Hi All
Have to be quick as at work!!
basically I had a bad back at xmas and GP said it was nothing to worry about it was a facet joint problem . It went a week later.
However . . . .it came back last week and I am now so scaerd as I keep getting twinges in my hip as well!! I keep thinking that if it was mets it wouldnt go for 3 months and then come back but I cant be rational!!
ALso I had a full blood count 2 weeks ago for something else which was normal - if it was mets would it show up on that??
Any help appreciated as am a gibbering wreck!
Love to all
Alise x
Hi Alise
Please feel free to contact our helpline team, which includes specialist breast care nurses and volunteers who have had an experience of breast cancer themselves, for support and further information on your concerns on 0808 800 6000 they are open Mon - Fri 9am - 5pm and Sat 9am - 2pm.
Best wishes
Katie
Hi Alise
To be honest it could be nothing, and probaby is but you can’t know that.
If you are really worried and you have ongoing pain you simply cant have any peace of mind until you bring your concerns to your medical team. OK Full blood counts are not a guarantee that everything is OK - but its ffar better than the opposite (ie calcium being totall off the scale), its totally possible to have normal blood counts and have secondary cancer. I dont want to scare you - just to make the point that speculation is pointless you have to act once you turn into a gibbering wreck.
As a by the by - I had lots of rib pain years ago and everything was fine - the pain just disappeared about three days after a bone scan, then when i did have bone mets - no pain at all!
love
cathy
Hi All
It’s the jibbering wreck here - does anyone else know if the pain can disappear for a while and then come back - I don’t want to go to my GP as I am never away . . . . . . . . . .!
Love Alise
PS Thank you cathy for your thoughts
Hi Alise
I too have had hip pain. Are you on tamoxifen?-this can cause joint pain.
I went to my GP a few weeks ago who thought we ought to investigate the pain so went for x-rays but they were clear. It’s only natural to think the worst.
My hip pain has settled but still aggrevates sometimes. Speak to your GP if you are really worried.
Hope this helps?
Love Gill x
Hi Gill
Thank you for replying.
I am on tamoxifen - have been for over two years. My GP wont even look at my back now - she just says it’s a facet joint problem.
Did your hip pain settle after the xray? When I had rib pain it went overnight after it was investigated and told my chest xray was clear - I know the mind is powerful in prolonging these things!
Love Alise x
Alise,
I understand your anxiety. I’m waiting for results of rib pain at the moment. I was told that cancer bone pain usually is constant and worse at night. Also worse on exercise. I dont fit this criteria either but i’m still terrified. You must get it investigated though, even if its just for your peace of mind! Get a 2nd opinion if necessary.
Love Julie XXX
Right now I think I am going to flip!! Help someone???
I rang my onc and said my Gp said it was a facet joint problem and described my symptoms. he said he was sure it was as it did not sound by the symptoms to be sinister BUT - he said to ease your mind you can have a bone scan!!!
I nearly passed out. Why oh why is he suggesting that if he is “sure” it’s nothing sinister???
Please can someone confirm that pain that comes and goes and is not constant is not mets???
Have to go for a vile bone scan on Monday now and I have never had one before - why oh why did I ask??
Love Alise x
Hi there, wishing you well, bone scan is okay - really, much better than MRI (for me anyway) and I am the biggest baby when it comes to anything needle like.
I too have a constant hip pain, only at night and it’s dull thudding. I’ve just had a bone scan and they said it was mild arthritis - ha ha. I am not convinced - Arimidex is bad for joints so I’m putting it down to that and taking pain killers at night to help me sleep.
Next check up I will bring it up again and get another scan.
It is better to ask lots of questions…really it is.
Kx
Alise
Don’t panic. After my dx, I asked how they could tell whether the cancer had gone to the bones and they offered me a bone scan to put my mind at ease. I have had no other scans so presume that a bone scan is less costly than MRI’s etc. I was fine but I now have very painful joints and an aching right foot. I too have convinced myself it is bone mets but know deep down that I need to lose weight and that the Tamoxifen is probably not helping. The bone scan is easy but I did feel a bit strange after they injected me with the dye they use. Could be because it was icy cold out of the fridge.
Please don’t worry. I am sure you are fine but I know how you feel. Let us know how you get on
Love
Debbie
xx
Thank you all for replying.
Scan is on Monday - I am lucky to be in a private health scheme through work so at least everything gets speeded up. Problem is I have my annual check with onc 9 days after that and he said he will let me know the resluts at that . . . Arrrrrrrrgh - how will I get through 9 days.
My husband has gone mad and asked why I put myself through these things but they really don’t get it do they? If I don’t I it will be making me think the worst everytime I have a twinge.
The other thing I am scared of is do bone scans pick up all other kinds of things that you were in blissful ignorance about such as arthritis, bone degeneration etc - does anyone know?
Love to all
Alise x
Hi again Alise
Yes my hip pain has has reduced though it still troubles me at times.
You will have peace of mind once you’ve had the scan-nothing to be scared of! It is absolutely vile the way we get so scared of every little ache and pain-but that it the nature of BC I guess! Better for you to be checked out than ignore it!
I’ve had conflicting advice from hospital and GP too!
Good luck and let us know how it went.
Love Gill x
Hi All
Had the dreaded bone scan today! Was SO scared. As I am private I was told results would be at my consultants clinic on Wednesday. Problem is I am due to see him the Wednesday after for yearly check up and he said he will give me them then.
I really dont feel I can wait that long as I feel I am going mad already but by the same rule I dont want to ring this Wednesday as am too scared!!!
I know I am low risk but that somehow makes it worse because I feel that this time my luck will run out.
What should I do ??
Love to all
A very stressed out Alise x
Alise I too am terrified all the time and now I’m panicking again.Heres why.I have off and on pain in my upper back,never at night,not severe always connected with exercise esp.lifting.I was told it was definitely miuscular and that bone mets were not directly affected by exercise.Now someone says they are!I also read a magazine article on back pain which said you should see your GP ‘straight away’ if you had had cancer and had back pain ‘at chest level’[mine is].I just saw my onc on April 22nd and he said it was fine,no scans needed.What do you think?horacexx
Hi Horace
Sorry to read that you are so worried, please feel free to call our helpline for further support and advice from our team of specialist breast care nurses. The number to call is 0808 800 6000 and the line opens Monday to Friday 9am-5pm and Saturday 9am-2pm.
Best wishes
Lucy
Hi Horace
It’ s the pits isn’t it? If you do have these scans you are petrified but if you dont you just imagine the worst anyway. I am sure your onc wouldn’t take any risks - if he thought there was ANY chance you had mets he would have sent you for a scan. Don’t forget he examined you. If however only a scan would stop the horrible thoughts why dont you ask for one - they will do them for “peace of mind” which is what mine is supposed to be for.!!
My onc was adamant that pain that comes and goes aand is not constant is not sinister.
I am still a jibbering wreck today and th epain feels a million times worse than ever but I know it’s because I am thinking of nothing else!!!
Love Alise x
Hi Alise
Sorry to hear what you’re going through.
Could you ring your consultant’s secretary, explain what a gibbering wreck you are and ask if the consultant could ring you as soon as they have the results. My consultant was very good at ringing me when I had questions or if results were ready. He even texted me once!! Hopefully they are aware just how anxious we get and he won’t mind.
Something to think about. If there is a problem (and I hope there isn’t) would you want to be told on the phone? Also if there is, it would give you the chance to get over the shock and write down all the questions you’d have before your check up next week.I found the not knowing was excruciating. It was easier to cope when I knew what I was dealing with. Everyone is different though.
I won’t say don’t worry because clearly you are. I hate it when people say it to me - they have no idea do they?
Will be thinking of you.
let us know how you get on.
fantan xxx
Hi girls
Got results brought forward and when I got there told I needed more back xrays. I nearly passed out. Anyway it turns out I have arthritis in my spine which showed on bone scan but no mets . Feel emotionally drained - I spent half an hour in xray deciding how I would tell my children.
So “good news” if you can call arthritis in your spine good!
Love and luck to all
Alise x
For us love that is very good news!!
What a relief! Try rosehip capsules for the arthritis 2 friends with arthritis in knee and hip were told by different consultants to take them.
fantan xx