Am concerned, back pain

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GracieM2007
GracieM2007 Member Posts: 1,564
edited March 2018 in Not Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastases but Concerned

Hi all, I don't post much anymore.  But thought I'd get back on and see how you all feel about my back pain, or if you have any advice.  My back has been hurting now for several months, down low, dull ache, sometimes goes to one side (left).  My onc seems to be concerned, I have a PET tomorrow a bone scan on Tuesday and a DEXA scan on Friday.   I've been on Arimidex for two years now.  I did have three small spots on my liver that they've watched now for about a year and a half, with three CT's done during that time.  No change in any of them, and they deemed them not cancer, so I'm hoping nothing has changed.  I've gone through the arthritis back pain thread, and didn't find too much there to help me out.  I'm nervous as I can be, also, I'm running a fever again, very low grade, and I was running a fever before I found out I had breast cancer.  I also have some lupus type things going on in my body, so I know that inflammation is present.

 I was diagnosed April 11, 2007, right mastectomy April 27, 2007, AC & Taxol four each, DD, now Arimidex.  Mine was IDC, 1.7 Cm. stage 2, Grade 3, Ki-67 98%, ER+, PR+, Her2-.  One node positive.  I didn't do radiation because of the Lupus.

 Help!!!! 

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  • GracieM2007
    GracieM2007 Member Posts: 1,564
    edited October 2009

    Jeez...guess I'll go somewhere else, no one here seems willing to help at all.  Bye all.

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  • Ainm
    Ainm Member Posts: 781
    edited October 2009

    Oh Gracie,

    I'm not much use to you. I really just posted because - well you sounded so disappointed by lack of a response and I know I'd feel bad if I had a worry and no one responded too.  I think you are doing all the right things - you are getting the back ache checked out - I really hope it all turns out well.  I'm sure others like me have read your post but like me may not have any experience to draw from to offer you advice.  Please know that I am wishing you the very best.

    ((((((((((((((((Hugs))))))))))))))))))))

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  • cherneski
    cherneski Member Posts: 726
    edited October 2009

    Gracie, I am watching to see what you are told.  As I just finished chemo and have terrible hip and back pain.  PET scan showed no other cancer.  The pain started with chemo.  Onc. will be sending me to specialist about back, hip pain and neuropathy. 

    So please dont mind if I watch and see.  Remember it is the weekend, a lot of ppl might be out.  If you dont get a response by Monday I will bump it up for you if you dont mind.

     Hugs, sorry you are going through this.

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  • spar2
    spar2 Member Posts: 6,827
    edited October 2009

    Gracie, I have had lower back pain for years also, I blamed it on arimidex, but had bone scan and pet scan and it showed degeneative arthritis.  I hope that is all your is.  Probably nothing can be done until you get all the test back.  Please come back and post the results.  Sending you gentle hugs.  Sherry

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  • candie1971
    candie1971 Member Posts: 4,820
    edited October 2009

    Gracie, I have had lower back pain along with hip pain for the last few months. I have had MRI's,xrays and CT scans. So far 3 Dr's and they say minimal arthritis and it would not cause all the pain I am having.I go to a hip specialist on Tues. Please come back and let us know how you are doing.

    Hope you are feeling better today. Hugs and prayers,

    Candie

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  • lexislove
    lexislove Member Posts: 2,645
    edited October 2009

    I have the same!

    Lower back / hip pain. It seems to get better when I move around.

    I blame it on the tamox/lupron combo + extra pounds.....<sigh>

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  • candie1971
    candie1971 Member Posts: 4,820
    edited October 2009

    lexislove, mine is owrse when moving around. I am hoping it is just from the arimidex or possible hip replacement. You know, my mind is at mets, even tho they keep saying no to that.

    hugs

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  • heatherpalmerton
    heatherpalmerton Member Posts: 2,247
    edited October 2009

    Hi Gracie, I'm sorry I missed this. I too have an autoimmune disease, I have scleroderma. "LIKE WE DON"T ALREADY HAVE ENOUGH TO DEAL WITH" I was told that women with scleroderma have a higher rate of breast cancer or lung cancer. I have mets to the bones and several other places too. but that is how I found out I did have it. I wish I would have been more diligent about reading my body. I chalked allot of this up to my autoimmune disease. "The pain" I have been dealing with pain for 12 years. Allot of days are good, but there are some bad days. I'm thankful I do have a high pain tolerance. For the most part I can take tylenol. I also go to physical therapy. This has been my saving grace. I am walking because of it. Some orneriness helps too.

    I sent you a PM from another thread you wrote on. you can pm me anytime. I will be working more hours now that my floral manager will be taking medical leave. I probaly won't be posting much, just because I'll be tired and i'm a HEN PECKER and it takes me for ever to type.

    I hope you find your answers very soon. Many hugs to you. i hope you have a good day. Heather

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  • GracieM2007
    GracieM2007 Member Posts: 1,564
    edited October 2009

    Heather, I know, it sucks doesnt' it?  I know quite a few women who Lupus who have had or have right now, breast cancer too.  I think it all has to do with that inflammation factor and hopefully someday they will be able to connect the dots. My neighbor across the street and I went through treatment at the same time, hers was a reoccurance, mine was for the original dx.  She also has lupus, and has nodes in her lungs that they are watching.  The docs keep telling her it's from the lupus, but I know she feels like she's not sure that they are.  I have another friend with scleroderma, and I know what pain you must be in all the time, and am sorry for that.  I know with mine, it takes up entire days. I haven't tried any physical therapy yet, but if this comes back clean, I'm going to insist, because something is going on with my back.

     Haven't read your pm yet, but will go look for it.  Thank you so much for your kind words, and I'll write you back asap.  I have my dexa scan today, but it will be a breeze.   

    Hugs and blessings back to you, and don't let them work you too hard.

    Gracie 

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  • ipursuit
    ipursuit Member Posts: 45
    edited October 2009

    Hi Gracie,

     Read your post on another thread that your tests showed you clear and NED - CONGRATS! 

    I had started reading the arthitis thread too and didn't seem to get much from it.  Most of the descriptions of pain sound pretty diffuse and sort of characteristic of general arthritic conditions.

    My concern, if anyone can shed any light on it, is that I have had transient but recurring sharp pain in a couple of very specific spots in my mid left-side of my backbone and my left hip (ilium?) which seem to occur for a few days following chemo (earlier this year) and now Herceptin only (since July). 

    I had my H treatment yesterday and felt the few twinges. They are ALWAYS in exactly the same very tiny places.  Then today the back pain has been very pronounced and has lasted for long periods.  I would be very worried except I had a PET scan in Aug and it was clear, so I would think any nasty stuff would have shown. 

    Anyone with anything to add on this situation I would most welcome!  I am hoping and praying that at worst this is the H working....

    E

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  • cherneski
    cherneski Member Posts: 726
    edited October 2009

    WOW nothing like starting the fire and letting the house~lol

    ipursuit~ Thanks for letting us know gracie is ned.  Sorry I dont have any words of widsom for you.

    Hugs Deb

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  • GracieM2007
    GracieM2007 Member Posts: 1,564
    edited October 2009

    Hi, didn't think to come back to this thread, as the ladies on the other thread had finally answered me and I had gone back to that one.  Yes, I found out this week, I am still NED.  But do have Osteopenia, so have to take meds for that but that I can handle.  

    Cherneski, I really don't know what you mean about starting the fire...was it because I didnt' come back to this thread?  Were you offended that I didn't?  If so, I'm sorry, I didnt' mean to offend you.

    ipursuit, my pain is different than yours.  It's in the lower back center, plus it radiates to the hip on the left side, and it's  pretty constant.  The onc didn't give me any answers as to what could be causing it, but we know for sure that cancer isn't causing it.  I hope you find an answer to your pain also.  Have you talked to your onc about it?  I had called my onc a few weeks back and he got me right in for testing, didn't hesitate.  I was so glad he did, because I would have hated to just let it go.

    Hope you find an answer :)

    Gracie 

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited October 2009

     Good thread.  I've been sitting here on my puter because I can't sleep due to my low back pain that just started this past week or so.  I get nervous about possible mets. But I just finished chemo and started rads last week.  I mentioned it to my rad onc but he said everything looked ok from my scans but this flare up is making me so miserable.  Maybe because my ass got fatter over the summer from doing nothing but sitting around feeling so sick from the chemo.  Maybe I need to move my fat ass a little moreWink

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  • americanpinay
    americanpinay Member Posts: 338
    edited October 2009

    Gracie...congrats...wish you many years with NED...

    Ipursuit...just want to share with you that I started having pain in the lower left side of my shoulder blade while on Taxol (finished chemo end of March)...the pain is not constant and sort of flares up and it seems to be on the same spot...I was very concerned  when my PET/CT showed a non-hypermetabolic sclerotic focus on T1 lower left side BUT I got my bone scan and MRI results today and both were clear...so at least I know it's not mets but I still don't know what causes the pain....sigh...maybe Taxol while I was on it and now chemopause and Tamox...who knows?

    Be well ladies.

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  • TriciaK
    TriciaK Member Posts: 362
    edited October 2009

    Hi, I had aches for months after I finished chemo and herceptin which I'm told is normal.

    I just had a suspicious area show on the bone scan I had and so will have an mri in a couple of weeks to check further.  My pain is just a continuous ache midway down my back.

    Here's hoping it's just old age or arthritis!

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  • cherneski
    cherneski Member Posts: 726
    edited November 2009

    Gracie, I am so sorry.  I just found out some bad news that day and was a total B@tch!  I am anxious about the pain like you and want answers now!  I am sure you know what I mean.

    Again so sorry to be like that.  I am glad you have some answers.

    Sometimes I need to just step away from the computer and get my big girl panties out of my butt.

    Please forgive me.

    Deb

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  • GracieM2007
    GracieM2007 Member Posts: 1,564
    edited November 2009

    Oh gosh, Deb, I wasn't offended, I thought I had offended you :)  Am glad that we are ok :)  Hope your bad news has resolved itself.  No need to ask forgiveness, I wasnt' upset with you at all :)

     Gracie 

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