I know we all worry about every little ache, but I had an Mx and nodes removed in April (4/22 infected). I’m am just coming out of chemo, with rads soon and Tamoxifen. A few years ago (at least 2, but can’t remember!) I had a pain in my lower right ribs. Felt a bit like a chest infection, so I went to the doctor who said no sign of infection, but to come back if it didn’t go. It did, so hooray. Didn’t get it again for a year, then same thing happened, but it went again. Now it’s returned. So rationally I don’t think it’s cancer, as if it was well surely it wouldn’t go for ages, then come back.
A friend of mine says she thinks it’s low level IBS. Must admit I do think I have IBS, and if you google rib pain with IBS, lots of people mention it as a symptom. Also, I had bone and CT scans at diagnosis which came back clear. I’ve mentioned it to the Onc, who said it’s persistent pains that worry them and as mine is intermittent she’s not worried. So what do you wise women think? Should I try and stop being paranoid or has anything else had similar which has turned into bone mets?!
i dont have secs but feel that your pain existed before you had BC and you had scans at the outset which would have showed up some evidence of bone mets if it had been lurking away un-noticed for the last couple of years… so i think your naturally concerned in the same way anybody is post cancer diagnosis.
but your consultant is the expert and im sure if she/he was concerned in anyway they would be whipping you back in for more scans.
hope you can get to the bottom of your pains though… perhaps seeing your GP and trying something like fybogel and anti spasmodic pain relief would help.
Thanks Lulu. I think I’m low due to being at the end of chemo - got my last of 6 tomorrow (hooray!). Body feels very tired, so lots of me aches a bit. Not sure really why it’s the rib pain which worries me, as the rest just feels logically the result of my body having been through chemo.
Think what I’ll do is try not to anxt and see if the pain goes as I recover from chemo. If it doesn’t go, then I’ll go back to Oncs and also to GP. I know pain in lower right ribs can be Gall Bladder related, so that wouldn’t be good either! Still better than having bone mets though!
Thanks for replying so quickly. Hope you’re doing well. xxj
not sure what age you are but chemo does cause menopausal symptoms especially if it contains cyclophosphamide and menopausal symptoms include bone and join aches due to lack of oestrogen production.
i developed rib, hip and spinal pain on the CMF chemo which seemed to get worse about a month or two after id completed the course, but its now 10 months since my last chemo and it definitely improved during that time.
I had the same chemo as you and ached everywhere by the end - felt like I had aged 50 years! It’s much better now 5 months on - and am finding exercise has helped most with the joint pain. Do get it checked out just in case though.
finty xx
Thanks Finty - Good to hear you’re getting a bit less achey now. Strangely I ache even more now, but as it’s kind of all over my body it’s making me feel better/ less anxty! If the ache in my ribs doesn’t go, I’ll definitely go back and get it checked though. Daft not to really. x