Is this from radiation or not?

Nancy2581
Nancy2581 Member Posts: 1,234
edited March 2015 in Pain

Hi all

Just wondering if this pain I have developed might be from radiation or maybe I need to have it checked. Right below my rib cage on the right side (on the side) it is very tender. Hurts but only when I move certain ways. I'm not being radiated there but it is the same side. It started last Tuesday - hasn't gotten better or worse. I see my RO on Wednesday so I will ask. I also fell on that side five days prior to when it started but I would think I would have gotten the pain if injured right after the fall not five days later. I am sitting here on the couch and I don't feel it but I will when I get up and if I press on the area oooh boy ouch.

Any thoughts? I have done 16 radiation treatments and have 17 more to go .

Thanks

Nancy

PS I had my gall bladder removed so that isn't it and the pain is more to my side

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Comments

  • labelle
    labelle Member Posts: 721
    edited February 2015

    Yes, I think so. Bruised feeling and tender (even cracked) ribs can be a side effect of radiation. I still have tenderness in that area several weeks after my RADS ended but it started during treatment. What they don't tell us!

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  • Nancy2581
    Nancy2581 Member Posts: 1,234
    edited February 2015

    thanks Labelle that makes me feel better because it just seem to come out of nowhere. This side effect I would have liked to know about!!!! Sheesh

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  • ruthbru
    ruthbru Member Posts: 57,235
    edited February 2015

    I would mention it to your RO, but it definitely sounds like it radiation related to me.

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  • Hopeful82014
    Hopeful82014 Member Posts: 3,480
    edited February 2015

    Yep. Good luck with it Nancy. In the meantime, do be careful of it (as though you wouldn't think of that yourself, right? :) )

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  • Nancy2581
    Nancy2581 Member Posts: 1,234
    edited February 2015

    Thank you ladies. My mind was going to the dark side like it always does with every new ache or pain. Ugh

    Nancy

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  • Holeinone
    Holeinone Member Posts: 2,478
    edited February 2015

    Nancy, all the tissue between the ribs, if injured, takes longer to heal then anyone expects.

    Being on the hard table, stretching your arms for rads is probably not helping the healing process. Like most of the tx, it takes time...

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  • Beachbum1023
    Beachbum1023 Member Posts: 1,417
    edited February 2015

    Hi Nancy, I just finished rads #19 and my side is very tender and is swelling and puffy. My ribs hurt and my armpit feels tight. But doing the exercises from my mastectomy and seems to help. I look tanned, the incisions are looking darker and dry and peeling. The armpit is turning red and is tender. But hey other than that I am good to go. LOL If I don't ask every stinking question I found that they don't offer any additional info. So I slather on the 100% clear Aloe Gel 5 to 6 times a day and that seems to work well so far. Very gooey but works! I also apply the Aloe before I leave from rads, seems to cool the area. Just waiting to count down to 28!!!

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  • Nancy2581
    Nancy2581 Member Posts: 1,234
    edited February 2015

    beachbum me too I am ready to be at 28. I had to stop all of the aloe and Aquaphor because I developed a weird rash. I don't think the rash had anything to do with those products. I get these weird rashes at times and I think this is the same, but RO wanted me to use Skin Clinical . My underarm is a little sore too. Bleh

    I kept telling myself that rads would be a walk in the park compared to chemo. Hmmmm I dunno lol.

    Nancy

    Thanks Holeinone - one day I will be pain free again I hope.

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  • Nancy2581
    Nancy2581 Member Posts: 1,234
    edited March 2015

    I still have this pain. It's not my ribs but right below it on the right side. I don't feel it all the time only when I move certain ways. I did ask my RO about it and he said it's not from radiation because that area is not in the fields. I see my MO on Tuesday and will mention it to her. I'm starting to get scared because it's where your liver is. I have no other symptoms just this weird tenderness. At time I think it's getting better and then it hurts a little more. It hasn't gotten any worse though.

    Nancy

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  • Beachbum1023
    Beachbum1023 Member Posts: 1,417
    edited March 2015

    Hi Nancy, most of my pain is in the armpit, but it is pretty fried. I do feel a stabbing pain at the bottom of my rib cage if I move certain ways. But the bottom edge of rads does catch that area. Just like the rash on the back of my shoulder. I asked the RO and the rads are catching that area, which I thought was a lung. Oh it is the lung, great what's next now? I'm pretty tender all over the chest wall but it is rashy and burned and the swelling is not helping. 4 more, 4 more, 4 more!

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  • Nancy2581
    Nancy2581 Member Posts: 1,234
    edited March 2015

    thanks beachbum. I am sunburned and I have some spots that have opened up just like a burn would ick. I'm using silvadene to help. I have 7 to go, but really only two are whole breast the other 5 are boosts to my tumor site only. Just wish I knew what this tenderness below rib cage is.

    Nancy

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  • Beachbum1023
    Beachbum1023 Member Posts: 1,417
    edited March 2015

    Hey Nancy, I go to the beach all the time and have gotten more than my fair share of sunburns I can't really say I look sunburned, it's beyond that for me. All the skin peeled off my armpit, and the rash itches really bad. And some areas are blistering. Clothing makes me crazy! I just have the 4 boosts, but they included the most scar area. So I am concerned that it will breakdown. Ugh! I can't wait until Thursday to be done. I have another ECHO that day, so I really hope that goes well! The burns will heal, but my heart is a concern.

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  • Nancy2581
    Nancy2581 Member Posts: 1,234
    edited March 2015

    beachbum wow you've certainly had it rough. I hope the boosts go better for you and your scar tissue holds up. I'll be thinking of you

    Hugs

    Nancy

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