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My sister has breast cancer 10years ago, now she just found out the cancer is back in her spine. The doctor is going to place bone cement in some of her spine areas to help her with the pain and numbness in her left leg. Is this procedure common?

By March 16, 2011 - 6:59am
 
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I am worried because as this bone cement injected in her cancer areas, what is going to happen, where do the cancer cells in her bone site go to create space for this cement, are they going to spread to other areas? Is it a good idea to disturb the tumor this way. Please let me know asap since she is going to have this procedure done any time today or tomorrow. Thank you.

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Hi chihai,
Thank you for your question and for joining EmpowHER. Vertebroplasty is a minimally-invasive procedure that focuses on cancer that has spread to the bones of the vertebra (spine). It is not meant to cure cancer but rather to improve quality of life for the patient so they can reduce their pain. Here are a couple articles I found online about this procedure:
ABC NEWS: Bone Cement Eases Pain of Late-Stage Cancers, and Bone and Cancer Foundation: Surgical Management of Cancer that Spreads to the Bone
Good luck, and let us know how you're sister is doing. I'm positive your sister is glad to have you advocating for her through this difficult time. I'm sorry she (and you) are having to go through this. Please let us know how else we can help.
Take care,
Christine

March 16, 2011 - 8:13am
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