10 years after mastectomy- extreme pain/numbness

jcruz

Hi,

I had a left mastectomy 10 years ago with reconstructive surgery. For the past year, I have been having anxiety and extreme pain in my chest and tightness. I have been hospitalized a few times in the past year. I lose sensation and get numbness in my left arm, have extreme tightness and pain in my chest that I can barely breathe, sometimes I feel like I'm about to have a heart attack and can't breathe. All DRs say it's nothing, and prescribe anti-depressants since they can't find anything wrong with me. I'm not depressed, just in extreme pain. Has anyone had these symptoms? I'm 45.

Thanks for your help.

jc

Moderators

Hi Jcruz-

We're so sorry to hear you're experiencing so much pain and discomfort! And we know it must be incredibly frustrating to not get answers from your doctors. We have a forum on Pain, you might find some helpful info there: https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/136

We hope you're able to get some relief soon!

The Mods

farmerlucy

I’m six years out and I have noticed a lot more tightness which I assume is scar tissue buildup (capsular contracture?). I wonder what your PS might say. Maybe PT might help?

I had similar feelings and even went to the emergency when I was first dx, it turns out I was having panic attacks.

I hope things get better soon. Hang in there.

B123

I too have panic attacks and that defy tightens the chest. But I have soreness and pins and needles with numbness under arm. If I push on effected side I get sharp pain. I am 6 years out now. No redness, swelling g went down.

jcruz

Thank you for your feedback. It's nice to hear that someone else feels the same. Sometimes I feel so alone, and think that all the pains and anxiety are all in my head. I am going to go see my plastic surgeon next week, hopefully he will shed some light on my situation. Do you take anything for the anxiety and panic attacks? Doctors have wanted to prescribe me anti-depressants, and the thought of teh side effects give me more anxiety so I don't take anything. Again thanks so much for your input, it's very appreciated. Hope you all feel better.

farmerlucy

I take Prozac. No side effects that I can tell. It just evens me out. I also have leftover klonopin from five years ago, and in a major anxiety situation I’ll take half of one. Panic attacks are terrible. I haven’t had one in a fewyears.

secondchancetoo

panic attacks, 😑, I can so relate. It's interesting to note that many breast cancer survivors have actual PTSD, although it is virtually never mentioned as a side effect of all of these treatments. As a two time breast cancer survivor who has had anxiety and depression issues my entire life, I KNOW that I have it.

I have found the medical community to be woefully uneducated on these matters, and I am a retired nurse! They are always looking for a physical cause to everything....totally miss the point of emotional component as it relates to virtually all medical issues. Sigh, I have resorted to more and more non medical interventions as I have aged, they simply work better for me