Hi
I hope this is the correct place for my question. Apologies if it is not.
Background: I’m a 53 year old Irish man living in Thailand. I was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer in September 2011. Subsequently had the mastectomy and lymph nodes removed, followed by 5 sessions of chemo and 25 days of radiation therapy (5 days per week for 5 weeks).
After that I was on 4 monthly check ups and they have now been pushed out to 6 monthly.
Everything healed well and check ups (blood work and xray) were all clear.
Recently I’ve had quite a pain in my lower back which was worse at night. Doing the old Google diagnosis brought me to websites that mention having a history of cancer might have something to do with it. I’m kind of feeling smaller pains here and there (shoulders, chest) that seem to appear then go away. They’re not that painful but they do seem to be there.
I’m hopefully over reacting but I was wondering what are the early signs of cancer mastesising into the bones?
I have an appointment on 3rd September for and xray and something else (it’s in Thai and I can’t quite read it (I don’t want to worry my wife at this stage so I haven’t asked her to translate for me).
Thanks for reading
Mick
Hi Mick
I don’t know much on the subject but do think I would go back before Sept purely for peace of mind. I imagine the aches and pains are due to all the treatment you have had but be good for you to know for sure. I know every pain I have I am wondering if it’s the big C so am thinking of treating myself to some private tests after my radiation.
Hope all is well for you, I am sure it will be but get to the doctor! lol x
Hi Mick
I’m in a similar position to yourself. Had mastectomy , chemo and radio 5yrs ago now. Have been on tamoxifen ever since and consultant says i will need to stay on for quite a few years more.
I was fine up until around 3yrs ago when i had sudden hip pain which was bad at the time. That did settle but basically i am always suffering various aches and pains and stiffness, mainly in hips and lower back. Worse at night or if i’ve sat in a position too long.
My GP put my aches and pains down to me being post menopausal but a recent test shows i might not be??
I am awaiting a bone density scan to check for thinning of bones.
I’m just fed up of feeling like an 84yr old woman rather than a 44yr old!
It would be nice to actually know the cause of aches , pains and stiffness? Whether its the tamoxifen or just after effects of cancer or there is an actual prob with bones.
I’ve had hip xray and mri scan in that area which just showed inflammed deep tissue?
There seems to be many others in our position i think Mick??
All the Best
Natalie