Shooting pain on the side where IDC was how to screen?

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kimag
kimag Member Posts: 114
edited April 2015 in IDC (Invasive Ductal Carcinoma)

I was wondering what kind of tests are available to check for DCIS or early early signs of IDC recurrance? I know that USG is not that sensitive, I had it done the same day my mammogram showed microcalcifications and my USG showed no concerns... I did not have reconstruction so I cannot get another mammogram, would mri show anything?

I am experiencing shooting pains again, on the side where IDC was discovered, it is even around same area where it was.... Before diagnosis I had that pain and was told not to worry, then few months later I was diagnosed by accidental mammogram... so now I worry that something is wrong there... what options do I have? I was told to do self check, but I cannot feel anything , do I really have to wait until something grows to lump to check it out? I was thinking about healing nerves and so on but I had BMX so why it is only on left side, the cancer side?!

any advice appreciated, thank you

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  • kimag
    kimag Member Posts: 114
    edited December 2014

    Anybody?

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  • Sopravvissuta818
    Sopravvissuta818 Member Posts: 11
    edited December 2014

    Hello kimag, not because I had shooting pain before my diagnosisbut my IDC was small and my surgeon couldn't feel it either. Thankfully I had a talented radiologist that viewed my mammogram (with micro calcifications) a few days before I was diagnosed. I had an MRI and it it detected multiple tumors. I ended up having three IDC and one dcis. I would schedule with your surgeon and medical onc to ask for an MRI if you think anything is off. Especially since your experiencing the same symptoms you had previously. There are many late side effects that can occur that would depend on your particular treatment. I've read that some symptoms show up months later. I'm pretty new to all this, just finished radiation and I'm having shooting pains now, plus soreness pain around my entire breast. Hopefully it's just side effects but it would try putting your foot down to get the MRI. All the best

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  • kimag
    kimag Member Posts: 114
    edited December 2014

    HI Sopravvissuta, thank a lot for your feedback, usually this is a great board to get response but somehow I was not successful this time :)

    The problem I have is how would I get MRI? I have no breasts, no reconstruction, I lost weight after DX so I am quite skinny and there is no way I could somehow gather enough skin on my chest to do mammo.

    I have heart MRI scheduled soon, would you think that it can show if there is something?

    Good luck with your recovery after radiation


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  • jenjenl
    jenjenl Member Posts: 948
    edited December 2014

    I always having this zinging pain on the cancer side and I'm 2 yrs out . Go in and tell them that you've had pain for over 2 wks not getting better, consistent, etc...that should warrant a scan. Did you have scans before surgery? Did you do chemo?

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  • jenjenl
    jenjenl Member Posts: 948
    edited December 2014

    Also i had a chest ct scan and it did assess the heart. I would say heart mri would as well but I'm less versed in mri outcomes than ct.

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  • Iniah
    Iniah Member Posts: 70
    edited December 2014

    Hi Kimag

    I would think that your pain is still from the surgeries you had so recently. However, if you feel that something may be wrong, I would talk to your oncologist to see what can be done. I can tell you that I am 2.5 years post lumpectomy and I still have stabbing pain in that and other areas. I understand that you don't have breasts anymore but I would think that your nerves are trying to heal. B/C is scary and turns our lives upside down. We often expect the worst and are unsure about our own healing/health abilities since we had to go through this major change.

    Hugs and best wishes


    Iniah

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  • kimag
    kimag Member Posts: 114
    edited December 2014

    Jenjel - we are similar age - I am 37 :) and have 3 boys 9,6 and 17 months

    I had CT scan of chest + abdom just before dx ( it was not related with BC , checking after my lyphoma from the past), ct was fine, then later I had mammo and the BC story has started. I did not have chemo, just BMX. I guess I feel lost as I was told I am not under oncologist care - only had 1 appointment after surgery, so I can try calling him but I am not his regular patient, I do not consider my GP knowledgable enough in regards to signs of cancer where there is no lump :( so I do not know where to go or call with it.

    My MRI is for heart to check on possible chemo damage (chemo 18 years ago) and for that purpose it is very good + I am trying to avoid radiation too much CT etc as I had my life dose in the past (my BC was radiation induced)

    Iniah - I know there is still plenty of healing , nerves etc but it is only one side which bothers me, cancer side like before dx not on the prophylacatic side, on right side I feel no pain, some stiffness but no pain

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  • TessaW
    TessaW Member Posts: 231
    edited April 2015


    Hi.   I have the same pains you're experiencing as well as the same recurrence concern.   I talked to my nurse recently and she said cancer doesn't present itself with pain.  Most likely it's something else.   I assume result of the BMX.

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  • Flat4them
    Flat4them Member Posts: 6
    edited April 2015

    Hi TessaW, Your cancer nurse is wrong. It is a fallacy to think that cancer doesn't present itself with pain. My cancer started as a pain in on my right side. We were investigating for gall stones and found it was breast cancer. This was before any lump presented itself.

    I too have had pain at the same site as  the tumour. After 4 years the pain has become very intermittent and not so intense. It is probably nerve damage, with regrowth happening. I too am very aware of the possibility of a recurrence, keep being diligent and get to know the new me that you have become after treatment. I am facing the retirement of my surgeon who has been following me since diagnosis and am nervous of how I am going to be followed after she is gone.

    Take care

    Flat4them

      

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  • BC2015
    BC2015 Member Posts: 86
    edited April 2015

    I too had pain appear at the cancer site before the tumor lump could be felt. It felt like a constant but zigging pain, maybe because the tumor was close to the nerve. It definitely let me know it was there. I have pain too after the surgery at the site of removal but I am only 2 months out. I have been told that regenerating nerve will cause pain. I agree, call your surgeon or MO and ask some questions about the pain. Let us know what you find out. Good wishes

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