It just seems to be there when I over do things and like today when I have stayed at work for longer than I have been.
I have another appointment to see the oncologist at the start of August for a check up so if I’m still feeling it I’ll ask him. I was told by another cancer patient that rad side effects can be with you for years…what joy!!
Phillippa x
Phillipa - My appt with the surgeon is next week and I shall ask him.
I love your photo, by the way.
Ann x
Thanks Ann I appreciate that.
The photo was taken in the Maldives I am very very lucky and have been there three times, I did have a photo of me on the forum taken when the snow was on the ground, but I reckoned that a sunny photo was much more cheerful.
phillippa x
Ummmmmmmm just wondering if I have anything to worry about! I also get really sore and achy around ribs near rads / surgery area - finished rads in Feb 10 don’t have it all the time but quite frequently and get really sore at times. Seeing surgeon on Wednesday but really don’t want to seem a hypochondriac as he said when I was first diagnosed that I’d think every ache and pain would be cancer.
Lazydaisy1 - My appt is Tuesday. Perhaps we can compare notes.
Ann x
Hi Ladies
Just found this thread after posting another about exactly the same problem. Much more reasurred now I have read all your posts. I am due for a prosthesis fitting on the 8th June (finished rads just over 3 weeks ago and boob has been quite ‘active’ - far worse than it was post surgeries so I have been a little worried). Will get it all checked at hospital appointment though. Thanks all for reasurring me a bit although the prospect that this could be long term is not a very pleasant one - still better than bc though :).
Leigh x
Hello Ladies,
I had a WLE and SNB three weeks ago and am waiting for appointment with onc to see about starting rads in a few weeks time.
I thought I would feel much better by now and was feeling a bit of a whimp as I am still getting quite a bit of pain on my op site, it sounds like some people do get ongoing pain for some time. Am I being too soft or is it quite normal to still have to take pain relief at this time?
Best Wishes
Isabelle xxx
Morning Ladies,
I too had a WLE & Sentinal node biopsy 3 weeks ago, at hospital this afternoon for results of op and to be referred to onc (i hope), I too am having quite alot of pain, dont take pain killers every day,just when needed but I too thought I would be over this by now and thought I was a wimp too Isabelle, but maybe not if I’m not the only one
Tracey
xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Ladies hate to break this to you but I had my WLE and SNB in September last year and still feel tender/sore.
My SNB scar is sore pretty much all the time but is healing well and my breast is just tender so if for example someone gives me a hug that is too enthusiastic I can really jump with pain.
All of which I am assured is normal and it is healing well.
At least surgery is over, good luck and take care xxx
Hello Ladies,
Many thanks you have put my mind at rest, so perhaps I’m not really just a whimp after all, didn’t get much sleep with it last night.
I’ve just spoken to a friend on the phone, she had crystals which were benign removed some years ago and when I mentioned that I was still having some pain she implied that I am just soft and that she didn’t take any pain relief after a couple of days, don’t some people just p–s you off, then again she is superwoman at work!
Also my OH thinks I should be ok by now and shouldn’t need any tablets. Mind you he is a farmer and if it was one of his prize bulls or cows he would I think show more concern for them, if you haven’t got four legs and a tail round here you just have to get on with it!!!
Sorry to have a rant, going to see my GP this morning so i’ll see what she has to say, last time I saw her she didn’t even know I had bc!
Best Wishes to you all and thank you,
Isabelle xxx
Hi Isabelle,
Got that rant out of the way!! Lol
Just thought l would try and make you feel better!..
Having had a lump. and aux clearance in March
A clearer margin in April
And a Mastectomy in May.
For all three ops l only had painkillers for the first day, and only because the hospital insisted! My surgeon said he was surprised l hadn’t needed more, but as l explained to him…no sense no feelings! Lol
If you need tablets, then you take them, why on earth should you suffer when there is no need! we are all different, you do what suits you.
As for OH, well we know about these farmers, no pain no gain! tell him where he can shove his thoughts, and tell that prize bull to keep out of the way, while he does so!
Good luck with your GP, hope she remembers you!
Hugs
Sandra xxx
I’m with Sandra on this one - rant away and load up on pain killers - there are no prizes for heroics !
Seriously go easy on yourself. My SNB and WLE scars both would have healed by now if it wasn’t for chemo and rads but the SNB is always gonna take time cause of where it is - your arm moves all the time even when you think you are just sitting on the couch and movement doesn’t help it. Neither does keeping it immobile right enough !!
A tip from me is that after surgery I found it useful to sleep with a pillow underneath my sore side if you know what I mean - that way I couldn’t roll over in the night onto my sore arm cause the pillow was in the way . I don’t need it now but you are only 3 weeks out so it might help.
Hug xx
Hi Anne - hope all went well - thinking of you and loads of positive thoughts winging their way to you - Stephanie xx
Hello Ladies,
Went to the doctors today and she could not have been more helpful, makes a change!!
After checking out my op site she said that there are a couple of large lumps on the underside of the scar and still a lot of swelling ,don’t know why. She gave me codeine,and said I should come back if it hasn’t got any better in a few days,also have another app with her on 1st. July.
At least I felt that I had not turned into a whimp after all! She also said that she’s still waiting for most of my results from the pathology dept.At least she knew why I was there today!
I hope everyone is having a good day today,
Best Wishes,
Isabelle xxx
Hello Ladies,
Went on twice sorry just having one of those days !!!
hi Ann and everyone - just seen the surgeon … well the surgeons accomplice!! and he was sooooooo lovely . Wished I’d had him all the way through. I think he was of ‘Middle Eastern descent’ and around fiftyish but unlike his ‘boss’ he really inspired confidence in my prognosis. He said that the ‘rib’ pain would diminish with time and that all was well. The stabbing pains and swelling ( wasn’t there today damn’ would also slowly go just to be patient. So all in all everything is going to schedule.
Did ask him again about the lack of clearance near the chest wall and rib and he read through my notes and said there was no evidence of this and that I must have ‘misunderstood’. As if! two doctors said this and I saw a letter on the computer stating that it was a cause for concern even my husband confirmed it as he has been in each time I’ve had a consultancy. Anyway you cannot fight the system so I’ll monitor myself very carefully even if I am labeled a hypochondriac.
hi lazy daisy my front and back margins werent clear either but they dont normally worry about these as its very rare to get rumours in your muscle (back margin on chest wall) or into the skin (front margin) and that the rads would zap those areas anyway.
i asked 2 or 3 different consultants and all said the same thing so im not worried about it.
as for the discomfort it could be a long wait for the rib and breast pains to diminish… im almost 4 years past my first lot of treatment and still have boob pains on that side (and very annoying itch) and im 1 year past surgery and 6 months post chemo on the other side and have had rib pain for around 9 months but not as much boob pain but the occassional shooting one.
Lx
Thanks Lulu for advice - will stop wittling now ( Bedfordshire phrase for being a right old pain in the …) Sxx
Hi All
My ops were November 09 with rads in Feb/March 2010 and recently I have found that my breast is a lot more painful (more painful than it was when I was having rad treatment, it feels more swollen than it was (almost like it does before a period?) I also find if I lay on it during the night it aches when I wake up. I’m putting it down to more driving as I am now back at work full time and lifting files etc, if it was lymphodaema (sorry about the spelling) what would the symptoms be - I didn’t have anything removed from under my arm?
Phillippax
Hi Stephanie - So glad your appt went well. I also saw an accomplice. She told me that it can take up to two years to recover physically and mentally and that pains in the breast were normal, so no need to worry(!). She quickly examined me and said that most problems are discovered by the patient, not by mammograms or medical examinations and just to be vigilant. She said that most recurrences happen within the first two to five years, but more often in the first two years. I am due to have my first mammogram since surgery around September. I see the onc in October and then the surgeon six months after that.
Phillipa - my breast is still uncomfortable if I lie on that side and if I lift anything heavy, as I have said before. My op was last September, rads Dec/Jan. I just think this is normal now.
Ann x