Evening every one, I was just wondering if any one still experiences bone pain and aches years on after finishing treatment? I finished Fec-t treatment in May 2012, I found the Tax very hard, the bone pain for me was unbelievable. I have had aches ever since really, hips, knees, feet, ribs. Over the last few months my bones seem to be cracking rather a lot and have back ache on and off. I am wondering if this maybe a long term effect from the Fec-t and if anyone else experiences this? I am not on any further tablets as I was triple negative. Thank you for taking the time to read xx
Hi Stitchyboy
I also finished treatment in 2012 I have my 3 year mamo next month so anxious times, but I have had bone pain throughout, I now have osteoarthritis in my collar bone and shoulder, and I get pain in my hip and knee, I am on tamoxifen so I put a lot of it down to that but It may be due to the chemo & radiotherapy ? I try to just work through it but if any pain really worries me I get it checked out thats how I found out about the osteo arthritis !!
Just wanted to let you know your not alone
L x
Hi I am new to this site so bear with me but I thought Id mention that I am 3 years on after diagnosis and have bone aches especially hip when going up the stairs. Have just started taking cod liver oil to see if that helps? Its amazing what conflicting ideas you get. Consultant says Tamoxifen won’t cause joint problems but GP says it definitely does as Oestrogen lubricates joints so when you are blocking it with Tamoxifen it makes sense it could cause problems! Also still have a lot of itchiness in affected breast. Had lumpectomy, chemo and 19 sessions of radiotherapy. Wonder now if it would feel more comfortable if Id have had the breast removed?.
Hi Stitchyboy.
I finished FEC-T at the end of last July and have had terrible back pain since and the pain in my hips gets really bad when I am walking. It has got to the point that I dread having to walk anywhere which is not good as far as getting exercise goes. However I started taking Anastrozole in November last year and don’t think that helps as far as joint and bone pain goes. Best wishes SML
Hi Stitchyboy,
I also had triple-negative - not many of us out there! And therefore not on hormone medication. My treatment was AC-T - I’m guessing the T is the same (paclitaxel)? That certainly caused aches and pains in my joints, particularly my knees, hips and feet joints. To me it felt like not only the bones, but the muscles or ligaments as well - at the back of my knees especially but also in the little toe joints. My treatment finished in July 2014, so I’m shorter “out” than you, but I did about 4 accupuncture sessions at The Haven (thehaven.org.uk/)) in London and I think that really helped. The pains seemed to all but disappear, but have come back again about 2 weeks ago, although not as bad as before. So I’m not sure this helps, but perhaps it’s just something that takes a long time to resolve completely?
I also think other answers on here re bone and joint health are probably important - it makes sense to me that the hormone shut-down caused by chemo (mine haven’t revived - yet? - I’m 42) would have an impact on bones and joints. I’ve also started taking a Vit D supplement to see if that makes a difference.
Good luck to everybody here - and for moving forward with check-ups, open access systems or whatever. While we all have a lot to be thankful for, we are also given an opportunity to become experts in anxiety management…!!