What do you think? Worried about recurrance...

shanabana

I was diagnosed with IDC and DCIS in my right breast two years ago (at age 25). I had a bilateral mastectomy (modified radical on my right breast and total on my left breast because I had calcifications). I had no positive lymph nodes.I then had radiation. I was also immediately started on Zoladex/Tamoxifen b/c my cancer was ER/PR positive. After doing the Oncotype Dx test and getting a score of 29, my onco said I needed a hysterectomy like yesterday so I did that in April 2009. I did have delayed reconstruction with tissue expanders which were placed in November 2008 and then exchanged for saline implants in March 2009. I'm currently on Femara because Arimidex and I didn't get along. I've been feeling better and stronger all the time, but particularly since December of 09.

This past Thursday I started having some weird chest pains. Definitely not heart pain, more like breast bone, pectoral muscle or lymph node pain. It is deep back behind my implant so I can examine it to see if there is a lump but it is causing my lymph nodes to flair. The kicker is that it is mostly in my LEFT breast which was the noncancerous side. I'm having a little of this pain in my right side but it is much more pronounced on the left side. It hurts when I take deep breaths. Not a constant pain, but definitely I'm concerned.

I don't fool around with this stuff because I'm a wife and mom of to young children and I fully intend on seeing them into adulthood. I called my breast doctor and I'm going in this Thursday, but I'm new to this and wanted to see what you all think? Have you had a recurrance? What were your symtoms? Do you think I'm overreacting?

 I never know what doctor to see. In this case I was wondering if I should call the plastic surgeon but then I thought better of it. Do you guys struggle with this?

 Sorry for the long post. I appreciate your feedback!

jenbal

Wow, shanabana, I am so sorry for what you have endured at such a young age! I can't imagine. This is the trick of post-treatment life -- staying vigilant to catch any recurrence early without freaking out over every little twinge. My onc's rule of thumb on what to follow up on is any pain that doesn't go away with regular interventions, such as a pain reliever or anti-inflammatory, or any pain that persists for more than a few days. Yours has been about a week, and it's bugging you, so I'd recommend you follow up. And I'd suggest your onc as the person to follow up with. It could be a recurrence, yes, but there are several other things it could be too -- maybe some scar tissue pulling on your breastbone or even some damage to the bone from the radiation. I had terrible pain in my ribs very near my lumpectomy scar within weeks of finishing chemo. It got so bad, I couldn't breathe normally without feeling it and never mind a cough or sneeze! I was convinced it was mets, but it turned out to be a spontaneous rib fracture as a result of the radiation (which I'd had before chemo about 7 months earlier)! The area is still sore and occasionally seems to "flare up," but I've stopped worrying about it.

Also, don't ever not follow up just because you think you are "overreacting" or your doc will think you're a bother. We get pretty tuned to our bodies through this process, and it may take a few false alarms before you learn what's a real worry and what isn't. As they say, better safe than sorry! Good luck!

barbe1958

Google costochondritis. It may put your mind at ease. I have it and it is unbearably painful, but not mets.

shanabana

Thanks to both of you!