Hi I was diagnosed with Triple Breast Cancer just 12 months ago. I was started on chemo and immunotherapy in Sept , before surgery and radiotherapy
After 3 cycles of immunotherapy, it had to be stopped as my consultant thought it had triggered Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR).
I had surgery on the 2nd of Jan, and 13 sessions of radiotherapy in March
Since late February symptoms have worsen, with effectively constant pain in my knees and hips, and burning pain in my hips during the night. Occasionally my right leg feels numb, and other articulations (elbows shoulder and fingers also flare up)
The pain has gone worse to the point it is affecting my daily life. I cannot walk more than 1hr /at a reduced pace. Pain/burning sensation in my hips & knees wakes me at night up however I cannot take any pain killer as I am under ibandronic acid and cannot take anything other than water in the 6 hours prior.
I was 1st referred to physio, but to be fair that is not really helping (even though I understand the exercise will help strengthening everything)
I also saw a rheumatologist, but she was very dismissive and just said she didn’t thing it was ever PMR, without really telling me or planning to investigate what it could be.
Last week i ended up in A&E as I simply could not move my right knee, never mind stand or walk. Xrays showed possible pseudo-gout.
The pain in my left hip is near enough constant just varying in level (of pain)
I know menopause (i am 54) can cause joint pain, but I am only 8-9 months older than I was when chemo/imuno treatment finished so is it really due to menopause ??
As mentioned, this is impacting my ability to keep as active as I was pre-diagnosis, and I am just putting weight on as a result- Overall its juss getting me down, how can I be more in pain now that I was during treatment ?
I am just wondering whether anyone has experienced this. Is it normal ? Is there a link between immunotherapy and joint pain ? Or even with Chemotherapy ? Will the pain go away ? what causes it, and where can I go next (I just feel that all the GP I have seen are just fobbing me off…)
On the plus side, I got a Complete Pathological Response diagnosis post surgery so I know the Immunotherapy and the Chemo worked