Hi Everyone. I had a double Mastectomy in December 2014 after a diagnosis of stage three cancer in my right breast and also had over forty lymph nodes removed from my right armpit. I opted to have a double mastectomy because I did not want a reconstruction of my right breast and did not want to be lopsided forever! I had chemotherapy, radiotherapy and a year on Herceptin and then the pain began!!! Some days I am fine but other days I have excruciating pain in either my right chest side, left chest side or both. It can radiate round to my back as well. To begin with every little pain makes you panic and I used to visit oncology on a regular basis, I was told it was nerve endings repairing themselves and every six months I had an MRI scan just to check nothing sinister with causing this pain. The last MRI I had was in February of this year and even the oncologist is unsure why I am still having such severe pain. It comes and goes, it can last days or disappear for weeks then return again with a vengeance. Nothing seems to trigger it off at all, doing anything strenuous etc… I moved House last November and handled an awful lot of boxes, I waited for a backlash of pain and it did not happen but a month later it was back again. Is anyone else suffering with long term chronic pain? I was one of the January Gemstones for 2015. Sarah 
Hi Shennar, I’m just checking in to reassure you really. I had my op last year and have been told to expect pain for some time. However , four years does seem very long , and no wonder you are fed up with it. Have you tried TaiChi or yoga to help push through the pain? Meditation is part of these sessions and I find it useful to practice on my bad nights. I’m hoping you get a few more replies from people in your position which will help you. In the meantime I’m sending a gentle hug. X