Bone Marrow involvement with bone cancer?

Question

My grandmother was diagnosed with bone cancer two years ago this past fall (unsure if osteosarcoma?) - recent blood counts have come back troublingly low, oncologist concerned that she's suffer metastisis to bone marrow. Is anyone aware of the general time frame associated with this progression? The only information I can find re: bone marrow cancer relates to non-hodgkins lymphoma, multiple myeloma, etc. Only educated answers, please.

Thanks in advance... just trying to prepare myself more thoroughly for the inevitable.

I appreciate the other answers here, and I realize people are only trying to help, but I'm looking for medical opinions and advice. Thanks anyway.

Answer 1

If the cancer is in the bone marrow, it will reduce the number of blood cells produced: depending on what the cancer has metasisied into it would take on the "symptoms " of a blood cancer - so it will depend on the type of cancer blood cells.

While you have given some good information, you have left out critical details to discuss more (like type of cancer blood cells) .

If you go the the LLS.org web site you can get a better idea of what you are dealing with.

Since it is your grandmother, I assume she is older and the prognosis for people with cancer/older is never good.

spend as much time as you can with her and help her accomplish any "unfinished" things she may have.

Good luck,

Jewells
32 months ans still here

Answer 2

Your grandmother's doctor would probably be the only one who could know what time frame they are looking at, and even the doctors are not that sure. On this part I don't think any of us here could be much help.

To prepare for the inevitable, you might watch your grandmother for any changes that she is going through, and adjust to help. If you were in the household, you might start picking up some of the tasks that she does, if she will let you, to allow her to rest more. If you see her less regularly then that, I would suggest you watch for if she is to sleepy or weak to talk much but still wants you nearby. A person can get too tired to keep track of appointments and bithdays, and might like someone helping with that, as it is disconcerting to lose track of thoses things when, at this time, they start to become more important.

Sometimes a person can get too tired to keep track of anything new and has a hard time remembering anything that has happened recently. If your grandmother becomes this declined, I would suggest that you sit next to her and talk about the memories that you have from when you were younger. It takes very little energy for a person to recall old memories and remember happy times past. You would be suprised how much you will start to remember once you start talking or how much she may enjoy it.

If your grandmother gets to this point, I would expect that the time left would be getting short. Some people, even when they are this ill still worry about those people that they love and have taken care of. If it seems a right time and a correct thing to say, you could tell her that you will be alright, that she did a good job and that she is a good person, and that you will look after the folks that she might be worried about, if it is something you can do.

I am sorry for your pain, and hope this is helpful. Please remember that anyone of a large number of medical people can take care of that part of your grandmothers care, but none of them can be a grandaughter. Being a grandaughter is so very much more important and unique for what you can give. My best wishes

Answer 3

I think only a doctor could estimate as each patient is individual, but then again even Doctors are sometimes way off.

My Grandma was diagnosed with intestional cancer and given 6 weeks to live. She lived 2 years after that and passed away just last summer.

Cancer is so tricky and hard and varies from patient to patient.

Just make sure you get to spend the time with her that you can now and ask her the things you want to know about and have her tell you the stories that you would like to hear.

Let her teach you something, even if it is knitting that she wants to teach you, even if you hate it, just do it for her, you will be glad you did. Just make sure you get whatever you can in so that you will not regret the time you didnt take.

She has seen so much and has so much wisdom.

I know its hard because you love her and its hard to see someone you love suffer.

Answer 4

Chemotherapy can sometimes end up causing Leukemia which is found in bone marrow...it sounds like it may have turned from one type of cancer to another for her which definitely happens and its unfortunate. I am very sorry!