Is it my rib cage?

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jmears
jmears Member Posts: 266
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Hello and best wishes to all. I'm not really worried but ... on the right side of my torso under the breast I had cancer in (lumpectomy and radiation) it sometimes feels bruised or sore. This is not in the radiation field but I thought maybe it has to do with the ribs or the radiation anyway. I am 16 months out of radiation so it has been a good long time ... I've had this for a long time and have mentioned it several times to my Doctor. Chest X-ray is fine. Anyone have something like this or what it could be? Thanks Jamie

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  • inkblot
    inkblot Member Posts: 698 Member
    #2
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    Hi Jamie:

    I had something similar. The first time I experienced it, was about 8 months post rad.
    (I'm now 13 months post rad, so pretty close to your numbers) Initially, it felt as if I'd bumped into something but just couldn't recall doing so.

    The next day it was more tender so I used the heating pad, which seemed to help some. Third day it was even worse. My husband and I looked carefully to see if there was any bruising/swelling and couldn't really find anything obvious. It was sore to touch and lying on that side while sleeping would immediately wake me up. I called my rad.onc. and he asked me to come in straight away, although he said he thought he knew exactly what it was and told me not to worry.

    He did a careful exam and said that it was nothing to worry about at all. He explained that the radiation can irritate muscles/ sheaths, in and around the radiation fields, in addition to leaving the ribs a bit soft. A bit of inflammation can arise and "travel" along the sheath and cause discomfort outside the area one may expect it to be. He suggested I take Tylenol and continue using the heating pad and to call him if it didn't work well enough. It did. After a few more days it was completely gone.

    I've only experienced some very mild tenderness/soreness a few times since then. Not really a problem like the first time. I don't even taken anything for it. It usually goes away within 2 or 3 days. Just something I'm aware of but not really painful. On a scale of 1-10, I'd give it a 1. I had a routine chest X-ray in July and mine too, was fine. Which dr. did you mention this to and what did he/she say?

    Hope this is helpful to you. I'd suggest calling your rad. onc. just to be sure of what it is though. That way, you'll no longer need to wonder what it is and peace of mind is what we need most!

    Love, light and laughter,
    Ink
  • jmears
    jmears Member Posts: 266
    #3
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    inkblot said:

    Hi Jamie:

    I had something similar. The first time I experienced it, was about 8 months post rad.
    (I'm now 13 months post rad, so pretty close to your numbers) Initially, it felt as if I'd bumped into something but just couldn't recall doing so.

    The next day it was more tender so I used the heating pad, which seemed to help some. Third day it was even worse. My husband and I looked carefully to see if there was any bruising/swelling and couldn't really find anything obvious. It was sore to touch and lying on that side while sleeping would immediately wake me up. I called my rad.onc. and he asked me to come in straight away, although he said he thought he knew exactly what it was and told me not to worry.

    He did a careful exam and said that it was nothing to worry about at all. He explained that the radiation can irritate muscles/ sheaths, in and around the radiation fields, in addition to leaving the ribs a bit soft. A bit of inflammation can arise and "travel" along the sheath and cause discomfort outside the area one may expect it to be. He suggested I take Tylenol and continue using the heating pad and to call him if it didn't work well enough. It did. After a few more days it was completely gone.

    I've only experienced some very mild tenderness/soreness a few times since then. Not really a problem like the first time. I don't even taken anything for it. It usually goes away within 2 or 3 days. Just something I'm aware of but not really painful. On a scale of 1-10, I'd give it a 1. I had a routine chest X-ray in July and mine too, was fine. Which dr. did you mention this to and what did he/she say?

    Hope this is helpful to you. I'd suggest calling your rad. onc. just to be sure of what it is though. That way, you'll no longer need to wonder what it is and peace of mind is what we need most!

    Love, light and laughter,
    Ink

    Thanks Ink! I only mentioned it to my Oncologist not the Radiologist ... I will call his office ... thanks again for the information. Oh ... the Oncologist didn't speculate as to what it was he just checked to make sure it wasn't cancer. Thanks
    Jamie
  • bullfrog13
    bullfrog13 Member Posts: 213
    #4
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    Jamie,
    hi, I have had those mystery pains too. I have had them in shoulder. It is very sore, and I have spoke to Doc about it. he checked it out and could not find anything. It is painful at night when i roll over on it. and once i hit my self with a mop handle and about sent me into tears it hurt so bad. He is sendin me for scans/xrays in januray, seems to think it is nothing. It does not hurt all the time, but more often than I care to admit to anyone.
  • nasa2537
    nasa2537 Member Posts: 311
    #5
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    Hi Jamie...I just wrote about this to Lindalou. I still get this once in awhile...feels like somebody smacked me with a baseball bat! I usually either try to forget about it, or I take some aspirin or Aleve, and it's gone by morning. I was told by the radiation onc that this is from the radiation. I never really asked how long it would go on...it's been a year for me so far. I saw my oncologist today, and she wasn't worried about it happening now and then. So, if she's no worried, neither am I! Best wishes, Cyndi
  • pamtriggs
    pamtriggs Member Posts: 386
    #6
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    Jamie
    Have a bone scan done. It will show any hot spots if there are metastatic tumours creeping in. They show up as black dots on the scan. It is painless & easy & should set your mind at rest.

    Love & hugs
    Pam
  • jmears
    jmears Member Posts: 266
    #7
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    pamtriggs said:

    Jamie
    Have a bone scan done. It will show any hot spots if there are metastatic tumours creeping in. They show up as black dots on the scan. It is painless & easy & should set your mind at rest.

    Love & hugs
    Pam

    Hi Pam
    While I really want it to be nothing like the ladies suggest ... I always worry about the metastatic tumors. I appreciate your suggestion ... I know you have experience. Best wishes to you. Jamie

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