Weird pains

SusieMTN

Hey Stage III Girls - do any of you have weird non constant pain in various locations on your BC side?  Was having pains around the upper right side where liver is and that SCARED the crap out of me.  Eventually it became next to non existent.  Months were by and now a non constant weird pain in lower abdomen.  I have had my whole tummy scanned and no sign of anything.  Before cancer I never had any pain except a little stiffness in joints.  So just wanting some stage IIIers to weigh in on any weird pains and what your ONC says about it.  Hope you are all enjoying your first few day of Autumn.  I know I am LOL it is way too hot here 103 (and 107 on Monday) Boo!

Texas357

No weird pains here. Mine are all related to the Femara I'm taking.  Could yours be a side effect of medication you're on?

diana50

yeah, there are two major side effects from cancer treatment; fatigue and pain.  i think it is related to chemo, rads...surgery...and anything else you are getting...ie...arimidex, femara..herceptin...etc.  i also think that vunerable areas of your body are just more noticeable because of the toxic treatment. remember....the treatment killed cancer cells. did all kinds of things to rid your body of cancer..which also affected other parts of your body.

the thing about cancer...if you relapse..it won't resolve itself. the lump will get bigger..the pain will continue.....over a period of time...and the doc will fund it.  use the 2-3 week rule...if it is still there..or getting worse...call the doc. always mention this stuff to your doc when you have regular appts.

hang in there**

SusieMTN

Thanks so much girls, glad I am not alone. Sherri like you My Onc remains unconcerned about this as my scans are clean.  My blood work does not warrant worry, and he is pretty much has said it on you BC side and more than likely caused by the trauma of radiation etc.....My pain is not constant just periodic.  I am taking Prolosec (sp) so wonder if that is it?????????

Like you Diana I have fatigue but better on Tamoxifen than on Aromasin. Joint pain is far less too with Tamoxifen. 

My weird pain is more like an intestinal thing.  Anyone having weird stuff intestinal wise?

SpunkyGirl

Count me in.  SherriG, you could be describing what I feel from time to time, too.  Funny thing is, I feel mine sometimes more when the weather is changing....It's enough to freak me out sometimes, but then it's gone...

SpunkyGirl

Count me in.  SherriG, you could be describing what I feel from time to time, too.  Funny thing is, I feel mine sometimes more when the weather is changing....It's enough to freak me out sometimes, but then it's gone...

jenn3

I have weird pain from time to time, get worried and right about the time I think I should call the onc, the pain disappears.  Sometimes it feels like muscle pain, other times it feels like nerve pain.  I'm thinking (and like the others have said) it's because of the chemo and radiation.

chrishat

i have weird, random abdominal pains too. sometimes in the vicinity of my liver, but sometimes on the other side. they come and go, and aren't severe, just nervewracking. they feel sortof like ovulation used to feel. about the time i get really nervous, they go away. it's so hard not to worry about it, although i never used to freak out about every little pain. i had clear scans in december. i wonder if i should ask my onc to scan again, or if i'm overreacting? has anyone been scanned for this reason?

diana50

i was reading everyone's post and i was thinking "what strong women we are"  and really, i have to say...tolerating....trying to deal with fear of relapse...pain...."you know you are a cancer patient when"  etc....we are really strong women...on bad days and good days....life just isn't the same in many ways after cancer.  but i just want to say..."you rock" to each and everyone of you.

SusieMTN

Well there ya go!  Perhaps a new part of "Survivorship" should be .......oh and you will have weird pains..........

Diana50 thanks for the posting, you summed it up .......life isn't the same after cancer! 

You guys are awesome!

jenn3

Diana - thanks for the smile - you're right we do "rock", including you!

I remember when I was finished with active treatment my onc said that he'll be here to keep an eye on me and to reassure me that every ache isn't cancer.  I told him something like, I'm not one of those women - you won't hear from me.  Silly me, if I stub my toe I think it's cancer, my eyes won't focus, it's cancer, gas pains, it's cancer.  So, I am one of "those women", but I don't call him every time because I have learned that we do get some weird aches and pains.

(((hugs))) to everyone - we all need them.

KerryMac

Ha Jenn, that is so funny! I remember reading about those "every headache is a brain tumour" feelings after treatment, and thinking "oh, I won't do that"....but I do! Every time I get a twinge, I think it is cancer!

I am starting to get to know my "new normal" of achinesss, and it doesn't freak mw out as it used to. But yeah, I would say it is an ongoing battle for us all. 

Monty

Hi SusieMTN,

 Did you have any abdominal surgery previously?  I had my ovaries removed Feb so I could take AIs instead of Tamoxifen.  Since then I periodically got severe stomachs pains and would eventually go to the ER.  At the end of May 2010 I went again and they said maybe it's a bladder infection , gave me antibiotics and sent me away, a week later it came again and worse still - unbearable and I have a high pain threshold, turned out I had scar tissue growing from my surgery site for the oopherectomy and it had twisted around my intestine, basically strangling it.  They found out with a CT scan, didn't show on a stomach xray or ultrasound.  I had emergency surgery within 30 minutes of them finding the problem.  That too was a pain that came and went mysteriously - but it could have had very serious consequences!!!

Other than that I agree with everyone else - you promise you won't be one of those who jumps to the BIG C conclusion with every ache and pain but t's so hard not, funny thing was with my abdo issues I never once thought it might be cancer, weird eh!?

SpunkyGirl

I have to say that many days I don't feel like I rock.  I feel like if this big C thing comes back, I'm just gonna cave in and fall apart.  I guess it has to do with the fact that my DH has had brain cancer for over seven years now, and it scares me to think of us both going through it.  Yes, I have contingency plans, but I don't want to have to use them....I guess just reading through this and thinking over the past several years, I realize that, yes, I DO ROCK.  FU, Cancer.

SusieMTN

GaynorI - no I have never had ANY abdominal surgery.  Healthy as a horse (as the saying goes) prior to cancer too!  

I did change my diet and so far 3 days of no weird abdominal pain.  So as I always mention this to the doctor I will bring it up again the next time, but I am hoping the diet issue will resolve.  This has been going on for quite a while.  Time will tell......

I am amazed at how WE all seem to have the same issues with "fear of recurrence" !   AND how it comes and goes.......what triggers it etc......  But here is what I am going with!  We do ROCK and I am growing up to be an old women......LOL

Let-It-Be

Hi SusieMTN:

I had a lot of discomfort, after chemo.  I believe it was because I was still "backed up".  I juiced and took a probiotic twice a day with meals.  No more problems.  Keep the fiber high and see if this helps.

Hope the diet change is helping.

SusieMTN

Ohhhhh, Thanks Let-it-Be - haven't juiced in years but have been craving a good carrot and beet combo. LOL my all time favorite.

The change in my diet has been mostly not eating out fast food or Restaurants, was getting too involved in life and not taking care of me.  For years was having salads for lunch and every since Chemo I want a sandwitch's.  So going back to most days having a salad or green smoothie (spinach, kale parsley - or any dark green and a banana, frozen strawberries or blueberries and maybe a few tidbits of frozen pineapple.  (A "raw diet" friend turned me onto this type of green smoothies, incredibly healthy).  I slowly started not to consume them and was not eating salads.  While I had no constipation, I just didn't feel right in THAT department.  I actually eat pretty health, mainly whole grains but would pop into McD's or other FAST FOOD places even those that make salad.  You just don't know what they put in them, fat content (or you don't look).  I do eat better at home!  Plus I know what I put in it.