BILATERAL MASTECTOMY, NOW HURTING

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mikita5
mikita5 Member Posts: 373

I had a bilat mx 3 yrs ago.  I now have continuous aching and pain in one of my breasts. This has been going on for several months, but it first started out  hurting occassionally. Now, it's pretty much continuous.. Does bc actually hurt/ache?? I had DCIS and had no pain so I have nothing to compare this to.

Anyone, please?

Comments

  • Beesie
    Beesie Member Posts: 12,240
    edited November 2011

    What type of reconstruction did you have?  If you have implants and your implant has shifted or moved out of place, that could cause on-going muscle pain.

    I had constant aches and pains from the muscle over my implant for about a 6 month period, starting about 9 months after I had my exchange surgery. I think I did something - some sort of stretch - that moved the implant slightly out of position (or moved the muscle over the implant in some way) and it strained the muscle and seemed to ache with every movement.  Then it settled down and for the most part, the pain went away.

    Have you talked to your breast surgeon or plastic surgeon?  

  • mikita5
    mikita5 Member Posts: 373
    edited November 2011

    Hi Bessie,

    No, I haven't talked to BS or PS. They are 7 hrs away, so I called my oncologist here. She was supposed to get back to me today but didn't.  I'll be giving her a call back tomorrow.

    You know, I've been working on my den, doing strenuous work (removing wallpaper, filling in cracks in paneling, texturing walls and painting). For that time period, which was about 3 months, I worked soooo very hard on weekends...All day, All evening and All night. When I went to bed, I couldn't sleep because every part of my body hurt. I've never experienced this kind of hurting. I contributed it to the work..I could hardly get in hubby's truck--or out!  Well, the work has come to an 'almost' end and I still experience the muscle/bone pain, altho not as bad...

    I guess once we have bc, everything that hurts makes us think it's back... I'm praying the breast pain is normal and perhaps the other pain is just age (59 next month) or arthritis or fibromyalgia.

    Thanks, Bessie for your reply. I guess I just have to wait to talk to the doc. Hopefully, tomorrow..

  • mikita5
    mikita5 Member Posts: 373
    edited November 2011

    Oh, Bessie...I had immediate DIEP econstruction.  I went into the surgery with one spot of DCIS but pathology report came back afterwards with 2 more spots of DCIS.. Therefore, I don't know where the other 2 spots were or what any margins would have been.  I think that's what worries me most.

  • Binney4
    Binney4 Member Posts: 8,609
    edited November 2011

    Mikita, when you talk to your doctor you might want to discuss the possibility of breast (truncal) lymphedema. Arm lymphedema is usually not real painful, but breast/chest lymphedema often is. Here's help for finding a well-qualified lymphedema therapist near you:
    http://www.stepup-speakout.org/Finding_a_Qualified_Lymphedema_Therapist.htm

    And here's information about truncal lymphedema. It's possible with only a SNB, and it happens even in reconstructed breasts:
    http://www.stepup-speakout.org/breast_chest_trunckal_lymphedema.htm

    Just a thought. Hope you soon have good answers and a quick fix!

    Gentle hugs,
    Binney

  • barbe1958
    barbe1958 Member Posts: 19,757
    edited November 2011

    Mikita, I hate to suggest it, but Google "Costochondritis", I have it and it is extremely painful!!! I also have mild truncal LE with is painful as well. Either of these side effects can occur at any time during your "Life After BC".....

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