Would really appreciate some advice please! I had a WLE and axillary node clearance 4 months ago and am currently halfway through 6 cycles of TAC chemo. Over the past 3 or 4 weeks I have been very sore around my ribs, armpit and shoulder of the same side as my op. I am really worried that this could be the cancer spreading. I know I need to speak to the doctor about this when I go for my review on Monday but am not sure I dare to as when I went for my last review I mentioned a lump on my breast. They cancelled my treatment and sent me to see my surgeon who confirmed that it was scar tissue which was a big relief but this delayed my chemo for a week. I’m worried that if I mention this pain they will delay my treatment again.
Has anyone else had this sort of pain post op? I would really appreciate any responses. Not sure what to do for the best!
Thanks
Becky xxx
Hi Becky, you really must mention this to your onc. They may give you a bone scan or CT scan to check it out, this won’t delay your chemo. A lot of the niggling pains turn out to be nothing, but as with me, its not always the case and I was diagnosed with secondaries to my bones part way thru my chemo for primary BC. Dont panic tho - this may not be the case with you, but I would recommend you check it out - if only to give you peace of mind! All the best, Debbie xx
Hi Debbie,
Thanks for your reply! Did you have pain before your secondaries were diagnosed? I had a bone and CT scan before I started my chemo, do you think something could develop that quickly? My onc did say that my cancer was behaving like a grade 3. It’s hard not to panic about every ache and pain isn’t it?
I hope you are doing well Debbie.
Thanks again.
Becky
Hi Becky - Like Debbie suggests certainly mention the aches & pains to your onc. I had bi mx & full clearance and had terrible pains in my shoulders and armpits. I told my onc about them and had CT & MRI scans but they showed nothing of concern.
My surgeon has since told me that pains in the shoulder & armpit are very common following breast surgery. Hope this helps to put your mind to rest a little bit, as we do enough worrying don’t we?
Hi lella,
Thanks for that, that sounds very reassuring. I may calm down a bit now lol. I’m not too panicky most of the time but am having a bit of a bad day today - doesn’t happen very often as I have 2 toddlers so things have to stay as normal as possible for them which is actually a big help for me too. Don’t know what I’d do without them!
Thanks again. Hope your recovery is going well xxx
I finished TAC x 6 about 8 weeks ago now and I do remember about half way through chemo I had really bad pains in my rib area under the breast where the lump was. It was a dull ache that went on for a couple of weeks and I thought the cancer had spread to my liver!
My Onc had a good feel round the area and wasn’t concerned. I mentioned about pain in the ribs but he didn’t want to do any scans, he just put it down to surgery or muscle ache from the TAX.
After my 4th chemo I didn’t get the pain again.
I think you can get all sorts of muscle and bone pain with tax for a while after chemo too. I would still mention it to your Onc to be sure.
Hi Amanda,
Thanks for your reply. It’s really nice to hear from someone else who has had TAC, there doesn’t seem that many people who have it compared to the others. Your experience sounds very much like mine and has given me the confidence to mention it to my onc! Thank you so much.
Hope you are doing well xxx
Forgot to mention that I too had TAC chemo and suffered terrible bone & muscle pain, mainly shoulders, hips and ankles. Still do 3 months on - some days I hobble round like an 90 year old!
There’s no doubt the surgery & chemo gives you all sorts of aches and pains but it’s a small price to pay isn’t it.
Just to put another perspective on this. I’m two and a half years out from surgery (WLE and node clearnce) and two years out from chemo, but I still have pains in my shoulder, neck and underarm area. I’ve had my scans etc and it’s fine.
You should get it checked out but the chances are that everything is OK.
Found this threat by accident but it applies to me too. I’m considering having a scan done privately to put my mind at rest. My boob is lumpy too which is additionally worrying.
I know that there’s a good chance it’s all nothing but I guess this sort of stuff will probably always scare me now.
Hi Jo, its not easy trying not to worry is it? I had my lumpy boob checked and it was internal scar tissue from the lumpectomy. I was getting pain down my leg similar to sciatica recently and saw my GP about it - from there I had scans and they have found a small tumor on my lower spine - they are leaving it for 3 months as the pain is under control. What I am trying to say is, I think you should take any concerns to your GP and ask to be seen for scans - why should you have to pay privately - you are entitled to be seen on the NHS. I always get any concerns checked out - it doesnt matter if it turns out to be nothing, you should too. All the best Debbie x - (the chances are it will be fine x)
I think the rule should be if you are worried then you need it checked. I know that sometimes we think we are being paranoid, keep putting things off, I should know do it all the time. Oh I have rib soreness and discomfort and its two and a half years post rads. We have to ask and get things checked.
All the best Alice
