcitonin (miacalcin), or Raloxifene (evista). I do not know if these other agents will relieve bone pain but they are definitely associated with the improvement of osteoporosis and the prevention of progressive bone loss.
Estrogen deficiency is a well-known cause of bone and joint problems. Subjectively, women will feel very achy when they stop estrogen replacement therapy and the bone pain will resolve when they resume taking estrogen. Objectively estrogen deficiency leads to progressive bone loss that ultimately leads to osteopenia and osteoporosis.
If your gyn onc feels it is reasonable for you to try estrogen replacement, you should consider it. Other options for the treatment of bone loss include bisphosphonates (such as alendronate (fosamax)), calcitonin (miacalcin), or Raloxifene (evista). I do not know if these other agents will relieve bone pain but they are definitely associated with the improvement of osteoporosis and the prevention of progressive bone loss.
