Hi
I finished my chemotherapy treatment in September and I am too getting rib pain-like bruised feeling on the same side as my mastectomy and soemtimes a dragging feeling in the side and in my back. The feeling is more in the ribs below the operation area and sometimes feels like a stich feeling in my side too.
I have not had rads just the chemo for 5 months.
Like to hear your comments and all the best to you all
Well here I am again! Everything is OK apparently. Onc said rib pain is probablty a side effect of TAC. He said it was a s**t drug but did the job and the ‘possible’ long term side effects (in my case numb feet and really watery eyes)along with the ribs have to be weighed againt the ‘cure’. I can go along with that I just wish they would be a bit more forthcoming about long term side effects. A friend of mine had chemo ten years ago and she has the watery eyes side effect still. By the way. my bowels haven’t improved either, I am learning to live with it!!!
Best wishes and love to all
Jennie xx
I too still have pain under ribs, weak watery eyes,peripheral neuropathy,tiredness,no eyebrows but at least I am here to tell you about it.It really is a c**p disease isnt it.[dx 2006]
Hi there,
It’s five years since my surgery and treatment and I have developed pain in the ribs close to where the original cancer site. I’ve had a bone scan and the results are inconclusive. Have to redo everything in three months to see what has happened in between.
It’s so frightening. Everytime I think that I can move on something drags me back again. Almost three years ago I became quite ill and after mri’s was told that the cancer had spread and that I didn’t have long to live and then a week later it was discovered that it was the drugs I was taking that were leaving a deposit in my bones.
I know that I was left uncertain and nervous for a long time after that. Everyone else was just relieved and moved on but it’s hard to do that when you have been preparing to die. Now I’m trying to be positive but this inconclusive stuff if playing with my head.
Lots of questions running round in my head. If it is in my bones I’m guessing that I will die of that at some point. Pretty sure it can’t be reversed. But can it take a long time? Can you live with cancer in your bones for a long time? Have any of you had secondaries in the bone?
Anyone any wisdom or knowledge to share please do,
I’m sad that anyone has to go through this crap. Me or any of you. It’s a poop. Nuala x
Hi Nuala
Welcome to the BCC discussion forums, you’ve come to the right place for support as many of the users of this site have a wealth of information between them.
In the meantime you may find it useful to contact our free helpline on 0808 800 6000, opening hours are Monday to Friday 9.00 – 5.00 and Saturday 9.00 – 2.00.
Best Wishes
June, moderator
Hi Val
I was kind of hoping that my eyebrows would come back but it looks as if they are gone for good! It is kind of comforting though to know that what I have been left with is the same as others. I suppose you could think of it as a kind of club! It is a good job we are able to share our fears and worries, it helps put them in perspective.
Nuala,
sorry to hear your news, you will get loads of support and help here and from the BCC staff, they are wonderful. I have spoken to them a couple of times and been helped through difficult patches.
Love to all
Jennie
Hi Katie61. I don’t want to alarm but I started with pain in the ribs on one side, eight year after my initial diagnosis of breast cancer. I was wrongly diagnosed with costochondritis (inflamed cartilage around the ribs) for eighteen months. A bone scan (that I eventually insisted on) revealed that I had widespread bone mets. Iam doing well and feel remarkably positive but I felt very bitter and resentful that not one doctor had made the connection between pains in the rib area and my breast cancer! All the best to you.
Hi Tangodancer,
Thanks for your message. I have a very tender area yet again! Its under the BC site so Im hoping it is just the Rads, but as that is also where my liver is I’m getting 2 worries for the price of one!!!
I also have tenderness on the other side in my ribs at the back, so that cant be the rads. I’ll do the usual 2 week test and see what happens.
Its almost 2 years since my original DX and in some ways I feel I have come so far, but then something like this crops up and I’m truly petrified…
Katie
Hi everyone
I was quite ‘reassured’ to find this thread. I was diagnosed nearly six months ago, had WLE and sample node removal and finished rads three months ago. For the past month or so, I have had a bruised like pain on my ribs, not far from the WLE site. It seems to be getting worse as time goes on. I was at my GP last week and mentioned it to him. He examined me and told me it was probably inflammation where the cartilage meets the ribs (I can’t remember the name of the condition). He didn’t want to give me anti-inflammatory drugs as I am already taking so much medication, but said to go back if it didn’t improve in a couple of weeks to get anti-inflammatory gel.
However, he didn’t mention any connection to the rads, and he obviously knows I’ve had this. Of course, I’m now starting to worry that it might be bone mets. I was not offered chemo as the stats only showed a 1-2 percent difference in prognosis, and I’m always a bit worried that there might be something lurking in my body.
Am I just being paranoid?? Should I go back and see him and ask about a bone scan, or is this something I should ask my BCN about. I am not due to see my surgeon until January/February time.
Thank. Love and hugs to everyone
Shenagh xx
Hi Shenagh,
Obviously this is really worrying you and if I were you I would speak to your BCN about it and ask her advice. GPs are very good but don’t have the experience to pick up on odd things. I was told by my Oncologist that if I had any worries at all to ring him rather than my GP and I would be seen straight away. But that was because I had chemo as well as rads. Your BCN will know who you need to speak to or see to get this sorted for you quickly.
Best wishes
Nonny
Hi Glad to find this thread as well. I had WLE left breast 10th August09. Finished rads 15th October09 and shortly after started to feel some pain in base of left ribs. This seems to be outside the area of the radiotherapy treatment
The pain seems to come and go.
Will be seeing onc for follow up appointment 25th November so will mention it then.
I don’t know if its pre mammogram paranoia but I have pain in my rib just below where i had my bc (grade 3 Stage 2b feb08). I was due a mammogram but had to hassle the hospital to get it done befor my check up on 14th January. I have this feeling that something is not quite right. I had this feeling before and was dx with bc. I think because if this my mammo is now 5th Jan.My tumour was very close to the chest wall and I had WLE on lower breast so my rib bone is quite prominent. I had chemo and rads so hoping it is rads pain. Anyone had this problem ??
Rachy xx
Hi have you tried juicing and barleymax.I know this is an old thread but hope I are doing well.
Having u tried juicing and barleymax powder from hallelujahacres.com lots of great testimonies.Hope u are doing well.