Rib pain a SE?

Kathleen26
Kathleen26 Member Posts: 210
edited June 2014 in Radiation Therapy - Before, During, and After

I just (a week ago) completed 30 rad treatments (25 plus 5 boost).   After my R mastectomy in September, I had some swelling and pain in and around the ribs that my surgeon said would go away after a while.    The pain seemed to get worse during rad tx, but the rad onc said it was a normal SE of the rads and would go away in a few weeks.   Now I am experiencing even worse pain shooting through the ribs and more swelling in that area that started a few days ago.   Does this sound normal to any of you that have been through these treatments?

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Comments

  • sschmidt
    sschmidt Member Posts: 178
    edited December 2010

    I still have rib pain over 4 years later. 

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  • nwshannon
    nwshannon Member Posts: 44
    edited December 2010

    I just went in for my 4 week follow up after Rads and about a week ago I was getting unusual pains on the treated side just under my rib cage, freaked me out! I told my Rad Oncologist and he said it is from the radiation treatments and that it is normal to feel this a few weeks after treatment. The pains came and went but were a bit alarming, I never had any swelling though I would be sure to follow up again with them if the swelling continues.

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  • LisaMurphy
    LisaMurphy Member Posts: 1
    edited December 2010

    I finished my rads December 2009, I had to go to the ER last night, i'm experiencing so much pain in my chest muscles, I thought something was happening with my lungs but nothing showed up on the Xray.  Has anyone experienced muscle and rib pain long after radiation is done?

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  • Kathleen26
    Kathleen26 Member Posts: 210
    edited December 2010

    Thanks to all.   In my mind, I was afraid this was either cancer in my ribs and sternum or my liver swelling up with cancer and pushing my ribs out.   This relieves me, since it sounds like something that will likely go away on its own and even if it doesn't, it won't kill me.   If it's still there when I go back to see the rad onc next month, I'll certainly tell him about it.

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  • NativeMainer
    NativeMainer Member Posts: 10,462
    edited December 2010

    The swelling could be truncal lymphedema, which is a side effect of both rads and sentinel node biopsy/lymph node removal.  Ask for a referral to a lymphedema specialist for evaluation.  Rads also permanently damages the ribs.  The pain could be from this bone damage, or, if you have been coughing or sneezing, from a broken or cracked rib.  I hope you are one of the lucky ones and the pain goes away. 

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  • TammyLou
    TammyLou Member Posts: 740
    edited December 2010

    Yup.

    6 years out and my ribs / chest wall still hurts like hell...not every day, but they seem to FLARE.

    Normal precautions (regular checkups) are needed but, I would not be freaking out...the more rads, the more side effects.

    GAH. 

    tl 

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  • YramAL
    YramAL Member Posts: 1,651
    edited December 2010

    I'm almost 9 months out from the end of rads, and I still have some tenderness in what I call my "rib meat"-the spaces between my ribs on my radiated side. I take ibuprofen every morning when I get up, and that seems to take care of it for the day. My onc said I might have this for a very long time. It's not too bad, just a reminder of what I've had done.

    Mary 

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  • newchapter2011
    newchapter2011 Member Posts: 8
    edited January 2011

    Hi everyone....I was beginning to worry myself about these ribs.  I know it's not cancer, because I just received the results of my PET yesterday.  I'm clean after the battle I went through in 2010.  I too have just been taking Tylenol or Advil daily to deal with the pain.  Anyone know why it swells?  Also do you think heat or cold compresses would help ease the pain?  I'll try any of it....my last rad treatment was November 15, but I'm agreeing with others it seems to be getting worse.  But I do remember the techs telling me I would still be cooking after for several weeks, so maybe these are all just side effects.  Hey I made it through chemo, surgery and 7 weeks of radiation I can handle this right?

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  • Raili
    Raili Member Posts: 435
    edited January 2011

    I finished radiation 10 months ago.  A few weeks ago, I started feeling pain in the space between two ribs just under my left breast (the radiated one).  My (medical) oncologist felt it and thinks it is a muscular thing, especially because it's not constantly sore- it only hurts when I move in specific ways, such as reaching up and out.  It also hurt like hell a few days ago while I was shoveling snow.  I honestly can't say if this rib pain is related to the radiation or not- on the one hand, it seems too coincidental that it's directly under my radiated breast...on the other hand, I decreased my amount of exercise a LOT after treatment, then last month spontaneously did as many pull-ups in a row as I could without warming up/stretching first, so it could have been that that caused the rib pain.

    My oncologist recommends resting it, and using hot/cold compresses, and anti-inflammatory OTC medicine.  My naturopath recommends a session with a lymphatic massage therapist/OT/PT and that I increase my exercise in whatever ways I can.

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