Rib issues

Just wanted to let you know I'm thinking about you. I have had some rib soreness for a few days, Can't tell if there is a lump, I have been poking myself about every 10 minutes to check! My TMs have been slowly going above the norm for a few months and I think about mets constantly. I see my ONC on Tue which always freaks me out, I sort of relive the original bad experience so and tests and doctors really make me nervous. I miss the days when a pain was just pain and I did'nt jump to dark places. Anyway sending positive thoughts you way.

Thanks for the encouragement, I know I wouldn't even notice the rib if the TMs were not wonky. Please keep me posted on your check up. My BS is my Favorite too, she's wonderful. Hope you can relax soon. Have a good evening

Hi 3boys:

I too have had some weird vague rib pain for the last couple of weeks.  I don't have a lump or bump, but it comes and goes and I did have a bone scan which showed "something", so now I am going for a CT with contrast on Monday.  My tumor markers are normal, so who knows.  I broke ribs when I was young, and I have gotten pretty banged up riding my horse...so for now I am just trying to stay positive.  I would go have it checked out though.  Lord knows I don't want bad news, but if it is, I would rather be having treatment.

MImi

Wow, I came here to see if anyone was talking about rib pain...I have the exact same thing: rib pain, on my left side/side of cancer, and a bumpy lump under the breast - it's been hurting for a good month now..I see my onco in early March so I'm trying to hold off till then but that and the back pain is pretty bad. I just finished herceptin three months ago so I keep saying it can't be anything come back this soon, but hard chemo finished last Feb so who knows...I SO want to go back to the days when a pain was just a pain and due to just getting old-er. I'm hoping this is nothing for both of us.

Hi everyone, im having rib pain too & have been googling all day. Hope someone here may have some thoughts. I have TE in that are filled to 620 now. I just finished chemo and exchange will be end of march. Im worried bc bone scan showed area of focal activity on posterior left ribs in "linear distribution." Report says "could be due to muscle insertion sites." It also noted 2 areas of focal activity in front left 3rd and 5th ribs. It says "tissue expanders in area... could be stress related or due to post procedural changes...metastatic disease cannot be completely excluded." Onc was unconcerned and thinks its from expansions. I can't get MRI because of TEs. So I got a follow up x ray friday. I don't know findings yet and see onc Wednesday. Could focal activity be anything but mets? Or is it most likely mets if focal activity is seen on a bone scan? If I still don't get a definitive answer on wednesday I will ask for a CT scan.

Hope it goes well for you when you see your onc bookgirl. Let us know. My onc doesn't test TEs or even do scans. I had to insist in bone scan. I can't stand uncertainty - its really making me crazy.

3boysmom, onc didn't want to order scan. I insisted. Now, even with bone scan showing rib activity, onc still unconcerned. I requested follow up test & got x ray and am awaiting results. I think a CT scan is what I really need. Its very frustrating. Let us know how it goes for you.

FINALLY! I saw the Onc on Tues and told him about the rib discomfort, he checked very thoroughly but said every thing normal most like cause was muscle, but possible to be gallbladder. He sent me to get TMs again and today he called with the news that they were in the normal range! First time in 7 months they have not been slightly elevated. He said that markers were most likely up because of the saroma from 2 surgery's. He reminded me that Many things usually benign can cause ribs to be sore. Just wanted to let you know and remind you my thoughts and prayers are with you all.

Good news bookgirl.

Hi ladies, I just wanted to chime in on rib pain and maybe give someone some peace of mind.  I had a BMX June of 2010.  Almost a year later I started a=having a lot of pain in my ribs.  I had been having back pain but I have two small kids am very active lifting them etc and have never had a good back so I ignored it until the rib pain.  I was VERY freaked out.  I started seeing a physical therapist.  I was honest with her and told her all my discomforts and my fear of the rib pain.  She was great and explained how rib pain can occur due to muscular issues.  I saw her 4 times, and the rib pain was gone.  Well, it comes back now and again but she can feel the muscles and what it is doing to spasm and puts my mind at ease and then puts my body at ease.  I had the same issue with clavicle pain- it has all been muscular (thank God).

I have now been in physical therapy- massage- for 7  months and can say that it has been a huge help to met physically and mentally.  All the aches and pains have had an explanation.  I don't know why more BS and PS don't suggest PT??

Makes a lot of sense Laurie. Glad the PT has helped you. BS & PS should suggest it more, especially when they are not concerned but know that the patient is.

I am pretty sure that cancer and broken ribs look very different on CT, so I would venture to say you are in the clear.  Time to stop worrying!

Hi 3boys, be confident in what your onc says. Hard as it is to not worry, its good when doctors are not concerned. They have seen so much, they know when to be concerned. Not to say we shouldn't persist if something really bothers us, but for the sake of our sanity I think we need to rely on the oncs opinions about some aches &pains. I know if I didn't, I would lose my mind.

Saw the onco today, going for a bone scan..thinks it's nothing but wants to be sure...not sure when yet.