Rib Pain

Options

Comments

  • cabmom
    cabmom Member Posts: 388
    edited April 2010

    I've been having rib pain under my breast area where my tumor was....could this be metastasis in my rib bones?  I've gained tons of weight since chemo and most of it has been in that area so I'm hoping that it's only the weight gain causing the problems.  I've had a xray on the ribs and they showed nothing......I've also had an ultrasound on the area and nothing was seen but I think the only way to see if it's in the bones is through a CT scan, PET scan or bone scan.  Can anyone share anything on this topic?  Has anyone else had pains in their ribs after chemo?

  • mari55
    mari55 Member Posts: 693
    edited April 2010

    I have not had chemo but I did have rib pain that ended up being  bone metastasis from DCIS that I had 10 yrs ago.  An x-ray won't show anything ( I had two).  You are right that it takes a bone scan or PET scan.  It is worth the piece of mind if nothing else so talk to your doctor about further testing.

  • Heatherbee
    Heatherbee Member Posts: 4
    edited April 2010

    I agree.  I had rib pain in the same side as my masectomy after reconstruction at the same time I had what I thougth was a really bad cold and thought it was just from coughing to hard.  I let it go and didn't go to the doctor about it, well I mentioned it to my plastic surgeun who said that sometime there is a is a knitting of the skin to the cartilage that can cause rib pain, but it stopped so I didn't pursue it any further.  However, another month rolled by and I was still out of breath, I went into to see the dr and a chest x-ray and then ct scan of my lung found out that I had plural effusion with a small node mass 2 cm and my left lung was almost entirely collaped.  I just had 2 liters drained out today and at least that much more to go at a later time.  I was also complaining about hip pain and had a bone scan on saturday which revealed pelvic mastastic disease.  SO...what I am trying to say is petition to have a bone scan or encourage to have further tests done to make sure.  I was also told that you have to have more than 10 ounces of fluid in your lungs to for it to show up on an upright chest x-ray too and my mass didn't show up there.  Take care my friend. God Bless. 

  • cabmom
    cabmom Member Posts: 388
    edited April 2010

    Thanks Mari55 and Heatherbee for the info.  Can't believe that both of you are from KS....so am I.  That is bizarre.  I have requested a bone scan and will have it done on the 26th after radiation is complete.  Did both of you have node involvement?  The onc does not think that it's bone mets but for my piece of mind wants to go ahead with it.  I just know that the pain is still there.....

    Also, I'm sorry to hear that both of you had mets.....I hope you both are doing ok now!

Categories