sharp pain in past treated breast

nsmith36

I am freaking out a little cause the breast where I had the cancer 5 years ago is hurting. I have this sharp hot pain intermittenly up the side and thru the nipple. It is very uncomfortable. I am not due for my mammo till october but wondering if I should call and move it up? Its probably nothing cause I know site recurrance is pretty uncommon. Still scared none-the-less. Could it be nerves growing back after all this time. I am ready to celebrate my 5 year mark in October. Any body out there experience this? Thanks

LRM216

I don't have an answer for you either other than to tell you I get the exact same thing.  Sometimes my breast is so sensitive and feels as though I have knive stabs in it and other times (more often than not), it's fine.  I am 3 1/2 years out but I did have a huge batwing lumpectomy which went from the right side of breast (where it is attached to chest) straight to the nipple, then over and above the nipple and thru the middle of left side of breast almost to sternum.  It was a BIG incision, and then had to have it all reopened 2 weeks later for two dirty margins.  I still see my BS (who is highly acclaimed here in ATL) every 6 months and even went a month ago for a self-requested MRI and sonargram.  Everything was fine, but she did say since my pec muscle was cut into, some women always have pain and nerve burning from clumps of nerves as they grow back together.  Guess I have to live with that, but when it hurts - geez, that sucker really hurts!  Wishing you the best.  Move the mammo up and give yourself some peace of mind.  Also, I'd ask for a an US too just to be even more sure.  Good luck.

Linda

nsmith36

Thanks Linda: I feel a little better. I do have a call in the oncologist just in case. I guess I thought after almost 5 years these things would not be. I am not the type to dwell on every little ache and pain. I went thru treatment at 46 and went on with life and honestly this is the first thing that alarmed me. I had a lumpectomy on the right side my incision is straight down no nipple involvement. So, I feel better thanks a bunch Linda!

nsmith36

Oh and Linda, did you always have those pains or did they start later? Thanks.

nsmith36

I called my doctor and the nurse called me back. She told me that cancer doesn't hurt and that if  I wanted to move my mammo up from Oct to now I could. Mostly for peace of mind. I guess cause I am 5 years out almost they fugure my chance of recurrance is very low. It made me feel better a bit. The nurse kind of left it up to me but recommneded it. The pain has lessened but not subsided. It just feels like hot pins in my nipple. Ouch! Its very sparatic.

DonnaFT

Nora, I hope everything is well with you.   But, I have to say that the only reason I knew something was wrong with me was because I had pain in my right breast for over a month.   I never thought it was cancer because I just turned 37.   All of my doctors were surprised, but they told me that pain is usually not a symptom.  I hope that your test are negative.   I did have a scar a few months after my radiation ended this past May.   I had pain again, but this time it was because I developed lymphedema in my breast after my radiation.  So I'm glad to hear that you called the doctor.