Has anyone out there experienced extra tenderness and sensitivity in their breast tissue and ribs after having covid? I had it lFebruary last year and was referred for a bone scan a month later because my ribs were so painful to the point I was taking what was left of my post surgery pain relief! (I’d completed all my treatment the previous October 2020) thankfully the scan was clear of cancer. However, a year later when I examine myself and press into the tissue around my breast and under arm it is still so sensitive, particularly my ribs.
just wondering if this has been a problem for other people after surgery/treatment who’ve also had covid? It’s pretty stressful because I’m always wondering if it’s painful because of covid, radiotherapy effects or if the cancer is back?
i regularly refer myself back for checks but this does add to the general post treatment anxiety. I’m counting down to my 2nd mammogram in April.
I had a mastectomy and FAC in 2016, followed by chemo and then radiotherapy. I did all my exercises and have no signs of lymphodoema, just a small seroma once or twice. About two weeks after I completed radiotherapy, I experienced extremely tender ribs and sore breast muscle around the treated area. Chemo had led to neuropathy which means I experience distorted pain. I also experience ‘phantom nipple’ which is a bit disconcerting.
I still have it but am taking pregabalin which has reduced it considerably. Now, I am able to massage the muscle pain away, though the ribs remain ‘bruised’. I’ve elected not to wear my prosthesis so I can go bra-free and avoid friction. Not a great look but it’s my body and I’m ok with it.
I’m sorry I am not being encouraging. Maybe I’m unlucky, maybe it’s normal. When I’ve tried to follow it through, I’m told that some women experience this. The important thing is that it’s not cancer. Your tests showed that and nothing has changed since so you can be reassured it’s not bc again. If it’s like mine, it’s nerve damage caused by radiotherapy. It may improve with time if you stop prodding it and I recommend gentle circular massage (always ending with brushing towards your breast-bone or your waistline where a healthy lymph system will be). It’s always wise to be alert for signs of recurrence but pain isn’t a common symptom, as far as I’m aware. There’s a big difference between being alert and being preoccupied and anxious - you really don’t want to find yourself anxious all the time that it’s coming back. Jan x