I finished chemo (fec) end of April, followed by 18 sessions of radiotherapy which finished at the end of June, since then I have noticed that my knuckles, wrists, knees and ankles have become very stiff, and quite uncomfortable. Has anyone any tips on how to overcome feeling like an old lady ???
Hi KJ. I wouldn’t have thought the fec or radiotherapy would have made you feel that way. Are you on any other anti-cancer medication? I take Letrozole (Femara) and it has that sort of side-effect.
I find it quite funny (as in peculiar) that I feel stiff and sore getting of a chair (either in work or at home) but not when I’m getting out of bed.
I’d be delighted if someone could tell us how to deal with it.
Hazel
Hi Hazel,
I am not on any other medication as I am triple negative. Its beginning to get me down a bit, as at the back of my mind I am thinking “has it spread to my bones ?” I have an appointment with my oncologist in a couple of weeks so hopefully she can shed some light on the reasons for the aches and pains. I am also feeling quite sensitive at the moment as it is coming up to the first anniversary of finding the lump, then being told that I did not have cancer, but to come back in 6 weeks just to make sure the cyst had gone away on its own. Well it didnt go away, because it wasn’t a cyst it was type 3 breast cancer !!
kj
Hi KJ
I am struggling also with exactly the symptoms you have expressed. I feel like I am about 90 years old with a very bad case of rheumatism !! Knees, ankles, elbows all the main joints !!!
I am also going to check with my GP and oncologist to try and solve this problem. I am also triple negative and our timings of treatment sound very similar.
Its very annoying as these symptoms do not seem to be getting aby better - I can’t walk, dance. walk upstairs and even struggle to get off the loo sometimes - its a real pain in the a…e !!
let me know how you are doing - take care
jackie xx
Hi ladies
I am the same but I am on zoladex, so this would explain the stiff joints.
Could it be anything menopausal???
Best to mention it, they may be able to give yu somrthing to help.
Take care
Angie
xxxxxxxxxxx
Hi,
If
finished chemo in May and am not on any medication. I too have aches in wrists, knees , anklesetc and am very stif in the morning. I discussed with my nurse and it is quite common, they think it was the steroids I was on during . It does get better.
Ruth
Hi
Me too with the stiff aching muscles/joints, finished chemo feb (3 fec and 3 tax) 5 wks rads and on herceptin (x 18) until dec
I have been told at the clinic that chemo can take a year to get out off your system and also other women on herceptin have complained of muscle and joint pain so im assuming its normal side effects but i too have started to worry and will be asking my onc when i see her next week, i feel that bad that i can’t face going back to work yet as i just don’t feel up to it ( been off since aug 07 ) if i bend or kneel my knees feel like they are burning when i get up anyone else feel this
Love To All Mizzy xxx
Hi,
Finished 4 x EC and 4 x Tax on 18th Aug. Was hoping some of the residual stiffness and joint pain would recede a bit, but it hasn’t, and also peripheral neuropathy in toes and fingers hasn’t helped either. I’m at work (after a brilliant holiday!) and it’s OK but it does make me feel a bit more senior citizen than I actually am (54, and always been physically strong and fit).
I find cycling good, been walking loads, and stretches help as well. Was thinking of starting Tai-chi to improve balance and co-ordination but will wait until after surgery. Swimming is also great and loosens up my tired old muscles, but I’m a rubbish swimmer!
A friend swears by some therapies I’ve always been cynical about - reflexology, for example. Maybe this is the time to try them. If there’s a Breast Cancer Haven near you, I think they offer various therapies for free.
L x
All a bit annoying, because I naively thought I’d somehow be straight back to my old self after finishing chemo. Oh well - at least the fatigue seems to be slackening off a bit.
I’m 5 years post treatment and still suffer from aches and pains. I put it down to chemotherapy and Arimidex. Sometimes it’s not too bad. This morning it is b***** terrible. I am truly sick of being so stiff and sore I can barely walk. And today I got no sympathy from my husband who just said “Do you hear me moaning about my stiff neck? No. Stop whinging.” So now I am in a really bad mood. Recently I hurt my shoulder (rotator cuff injury, so the physiotherapist told me) so haven’t done yoga for months which has started a vicious circle of being too sore to move so I get more stiff and move even less. And I don’t sleep well when I sieze up overnight. And the weather here (Scotland) has been cold and wet all summer which doesn’t help one bit. I’m only 52. Feel 92. Moan over! x
I am very sorry Chalee that you feel so full of aches and pains! I am sure that it is the Arimidex. Do you mean that you have stopped taking it FIVE YEARS ago? I have been on Aromasin for a year and a half and I have another year and a half to go, (I was on Tamoxifen for two years) I was hoping that when I stop I shall fell less full of aches and pains! Aromasin is the same as Arimidex. I have been taking strong painkillers but they seem to have no effect after a time. It is pretty miserable. I hope your husband is more understanding in future!