I was diagnosed with breast cancer just over 3 years ago, I had the tumour removed and then a 4 week course of radiotherapy and I am now taking tamoxifen. A couple of months ago I started getting pain in my ribs at the right front and in my back, this has got steadily worse to the point that I can only sleep on my right side and turning over in bed is so painful that I don’t attempt it, sitting down is ok if I have plenty of cushions to support me, but if I sit in a chair without cushions I am in agony, walking about and doing housework is fine and unless I really exert myself and I don’t have any pain.
At first I thought I had strained something but eventually went to see my GP who asked whether I had mentioned it at my breast clinic appointment, I didn’t because I didn’t associate having had breast cancer with sore ribs! I am now booked to have a bone scan next week where a radio active substance will be injected into me followed a couple of hours later by the scan.
Has anyone else had this procedure and how long does it take before you get the results?
I had the bone scan three years ago at diagnosis (because I had obvious node involvement).
The scan itself takes about 20 minutes, and may involve two or more sets of scans being taken. They inject the radioactive stuff then send you away for at least two hours before the scan. You lie on a metal bed fully clothed as far as I can recall (think you have to take off anything metal) and a big flat metal plate passes slowly along your body only a couple of cm away from you. I closed my eyes when it passed over my head - I think most people do!
I had my results by phone after a couple of days, but it may be possible for them to tell you there and then (though if they are concerned they are less likely to). Apparently lots of people have ‘hot spots’ that could be arthritis or old breaks, so even if they find something it does not automatically mean bad news, it just means it needs careful interpretation.
Hope that helps, and really hope you get good results.
I am in a similar position. Really painful lower back started about three weeks ago. Oncologist asked for MRI scan at my routine appointment, then surgeon asked for bone scan when I saw him a week later. So, to date, I have had the MRI and am awaiting a bone scan. In the meantime, I am on painkillers 4 times a day and to be honest, they don’t really ease the pain. It gets worse when I walk and then the pain spreads to my shoulders. I am seeing my oncologist tomorrow for MRI results. I am hoping this is a ‘belt and braces’ approach so that they can rule out anything sinister, but will be happier when I have heard the results.
After that, I guess I will be looking at physio or an osteopath to sort me out, so hopefully the more information I have, the easier it will be to find a solution.
I know the back pain could have come on anytime and is probably not related to what has happened so far, but it just adds to the vulnerability that we all feel a lot of the time after diagnosis.
If I get any useful advice, I will post again - in the meantime, thinking of you and hoping you find some respite from your rib pain.