Could it be Bone mets?

Options
shejoh
shejoh Member Posts: 54
edited June 2014 in Not Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastases but Concerned

I had bilateral mastectomies and tram free flap reconstruction done 8 months back..In last august I did a liposuction on the side of breasts to get a better shape...I had lot of pain in my ribs after that...but pain went after some time...from past one month now i feel moderate  pain in my ribs agian..not cont. but comes and goes. its tolerable pain..also started having pain in rt arm..it started on the part between the wrist and elbow..but not on the joints...now I have pain also in the upper part of the arm, rt jaw, rt side back...even the rt collar bone..but i am a person who gets a lot of  sprains..usually sprains are severe pain when i get it...I feel extremely tired...I am blaming it on tamoxifen, zolodex..I do feel nauseous at times...I had PET scan done when i was first diagnosed, and everything was OK. I had blood work done 2 months ago..everything was fine..If there was something I hope it would have showed on the blood work??!!!...I am going to oncologist in december...anyone has any suggesions? Could all these be just side effects of meds and surgeries?....

· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • TriciaK
    TriciaK Member Posts: 362
    edited November 2009

    Hi,

    Tumour marker's and blood work are not reliable with everyone as other factor's can have them rise.

    I did'nt have your type of surgery but it sounds like this pain could be from that, it takes time for this to go as they often damage and cut nerves in the surgery.  I'd doubt it's mets but I also see my onc if I have a continuing pain for longer than a few weeks when he usually will investigate more.

    Good luck and hope it's nothing:)

    Tricia 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • SandyAust
    SandyAust Member Posts: 393
    edited November 2009

    Hi Shejoh,

    I am five years out from a Stage 1 diagnosis.  I have never requested a bone scan.  However if I was in your position I would be going to my GP and requesting a referral for a bone scan.  This doesn't mean I think you have mets but I think you have enough symptoms to justify having a check.

    I had an ultrasound of my supraclavicular area and learnt the hard way that tests beget tests.  I ended up having half my thyroid out for a suspected carcinoma.  Thankfully it was benign.  I hope my suggestion doesn't put you on this little "hamster wheel" as I call it but if I were you I would be getting a bonescan.

    Good luck and take care,

    Sandy

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • shejoh
    shejoh Member Posts: 54
    edited November 2009

     THANKS for your replies Tricia and sandy...I am going to wait for 2-3 weeks till my next appointment..see whether the pain subsides or increases...i have dec 12 appontment. Hope everything will be okay..but in the back of mind that fear of mets is always there...Hope you girls are doing fine..take care...

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • pitanga
    pitanga Member Posts: 596
    edited November 2009

    I agree with Sandy, a bone scan would help put your mind at ease. But remember, it can also show non-cancerous lesions.

    Another possibility would be to go directly to an]n MRI. It gives more information about what the pain could be from, whether from cancer or other sources. Personally I always find bone scans a hassle-- you have to get the injection then wait 5 hours before the scan, so it takes you the whole day.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • shejoh
    shejoh Member Posts: 54
    edited November 2009

    Thanks Pitanga...I see you have mets...hope everything is okay...what kind of pain you had? My pain is dull, its like some one poking softly with a needle every few minutes...I am going to ask my oncologist to do tests to rule out anything...i had lost appetite mostly..then i started taking celexa for depression...after that i have good appetite now...i had an infusion of zomata in september...after that for a week I had alot of pain on all bones of the body..then all the pain(even the rib pains) went away. now the rib pain is back..new pain in rt arm too...but i should say it's quite mild..i don't need need any meds...I wish someone would share the kind pain they experienced when they started having mets????

    thanks for ur thoughts.....my prayers are with you all....

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • ElaineD
    ElaineD Member Posts: 2,265
    edited November 2009

    The problem is, that many people-myself included-did not have any pain when mets were diagnosed. It's perfectly possible to have mets and be asymptomatic.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • pitanga
    pitanga Member Posts: 596
    edited November 2009

    Absolutely right, Elaine. My mets gave me no pain, were only picked up because they had found a local recurrence and then sent me for further tests which revealed metastasis to cervical spine. I have chronic upper back pain since I was in my 20s and there was nothing to indicate that anything new was happening.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories