Pain and lumpy feeling next to sternum along braline

hanami

I've had my fair share of anxiety over the last few months, and now it's that time again where I hope and pray that the pain/sypmtoms I am feeling are just something not related to my cancer. I've had a double mastectomy with no recon. 2 years ago. During the last 5 months I have lost quite some weight due to increased exercise and also following the weight watchers program. So far so good. But now that I have less "padding" I feel all kind of lumps and bumps that scare me. Especially when I run my hands along my ribs. Last week I found a spot because I felt a pain when I pressed on it by chance. It's a few fingers wide underneath my right mastec. scar along my bra-line. It's right next to the sternum and when I feel around there it hurts quite a bit and feels lumpy. On the left side I have a similar feeling. Maybe not quite as defined and not as painful. What could that be? Lymphnodes on top of my ribs? Muscle knots? BC lump to the chestwall? I've had a nasty viral cold for a while now that made my necknodes swell a bit and gave me some general achy feeling. The pain feels like bruise (when I feel around there), it doesn't hurt when moving around and taking tylenol (which I am taking for my sinuses) does not make a difference. I already sent a message to my Onc. but she might be on vacation, so I am waiting to hear back from her. I am scared and nervous, but am trying to not get too freaked out. Any advice or someone here who has had something simliar happening to them?

Thanks.... 

JanetinVirginia

I don't know hanami but good that you're getting it checked out.  Don't let you mind run too wild until you get in to see her. This is probably a dumb thought but if you've had a virus, have you been coughing a lot?  If so, maybe pulled/sore muscles?

calamtykel

Are you feeling ribs?  I have had had rib pain on and off ever since my mastectomy and reduction on the other side.  It's normal to have pain on and off in various locations after such a big surgery.  Last month I ran to the doctor because I was having pain in my shoulder --just touching it was agonizing.  DId a rib series of x-rays and found nothing.  Now the pain is gone --I think it was from just working out and i pulled stuff . My chiropractor confirmed that. 

 I know it's hard not to be scared.  I'm going in for surgery tomorrow for a lymph node at my collarbone that is enlarged.  I'm on anti-anxiety meds because of it.  It's a horrible horrible feeling.  I would undergo chemo and surgery all over again if I knew that I would never, ever ever have to feel this fear --those things seemed "easy" compared with the agony of anxiety and stress!   

But hang in there - there's a LOT of scar tissue there.  When the oncololgist examined me, he said that they cut major muscles and nerves - those nerves take months and months and months to find themselves again and that can make for some tender spots.  

barbe1958

Hmmm, you shouldn't have had muscles cut!!! Unless you did a recon or something.

Before my double mast, I had tender thumb-sized areas just below my breasts where the wire from my underwire bra pressed. I was reduced to a 42D before bc came along so I'd had years of heavy breasts/wires pressing on my ribs. I couldn't ever have those spots massaged as the pain was truly breathtaking.

I have also been diagnosed with Costochondritis. Google that and see if it could apply.

hanami

Thank you for all the suggestions and caring words. My oncologist already saw me yesterday and she thought, that it all felt normal. But to eas my mind she made an appointment for me to get a sonogram done. I will do that next week and report back. It is really scary sometimes but I try to stay positive and as calm as possible. I am hoping for B9 lyphnode finding for you Calamtykel. 

calamtykel

sorry - didn't mean it to sound like they butcher the muscles in the chest, but they do cut through nerves- hence the reason you have different degrees of numbness, sensation, etc.   Major muscles are involved in that area - I should have said it that way.