Hi all
So I had breast cancer 12 years ago. Had a mastectomy, node clearance, chemo and rads etc and have been on hormone treatment since.
Last few years I’ve had intermittent aching in my arm and shoulder (same side).
Last few weeks pain in arm pit and ache seems to be most of time. I’ve previously put it down to doing paddle boarding or lifting grandson etc but now worried.
Earliest GP appt is 9 days time unless I ring for urgent same day appt but don’t want to be a fraud.
I have oesteoarthritis which could be the cause? 
Trying not to worry as don’t want to ‘go back there’ again!
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I’m 11 years on and unfortunately it’s still the first place my mind goes when anything a bit different happens with my body . If you hadn’t had breast cancer you probably would just think it’s my arthritis or I’ve strained myself wouldn’t you ?
If you can get a same day appt I would go for it ,not because it will make the slightest difference to any diagnosis but because they may well send you to breast clinic as a precaution and why have all this anxiety hanging over you any longer than necessary ?
Hope you get your mind put at rest quickly .
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I’m 3 years on from diagnosis. Every ache and pain, my first thought is about cancer. I think it’s our default. I agree with @Jill1998 that getting a same day appointment would help to put your mind at rest a bit. I have open access for life to my breast clinic, if you do, you could call a breast nurse helpline direct.
I hope you get some answers soon.
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As you have previously had bc, you are not being a fraud. An ache in the arm pit can be a sign. It doesn’t mean it’s come back but I would go for that same day appointment, there really is no need to be waiting. The sooner you get it looked at the sooner you can get on with your life. Good luck 
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Please don’t feel like a fraud for calling for a same-day appointment. With your history, it’s completely justified to get this checked out quickly, even if it’s just your arthritis acting up. The peace of mind alone is worth it. Sending you lots of love!
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Just wondering if you managed to get an appointment and what happened.
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Thanks. I rang the surgery but unfortunately they only had a male paramedic available.
I am however seeing a GP on Tuesday who I am comfortable with so just trying not to think about it at the moment! X
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I agree it’s best to see the GP, I saw a physician associate who only has two years training and she told me my lump wasn’t anything to worry about as it wasn’t irregular. Little did she know they don’t have to be. The breast surgeon said she would never say that to a patient and a biopsy is the only way to say for definite. I did complain and say that all presenting with bc symptoms should see a GP only. Senior partners agreed.
Be thinking of you Tuesday.
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Thanks everyone for commenting.
GP things the shoulder pain is arthritis but not sure about the arm pit pain so am being referred back to breast clinic.
Hopefully nothing but same side of cancer and I had spread into lymph nodes then 12 years ago so had auxiliary clearance.
More waiting!
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Hi just wondering if you’ve had physio etc since your surgery and treatment. I regularly do Pilates to stretch out which helps.
However I’ve developed some shoulder and arm pain doing the post op exercises and blamed a lot of it on my brief dalliance with letrozole. I then realised that between my lumpectomy, sentinel node biopsy and radiotherapy I’ve been guarding that side and hold my arm at a different angle for months now, In addition I’ve been holding stress tension in my shoulders.
I went for a deep tissue sports massage last week and explained the problem. After an hour of very firm massage and a few therapeutic bruises my whole shoulder area feels better and my arm problems are hugely improved.
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Hi
No I was never offered any physio but tbh never had any issues until now.
Update!
Went to breast clinic yesterday and saw consultant. He could find no lumps on bad side. I had an ultrasound scan which again found nothing.
However, when I said the pain going down my arm was probably arthritis as my GP suspected he said no. He said arthritis pain in the shoulder would not go all the way down arm! Can’t it?
He said the only way to check was to have a pet ct scan the whole body.
Hospital rang me today to book the ct scan. I missed call but feeling stressed as I’ve had so many ct scans over the last 10 years and don’t want to overload my body!
Also, it’s only my arm that hurts the rest of my body is fine!
This is stressing me out now. I don’t want to give myself a higher chance of cancer by having yet another whole body ct scan.
I wanted to chat it over with my GP but no appts for 4 weeks!
Not sure what to do! 
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If the joint damage causes nerve impingement you’d think it might cause that type of pain ?
I guess now to be sure you are going to have to have the scan , always your choice though . Could you get a telephone appt with GP sooner or maybe talk it through with BC nurse or one of the breast cancer now nurses on the helpline ?
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Thankyou.
unfortunately that’s the earliest appt of any kind. I may try and ring the nurses on here. Thanks a good idea! X
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