Am approx 18 months past treatment and for the last month have had very painful ribs, starts under armpit and goes across the breast area. Have had a bone scan a few months ago so I know it’s nothing ominous, can this be the effects of radiotherapy? It is the area I had zapped.
Does anyone else have this or know anything about it?? Thanks xx
Bumping xx
Hello, I have had a similar pain in my ribs just under the breast and slightly to the left Under the armpit. My surgeon told me that it wasn’t unusual and nothing to worry about. I recon its wher the radiotherapy zapped me on that side as it was positioned right on that spot. I would mention it to your surgeon or ring the Breast Care Nurse at your hospital for reassurance. my radiotherapy finished a year ago and I’ve had this pain on and off since then as well as shooting pains, twinges and all sorts but personally I’m not too concerned but I do mention it when ever I see my surgeon. Ps I had a lumpectomy, I’m assuming you had same. Hope this helps.
Dorsetgirl: How many weeks did you have radiotherapy over? Did they tell you how much radiotherapy you would/did receive. Where did you have your WLE (which area of the breast)? e.g. upper right quandrant, lower left etc on which breast. I’m asking because i have to see the ongologist on tuesday and will ask ertinent questions regarding rib damage/pain.
Thanks in anticipation
ertinent = pertinent.
Hi again, my cancer was on the left side, not sure how to describe where but hopefully you will understand this description, the upper part of my cleavage on the top part of the breast. It was 1.5 CMs and aggressive, Strongly ER. nodes clear. I had 15 doses of Radio and 3 x boosters. I dont know offhand the amount of radiation I recieved. Hope that helps, would be interested to hear what your Onc says.
Thanks Dorset girl i’ll post what he says about rib damage/pain. I think I did read somewhere that there can be pain for a year or so but that it settles down.
Thanks again for responding before the thread got lost.
Thank you Dorsetgirl and toriaconey, I did have little twinges etc after ops and RT but this is different it’s lingering and painful. I am seeing BCN tomorrow so will ask then I did read a while ago that symptoms can occur years after RT, maybe it has nothing to do with it at all, just interested to see if others have the same. xx
Hi Katyc,
I also get pain in my ribs, 2 years after bilateral mastectomy, chemo but no rads, mets in liver. It got worse over xmas, as if something is stuck under ribs on right side, mentioned to my onc last week and now have a bone scan on wed, so fingers crossed that it will be clear. hope you get yours sorted x
Hi Milo, all the very best to you for Wed, really hope scan goes well for you (big hugs) because I have already had scan I don’t have that worry, will be thinking of you xx
Hi Katy,
yes, I have rib pains too, and am 12 months past radiotherapy on that side. Just had a bine scan to check and all was clear. My nurse specialist said bone pain in your ribs can happen even more than a year after radiotherapy. See also the thread ‘what does bone mets feel like’ which is current at the moment. Plus around 2009 there was a thread about rib pain and radiotherapy which I have just discovered, with other ladies stories which may help. I will try and find it and bump it up 
hope this helps.
christine
Thanks Christine away to check threads now, have you had your pain for a while?? xx
since sometime early December
I am nearly 3 years post rads and still have occasional rib pain under the breast area, when I say pain it is more of an ache. x
I finished Radiotherapy in December 2012. Apparently it is normal to get those pains and they come and go over a lengthy period of time. I get sharp pains in my armpit and breast - the areas that were zapped. Do you have a MacMillan nurse? If so, then perhaps give her a call just to ease your mind. Hope all goes well.
The twinges and pains from radiotherapy can go on for years. I had my rads in March 2007 and still get aches and pains from time to time, I had twinges and a nervy pain in my 2 bottom ribs only last week.
I asked today and was told that the pains usually subside within a few weeks. A small % of people have them longer term. I’d ask your oncologist at next appt or ask for a re-referral to onc if you;ve been discharged from care.
Was unable to speak to BCN, she was really busy with others that needed her advice more than me but spoke to other BC ladies and they were thinking it maybe my elbow crutch!! Have had it for a couple of months, so it could be. Mine is a continuous ache, have an appointment with neurosurgeon (not bc related) soon so will ask him, will update when I find out anything xx
Hi All, i finished my treatment end of september for triple neg bc, surgery, 3 fec, 3 tax, 28 rad 6 of which was booster, the aches and pains are the hardest for me to deal with, bc nurse said they can last up to 2 years its a side affect from the chemo, i have had a bone scan which was clear. she just advised me to try Glucosamine so will post back on if it helps. Good Luck everyone x
This is an interesting discussion, I have had a lot of aches and discomfort in my ribs. Sometimes I can’t lie on my side in bed because they feel so tender. I have bone mets too but maybe some of the pain is related to the chemo which I finished in April 2011 and the rads I finished in nov 2011??
I am also on zometa which seems to kick off pain in that area when I have the treatment. Any more thoughts??
Suzanne