Rib mets

mand67

I'm wondering whether anyone has experienced similar symptoms to me. I have had pain in my ribs on the left side for nearIy a year. I saw my GP in November last year and was told it was musculoskeletal or wind! I have been studying full time this year and put off returning to docs when discomfort remained. I have had back problems in the past so attributed it to age! It has recently intensified to a constant burning' dragging ache and is very tender to touch in one or two particular spots which are spreading upwards now towards my breast tissue near the axilla. No lumps in breast but tender (non BC side). I have had a chest X-ray and awaiting two week appt with breast clinic for ultrasound. I am so scared as I had forgotten (almost) about this disease and I don't know if I'm strong enough to deal with recurrence.

theresa45

Hi mand67, I don't have personal experience with pain in my ribs. I just wanted to support you on following up with your doctor. For a year I was told by my oncologist and breast surgeon, supposedly top physicians, that nodes in my neck were not breast cancer. I finally insisted on a biopsy, and sure enough it was breast cancer. I don't want to scare you. I hope that your symptoms turn out to be unrelated to breast cancer. I just want to encourage you to follow up with your doctors and push them to rule out breast cancer. Hugs and best wishes!

mand67

Thank you Theresa for your support. I'm sorry to hear about your experience. I will take your advice and be like 'a dog with a bone' if the x ray is inconclusive. I will insist on getting a PET scan. The doc I saw on Friday was wonderful and seemed as though she was going to be thorough in getting to the bottom of it. She is going to phone me this coming Friday. I really am very worried though to be honest. The rib pain just won't go away. I sort of learned to live with it as I have arthritis anyway in my hips and shoulders and I'm always aching somewhere, but something is telling me this is different. Anyway thank you again for your support and sending hugs to you back xx

Alicethecat

Hi Mandy

I'm sorry you're going through this. It is scary but the rib pain could be caused by a whole host of things that aren't cancer - such as an inflammed floating 12th rib, which I had. Flares up now and again when I get a cold or virus but then settles down. Got it checked out by ultrasound at the hospital - UK too - and voila, no cause for alarm.

Hope it's something like that for you.

Best wishes

Alice

cider8

my ribs often hurt. For me, it's a result of the continual effects of radiation and my spine getting a little out of alignment. I have a tendency to hold stress around my shoulder blades; those muscles get tight, pull on my spine and cause a whole domino effect from my neck to hips, including ribs. I need PT every year or so to get relief.

mand67

Thank you Alice and Paula. It's good to know that I may have a problem unrelated to the cancer. My chest X-Ray was clear so that's reassuring although my GP didn't sound convinced. I am taking codeine every night now and ibuprofen in the day. Whatever it is it isn't something I would like to put up with long term. It's been there a year nearly now and is unrelenting. There has never been a day I haven't been aware of it in that time. I know I've neglected myself but I really hadn't realised I had been to the GP that long ago until she told me last week! I've had a busy year doing a degree. Hugs to you both xx

bevin

Mand67. with 4 lymph nodes positive is there a reason they are not performing a CT or Bone scan? The bone scan is relatively inexpensive and much more sensitive than a xray. For an xray to see bone mets I believe they need to be a bit larger. I could be wrong but though I read over1cm. If possible, I'd see your Onco and outright ask for a bone scan. Hope your pain goes away.

mand67

Bevin Hi. I have always thought my 4 nodes would cause me trouble down the line! I guess things may be a little different here in the UK. Once 5 years is up we are discharged from the oncologist and breast services so have to see the GP with any concerns. They then have a series of investigations which seem pretty standard such as blood work CXR and generic referral within two weeks to the breast clinic. It won't be until I see them there on the 6th October that I will get back into the system really. Hopefully I can get a bone scan referral at that point. I'm not good at waiting. Thank you for your advice x

bevin

Oh wow. Yes, here we don't get discharged at the 5 year mark. It just changes to yearly appointments with Oncologist. I'm glad though that you have everything lined up. Good luck. Sounds like there is a pathway to the right test! Keep us posted and I'll add my prayers that you are well and the scan is clear.

cider8

your symptoms certainly warrant scans at this point. If they are clear [which I pray they are!], then I would check out PT. the waiting sucks! Hang in there