What does it feel like to have mets to the chest wall?

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dusterella
dusterella Member Posts: 50
edited September 2017 in Not Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastases but Concerned

Hi! It's been a while since I've posted, and I just celebrated my five year cancerversary! But, I've been really paranoid lately, maybe because my doctor cycles are now yearly rather than every 6 months?

Anyway, I searched and couldn't find a definitive "this is what mets to the chest wall feels like" thread (but it's very likely I just missed it).Pplease, feel free to direct me to it if it exists!

Here's what's going on:

About 2 months ago, I started having weird chest pains. At first I thought it was maybe my heart, but it isn't only on my left side, and it isn't constant. It kinda moves around, usually right behind where my breasts used to be before the double mastectomy (so, not lower, like liver/gallbladder). I wouldn't describe it as a "sharp" pain, but it's definitely noticeable and gets worse with deep breathing. I didn't get reconstruction, and I don't feel any lumps anywhere.

I can't ask my doctor right now because...I don't actually have one at the moment *yikes* - long story short, I had to switch insurance companies in Jan, and the new one isn't accepted at my old doctor's practice. Ugh

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  • rosemamma88
    rosemamma88 Member Posts: 22
    edited June 2017

    Hi dusteralla,


    I just read your post, even though it was from 2012. I am having similar symptoms and wondered if you'd ever found anything or saw your doctor about it?

    I'm on my way to a last minute Oncologist appointment now. Hope your situation was not a recurrence.


    Thanks,

    Debbie

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  • MinusTwo
    MinusTwo Member Posts: 16,634
    edited June 2017

    Debbie - it's unlikey you will get a response. If you are concerned, you may want to start your own question or post your question in the 'not stage IV but concerned' thread

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  • wintersocks
    wintersocks Member Posts: 922
    edited June 2017

    Dusterella,

    I have been told that I am high risk for chest wall recurrence, and I too have wondered what it would feel like, Sometimes I fancy i am breathless - but I am not sure if that's because I am scared of the recurrence? - sometimes it's hard to tell what's real and what's in our heads because of fear.

    I guess it's back to the doc - when you get one as the advice seems to be that any symptoms that continue beyond 2 weeks needs investigating.

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  • Sadiesservant
    Sadiesservant Member Posts: 1,995
    edited June 2017

    Hi Ladies,

    I had mets appear in the pleural lining with a possible lesion in my lung. I had no symptoms until November when I experienced a persistent cough and shortness of breath on exertion. No chest pain. I do have some chest discomfort now but this is from my lung re-inflating when it is drained (I have pleural effusion from the cancer).

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  • dusterella
    dusterella Member Posts: 50
    edited June 2017

    Hi Debbie! This post is actually from last night (June 28, 2017)! My original cancer diagnosis was in 2012, so maybe that's what you saw?

    Anyway, thanks for the replies, and I will check back in if I ever get around to picking a new doctor!!!

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  • Lumpie
    Lumpie Member Posts: 1,650
    edited July 2017

    Dusterella: I've had symptoms similar to what you describe. I have chronic pain in my chest/rib cage area and have since *before* my BC Dx. In fact, the month before my Dx, I went to my PCP and convinced her to do an x-ray to be sure I hadn't broken a rib, I was in so much pain. It was negative for a fracture. I have had pretty bad pain which has gotten worse since my second surgery. If you search, you will find that many of us have been diagnosed with costochondritis. (IMHO this is what they use to explain chest pain that they can't explain.) It is also possible to have lymphedema in the trunk/chest area which even my surgeon will admit is probably part of my problem. And I suspect that there is a lot of scar tissue in there that is causing pain and inflammation, too. Sometimes, I worry about the worst (recurrence, metastasis), especially when it's really painful. Most of the time, I don't worry about the worst as much as I just want to not be in pain! Heating pads help but I can't spend my life attached to a heating pad! My doctors are very dismissive about this concern. If anyone has found a solution or way to be an effective advocate for yourself, I would love to hear about what's worked for you.

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  • Mumzy3
    Mumzy3 Member Posts: 18
    edited September 2017

    So the pain in your side was before Stage IV diagnosis? How did you finally get diagnosed?


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