So worried
So worried Hi everyone,
Just been to GPs with pain in ribs and am being referred back to oncologist. Am so worried and am convinced the dreaded BC is back this time in my bones. Have told my husband obviously, and one friend, but don’t want to tell anyone else because don’t want them all to worry, but not sure how I’m going to get through the next few weeks - keep ‘filling up’ when I think about it all. Wondered if anyone else had experienced sore ribs, and what their diagnosis was? Sorry to be so negative and know I must try to be a bit more positive, but it’s so damned hard!
Love to all, Jean xx
Jean I did have mets in ribs and sternum. Chemo took the aches away so it must have sorted something out. Had bonescan before chemo and MRI after so there was no possible comparison but losing the aches is pretty good evidence.
If you have bone mets you need adequate bisphphosphonates. Suggest you google for the info so that you would be able to make sure you get the best if you need it.
Bone mets are horrid but not move directly to Heaven stuff and they are healed, arrested or at least slowed down by bisphos - no need for the shivers and shakes! Best wishes and hope aches/pains turn out innocent, dilly
Hello Jean Just wanted to say that my partner, Juliet, has had a pain in her rib (towards bottom of ribs on mastectomy side) for over a year now. Started fairly soon after she finished rads. She reported it to onc initially, who sent her for chect x ray. That was clear, thankfully. The pain is still there- bruised feeling if she pokes it or puts pressure on the area. It is no worse though - and probably slowly getting better. Onc said that probably damage done by radiotherapy and may take a few years to clear up! Not sure if this is similar to your situation but just wanted to let you know that there may well be an ‘innocent’ reason for your pains. Incidentally, Juliet has had a number of problems with pains / persistent coughs / twinges. All have gone away - but after a long time. Most seem to have been side effects of treatments…The worst thing is that the symptoms of mets are often so similar to these side effects, makes it all the more worrying.
I very much hope that it all turns out ok for you - and that you do not have to wait too long to see the onc.
Sharon x
What are mets please? there are so many words I don’t know in this horrid new world since bc
mets is short for metastases, this is secondary breast cancer, i.e. when cancer cells spread from their original site to another part of the body other than the breast and regions nearby. In breast cancer they are more common in the bones, lungs and liver.
Not everyone goes on to develop them but unfortunately some do. It’s best to report any pain that doesn’t go away after two weeks, especially in the first few years after diagnosis as if breast cancer is going to come back as mets they are most likely to appear then.
Mole
I know it’s easy for me to say Jean but do try not to worry as it could be a number of things.A cracked rib can take months to heal,and quite often the pain will get worse before it gets better.You could well have done some damage lifting those heavy bags a couple of weeks ago!Your doctor has got to be careful ‘just in case’ the cancer has returned but it may well be something else…Good luck…Big hugs…and fingers crossed.
Thank you all for your lovely reassuring replies. I do feel much more positive today, and you are right, I do have to get it checked out, but I always fear the worst.
Had some good news today at least - results of cervical smear test - and everything there is ‘normal’ thank goodness!
Just like to say what a wonderful site this is, and thank you all again.
Love and hugs to all, Jean xx