I’m hoping that someone on here has a similar experience.
I was diagnosed with BC in 2007. Had maestectomy, chemo & radiotherpay. I was then put on Tamoxifen but couldn’t take it.
I have experinced pain in my ribs for some condierable time now. I did raise this with the Oncology team when I was taking Tamoxifen. They said that it was probably a side effect and were not worried as it the pain was not there all of the time.
I am now two years on and still suffering the pain. It isn’t unbearable and is worse at some times than at others.
I have relocated so no longer have contact with the oncology team who treated me. I’m not sure if I should contact the team locally or if I am concerned for nothing?
Hiya
i too have had rib pain, and i know a few other ladies have. Mine started after wle and chemo but before rads. Rads can cause rib probs apparently but i know it didnt cause mine. However it did start just after i started my tamoxifen. It comes and goes, is a niggle rather than an acute pain. Also it moves round, isnt always in tge same place. My oncologist pressed and pushed all round my abdomen and ribs but didnt seem too concerned. My best mate is a breast oncology Consultan. Snd had been on the recieving end of many sobbing calls about it, she exsmined me too and isnt concerned. Apparently the history i gave doesnt concern them! But i wld def find your new nearest oncology team and speak to them, if only for yr peace of mind.
Kerry - as tors says it is common, but you should none the less get it checked out. Incidentally, I had a rib met and felt no pain, and pressing it didn’t hurt either.
I have just rather coincidentally posted a question about bone mets on another discussion thread - this was in connection with rib pain too. My pain is a new one although I do remember having niggles in my rib after my mastectomy.
Like you, I would be grateful to hear anybody’s experiences.
I had a lot of jabbing and stabbing pains after rads. I’m 4 years on and still get it from time to time, right in the bottom 2 ribs. I also find I get a bit itchy there and have to watch certain bra fabrics. My onc told me the pain should be reported if it’s constant, feels as if it’s in the bone and keeps you awake at night.
Its almost 7 years now since I had breast cancer. I had radiotherapy and took Tamoxifen. I have been absolutely fine while on the Tamoxifen and only came off it in November. But three weeks ago I started with this really bad pain under the breast. Up until a couple of days ago I couldn’t keep a bra on for more than a few hours. I have had x-ray on the ribs, but its normal. The GP now thinks its a thickening under the breast due to the radiotherapy and is pressing on some nevers. He has prescribed some tablets to relieve the pain, and I have to go back in two weeks. I have asked if there is any way they can definitely tell if thats what it is, and he says I can probably had an Isotope test at Christie’s which will tell me if this is the case. Has anyone else had this pain.
Its now 7 years since I had breast cancer. I had a lumpectomy and all lymph glands removed under my right arm as a precaution. I had radiotherapy and used Tamoxifen. Last year I had a very bad dose of Lymphodoema due to using crutches for 3 weeks. And this last 3 weeks I have been suffering with rib pain under the same breast. The x-ray has come back normal. My GP thinks it is being caused by a thickening under the breast which is an after-effect of the radiotherapy, and is pressing on some nerves. This probably also explains the numbness in my hand which happens every few days. He has prescribed some tablets to relieve the pain, and will refer me to Christie’s for an Isotope test so I can be sure it is the radiotherapy that has caused this. Has anyone else had any similar problems.
Thank you again for all the comments, support and reassurances.
The pain I suffer is on both sides not just where I had RADs and I realised recently that although it isn’t terrible I am sort of compensating for it in my posture (slightly stooped) because it is uncomfrotable if I straighten up.
The research nurse has come back to me and is going to get me a direct referral to the oncology team locally.
A bit of a pain (pardon the pun) as I am just about to go for reconstruction and was hoping that the whole chapter would be behind me by the end of summer. Fingers crossed it’s nothing and doesn’t affect my long awaited surgery date
I have some rib pain but it’s nothing to the pain in the boob where I had the tumor removed. However my consultant tells it will take 6 months or so for it to settle. (Only another 4 to go) I can handle the physical pain and constant tiredness but now I’ve had time to stop and think the mental angush is exhausting. Is anyone else the same?
Mary Poppins
I took up meditation and also had counselling for the psychological stuff. I pretty much went through the menopause on Taxotere without knowing it as I had no hot flushes or anything. My periods just stopped with the first dose of chemo and that was it. After I finished all the treatment including Herceptin I started getting panic attacks; also a recurrent nightmare about forgetting to take medication and it having dire consequences. This would wake me up at 2.30 every morning and was so real I’d be rooting around in my bedside drawer for the pills I thought I had “forgotten” and my OH would have to talk me round and get me back to bed.I was more worn out with all the interrupted nights than I was on chemo half the time and it was putting my nerves on edge.
The counselling sessions I had for this really helped me and I calmed down after a while, only experiencing the nightmare every few weeks or so. I finished treatment in 2008 and only get the dream at odd times, usually if I’ve got a bit stressed about something. The good thing is, if I do get it I can bat it away and go back to sleep again. I’m 4 1/2 years on from diagnosis and manage to cope fine now without dwelling too much on things.
Hi Ladies. I am suffering too with rib pain. Ever since my op in Nov 09 I constantly feel as if I have been kicked in the ribs by a horse… I am now also suffering with pain in my back shoulder and arm. I had a lumpectomy, radiotherapy and am on Tamoxifen. I have a great consultant who has sent me for all the scans I could have, bone density scan, bone scan, ultrasound, etc. Luckily all these tests have come back clear so there is nothing sinister going on, but it doesn’t help me wishing that they could give me an explaination for the pain. I am off work now (I am a barmaid) as I was struggling to pull pints and reach for glasses. I am waiting for an appointment for the chronic pain clinic. I am so fed up with all the disrupted sleep, feeling tired and worn out all the time, and not being able to get comfortable. I hope it doesn’t last forever…
