Rib pain - bone scan

[Jill1998]

Hi Bev,could be something and nothing but I would get it checked out if it is making you feel anxious ( dont worry about bothering the Onc it's their job).I still have very sore ribs after rads finished mid September (didn't have mastectomy ) .Jill

[beverleigh]

Hi Ladies
I too have recently noticed a really tender spot develop on my ribs, at the extremity of where I assume they took all the breast tissue from my mastectomy on the RHS (also had a large lumpectomy on LHS). I had the surgery 18 months ago, which also included a 2nd level lymphnode removal on LHS and a 3rd level lymph node removal on RHS, followed by 8 weeks of chemo and 70 days of radiotherapy. I saw my oncologist 2 months ago, who gave me the all clear, but that was before this pain developed. Do you think its worth bothering him, or is it something that may just pass and be ok? From these posts, it would seem that this problem is quite common and not a problem to worry about, and francly I'm sick of scans, hospitals and all of the drugs I still have to take. Any advice would be welcome.

regards to you all out there.

Beverleigh

[moser]

hi Monica, I am due to have a bone scan on Weds this week to check out a pain very similar to the one you describe. I am 4 years from last dx (for a recurrence) and have been complaining of this for months, to GP and breast surgeon, no one thought was bc connected but I am now glad to have bone scan as have been getting more and more worried. I just want to know now whether it is or isn't bone mets. I would say with hindsight its best to get it checked out rather than worry for months . Although we don't want to think about these things sometimes we have to for our own sanity. I don't know whether this helps in any way. xxx

[Milo1]

Hi MonicaS,
I too get a very uncomfortable rib pain thats gets very severe when I am in bed or driving, I have had scans recently which have not shown any problems so onc has put it down to the letrozole as it has a similar affect on other joints, sorry i dont have anything posotive for you.

[MonicaS]

Hi Ladies
Glad I found this topic but most posts are quite old so I hope someone's still watching. I hope you all had good news. I had a lumpectomy, SNB, cavity shave and 3 weeks of radio at the end of 2011. I'm on Arimidex (oh joy) and have the usual - vaginal problems (am I the only one who has THAT problem?), aches and pains, sleep problems, etc The thing that's really bothering me is that I have this niggling pain in my ribs on the opposite side from my tumour. There seems to be a little tender point that bothers me when I'm in bed - I can only sleep on my side.

In June my surgeon said he couldn't feel anything, it was due to Arimidex, but sent me for a scan, that was fine. 1 yr mammogram in Oct, also fine. My onco says he can't feel anything and says not to worry cos we caught my cancer very early and it hadn't spread. But. I can still feel something wrong! Worst thing, I'm aware of it in bed when it's hardest to ignore. Also before I got the diagnosis, I had been aware of a similar pain on the left side but I put it down to the fact that I'd broken a couple of ribs falling off my bike. Any ideas what this could be other than the Thing We Don't Want to Think About?
Any (reassuring) ideas gratefully received.
MonicaS

[MonicaS]

Hi Ladies
Glad I found this topic but most posts are quite old so I hope someone's still watching. I hope you all had good news. I had a lumpectomy, SNB, cavity shave and 3 weeks of radio at the end of 2011. I'm on Arimidex (oh joy) and have the usual - vaginal problems (am I the only one who has THAT problem?), aches and pains, sleep problems, etc The thing that's really bothering me is that I have this niggling pain in my ribs on the opposite side from my tumour. There seems to be a little tender point that bothers me when I'm in bed - I can only sleep on my side.

In June my surgeon said he couldn't feel anything, it was due to Arimidex, but sent me for a scan, that was fine. 1 yr mammogram in Oct, also fine. My onco says he can't feel anything and says not to worry cos we caught my cancer very early and it hadn't spread. But. I can still feel something wrong! Worst thing, I'm aware of it in bed when it's hardest to ignore. Also before I got the diagnosis, I had been aware of a similar pain on the left side but I put it down to the fact that I'd broken a couple of ribs falling off my bike. Any ideas what this could be other than the Thing We Don't Want to Think About?
Any (reassuring) ideas gratefully received.
MonicaS

[Guest user]

Hi Hatts,
Me too, going for a scan Tuesday next week, I had a scan when I was first DX 08 with Triple Negative BC...but it's the results that does frighten me!.

Went to have a routine x-ray on my chest, all clear but they found lesions on 2 ribs so they are sending me for a scan to be sure all is ok, I have no pain or swelling in the area but it's still very scary. So glad I came back to the site for comfort and support.

Love to you all, fingers crossed for us all who are waiting for results, special thoughts to all those who are suffering with breast cancer.

Carol x

[Guest user]

Hi Ladies

I too have constant rib pain!. I had mx and Diep recon in 2008 and have had rib pain ever since. I had a CT scan a year ago and it was clear.

My GP has put me on low dose amitryptiline (10mg) which has made a big difference and I recomend it to anyone experiencing the same symptoms. My pain is not crippling but nagging and always reminds of BC as well as putting doubts into my mind that there are some mets lurking!

No-one has been able to explain my pain but my GP reckons it's related to nerve damage during the Diep procedure.

Good luck to all xxxx

[jts]

hi also have rib pain in left rib after a prolonged cough doctor thinks said it was a chest infection/pleurasy or maybe an inflamation of the rib cage but wants me to have a chest xray and bone scan.bone scan 29/10 she said its just a precaution .trying not to worry but still a little niggle in the back of mind just want to get it over and done with .

[swanie]

Hi Aroma

Just read your post - like you I had a scan for rib pain. Head told me all would be well but heart still worried.

I really hope and pray it is heads for you. So sorry to hear about the loss of your sis and inlaw and the dx of your friend. It is awful to lose others and reminds of your own vulnerablity.

do post your news - thoughts are with you Jacqui

[aroma]

getting my results of bone scan tommorow and really worried its come back in my ribs ,ive got liver secs and had mastectomy in 2006 ,wonder just how much more c...p i can take ,lost my sis and bro in law last year ,now my friend has been diognosed with lukiemia ,when will it ever end . hopefully tomorrows scan will be clear and i can continue to support my firend and her family ,just dont feel strong enough at the moment to do anything .

[Hatts]

Thanks Peacock. Just back from the hospital. All went smoothly. whilst waiting for the radio-active stuff to be absorbed, my mum and I went for a ride on The London Eye so we ended up having quite a fun day!

I have to go for the results on Thursday so fingers crossed.
x

[peacock]

Hello Hatts

I've posted several times since my dx in June about a constant rib pain/ache/discomfort on the "bad side". Even after having a clear bone scan, my Onc sent me for further xrays on the ribs and chest but nothing has been found.

Eventually I was given some tablets for nerve pain, Lyrica they are called, and these have helped a lot along with Tramadol. So nerve pain can be quite a discomfort.

After having my mx nearly two weeks ago I am back to aching again, but this time I know its because of all the pulling around.

So you see, it isn't always bad news and maybe you're suffering a bit of neurological pain too.

Good luck with all your results, my fingers are cyber crossed for you.

xxx

[Hatts]

Thanks JustineTime. That's reassuring to know. I shan't panic if they go over my ribs! The awful thing is that once you have had BC (4 years ago for me), you never get peace of mind.

Good luck with your results Chrisine and with all that lays ahead. Let us know how you get on. These forums are a great support.

[Guest user]

Hi Hatts, and I just have to say I did a double-take when I read your post as it read exactly like one I posted a few weeks ago! I too had (still have) rib pain and my oncologist also suggested a bone scan which scared me somewhat as I had been fairly sure the pain was caused by the Arimidex. He did say, though, that he was fairly sure it was nothing but that they had to check everything, for which I was grateful.

The scan was nothing really - you go in for the injection of nuclides (not painful) and a few hours later you return for the scan which I have to say is a little boring but in no way uncomfortable. After half an hour, the radiographer informed me that she was going to go back over my ribs again which alarmed me until she reassured me that it was only because that was what I had presented myself with (ie the reason I was referred).

And one week later - what joy! - I got the all-clear from the oncologist's secretary which saved me having to wait for an appointment. It seemed the pains were more than likely caused by the Arimidex but I don't care - I will keep going with the medication despite all the side-effects so long as I can keep getting results like that!

I wish you lots of luck and I am sure that, as the onc said, it will be nothing.

[Guest user]

Hello Hatts

I found out Tuesday that I have BC. Im waiting for a bone scan and a ct to see if its spread. Then a wait for results, hopefully 3rd Dec when i have first oncology appointment. Then another wait to start treatment. The waiting is so hard. I have several locallised sites of pain which is very scary. If only there was an off button in the mind!! Good luck
Chris

[Hatts]

I went to see my consultant on Friday as I have had some rib pain. It is a very localised, small patch which isn't really causing me any problems but it was starting to play on my mind and I thought I should get it checked out. I thought he would just say 'don't worry, it's nothing' but instead I have to have a bone scan on Tuesday. It is such a blow. Can't believe I'm back at the waiting for results stage. Even though he said it was almost certainly nothing, one's mind still works overtime. I hope I get the results quickly. Fingers crossed.