Metatarsal stress fracture related to bone metasases, Xgeva, or cancer drugs? - 1293957

sd2011
Posts:3

Recent stress fracture in right 4th metatarsal bone. No traumatic event caused it. does not appear to be metastatic, though I have other bone mets in pelvic bone, ribs due to stage 4 ALK+ NSCLC. Wore a boot for 6 weeks but it did not heal. Have been on Zometa then Xgeva for past 6 years since diagnosis. Been on Brigatinib since July 2014. 2 years of maintenance Alimta before that and 4 rounds of taxol/carboplatin at the start of treatment. I know of possible jaw necrosis and femur fracture with bisphosphonates but has anyone heard of stress fracture? Or any reason why bone would not heal related to any of the above treatments?

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JimC
Posts: 2753

Hi sd2011,

I'm sorry to hear that your stress fracture is not healing. I have not found any mention of Xgeva or the other treatments causing stress fractures, or preventing them from healing, and it is not at all common for lung cancer to metastasize to metatarsals. Such metastases do not usually appear below the knees, although cancer seems capable of anything.

I wish I had a good suggestion for you, other than perhaps a second opinion from an orthopedist, but I hope you can find an answer soon.

JimC
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