Thick band is tissue on ribs below breast

Options
Dauna
Dauna Member Posts: 20
edited February 2018 in Radiation Therapy - Before, During, and After

So, I'm not exactly sure why in the past couple of days I've become really very worried about something I first discovered about eight months ago.

I had IDC right breast diagnosed in June 2015. Stage 1c, grade 3, ER+, PR-, HER2- , oncotype test score 34

I had breast preservation surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. I was in a clinical trial and initially was lying on my stomach for radiation. It turned out to be diasterous. I broke two ribs during mapping. Immediate excrutiating pain was misdiagnosed. Began radiation two weeks later. Awful pain each time lying on my stomach five or six treatments later I broke more ribs and was hospitalized with what was thought to be a PE Eventually completed radiation March 2016

Fast forward to early 2017. I thought I noticed a thicken below my right breast on my rib cage but my breast had really changed (right breast is really very firm now and I'm 67) so I didn't give it a lot of thought and have mentioned it to no one.

Now there is a much large and very distinct band of thickening under my breast across my rib cage. What's different now is that in certain positions I can feel it tugging and there is some intermittent stinging pain.

Today I'm in tears about it but don't know if I should call my family Dr or my medical oncologist? I'm in such total denial that this is anything that when I saw a nurse practitioner three weeks ago I never mentioned it. I have t told anyone about this including my husband.

I'm hoping that this is a common occurance 1-2 yrs post radiation and wonder if others have the same thick band of tissue?

Thanks for reading my post and sharing any similar experience.

Dauna



· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • Denise-G
    Denise-G Member Posts: 1,777
    edited January 2018

    I would call your medical oncologist since he/she is familar with all you have been through....of course you are scared, but it could be a number of things.

    My dad frequently broke his ribs - had really weak ribs even though he was a strong guy. He had cartilage growth

    that was visible.

    I am 5.5 years out from rads. I still have A LOT of issues from Rads even though it was on a

    MX area.

    Sending all my best!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Dauna
    Dauna Member Posts: 20
    edited January 2018

    Thank you Denise. Very kind of you to respond.

    Do we ever get over being scared that our bodies are going to let us down? I try so very hard to never over react but I seem to reach a tipping point and have a mini melt down.

    I finally told my husband my fear. He acknowledges that he can both see and feel the thickening. He just said that tomorrow we'll call my medical oncologist. He's a tremendous source of strength for me.


    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Dauna
    Dauna Member Posts: 20
    edited February 2018

    I wanted to report that an ultra sound proved that the mass I have attached to my rib cage is scar tissue partly because of the radiation but also because I broke my ribs three times during radiation.


    Huge relief!



    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • dmjmom
    dmjmom Member Posts: 79
    edited February 2018

    Your rads experience was horrifying. I'm glad you got this issue diagnosed and that it is a benign issue. Thank you for coming back and letting us know!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories