Rib cage pain from radiation treatments

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Tinkerbell14
Tinkerbell14 Member Posts: 29
edited May 2019 in Radiation Therapy - Before, During, and After

Hello,

I had lumpectomy in October. I now have 9 radiation treatments left (of 20) for my minimally invasive DCIS of left breast. Tonight after a sneeze (allergies) my rib cage really hurt (on left side which is the side being treated. Coughing hurts too). I’m worried about weakening of the ribs and fractures. Anyone else? I understand fractures of the ribs are somewhat rare. Wonder if they will stop treatments. This is awful. Something else to worry me in the new year. Thank you for any insight you may have

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  • marijen
    marijen Member Posts: 3,731
    edited January 2019

    My radiologist said that radiation can makes the ribs brittle and cause them to fracture. I still have rib pain. I think the only thing you can do is take supplements for bone strengthening. Vit D3, K2, and magnesium. There is a topic for that.


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  • Tinkerbell14
    Tinkerbell14 Member Posts: 29
    edited January 2019

    Thank you Marijen. Will look for the topic and ask the doc about supplements. Just worried having pain when just half way through treatments.

    Happy healthy 2019 to you

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  • marijen
    marijen Member Posts: 3,731
    edited January 2019

    My radiologist also told me there is no treatment for broken ribs.

    Here is the most active topic in the bone health forum

    https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/120/topic...

    You should also speak up about any issues radiation is causing before it’s too late. Search Deep Regrets.



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  • gb2115
    gb2115 Member Posts: 1,894
    edited January 2019

    Sorry you are in pain, talk to your doctor when you go for your next treatment. There's also a chance you just pulled a muscle in there!

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  • SummerRain
    SummerRain Member Posts: 54
    edited January 2019

    This happens to me sometimes, even 2 yrs out.

    The muscle tissue in the area is also taking a beating, not just from the radiation, but from the surgery as well. Sneezes or coughs can cause it to tighten up. That can also make it feel like the ribs are effected (which they are, just not in the same way). Often gentle, slow stretches can help.

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  • Tinkerbell14
    Tinkerbell14 Member Posts: 29
    edited January 2019

    Thank you for the link Marijen. It helps!

    Gb2115 and SummerRain thanks - never considered the idea of a muscle being affected. Hopefully that’s what it is.

    I will see the doc this afternoon.

    I really appreciate the support of all of you.

    Ann

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  • Tinkerbell14
    Tinkerbell14 Member Posts: 29
    edited January 2019

    Just wanted to post an update. The pain subsided a lot overnight and now feels close to normal. The doctor wasn’t too concerned and felt it could just be a muscle strain. So strange. Hurt like a bugger.So I went ahead with my treatment today. Just 6 more to go! Thanks again to each of you who took the time to reply. I Really appreciate it. <Hugs>

    Ann

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  • gb2115
    gb2115 Member Posts: 1,894
    edited January 2019

    Glad you are feeling better!!! Sneezes can be awfully hard on your body, funny as it is. You just never know. I threw my back out this summer spitting toothpaste into the sink. Bodies can be weird.

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  • sweetp6217
    sweetp6217 Member Posts: 365
    edited April 2019

    I don't know if this helps anyone, but I had rads ending exactly 1 year ago and I'm still tan in the crease under my breast. The ribs under that tan hurt if something presses against it, like a mammogram. Bras are ok.

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  • Lexica
    Lexica Member Posts: 259
    edited April 2019

    Sweetp - I am still tan, too from radiation! I didn't expect that. I also have tenderness and pain in the rib cage when I put pressure on it - especially under my arm. Sometimes it almost feels like my ribs (the actual bones) are swollen? My physical therapist says that my ribs have been pulled close together by the muscles tightening from radiation. I finished rads just over a year ago. I keep hoping that this pain will go away, but it seems like it might not.

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  • sdianel
    sdianel Member Posts: 49
    edited May 2019

    I had radiation in May 2017. In October 2017, I had severe pain in my ribs on that side. I had not done anything to hurt myself. I went to the RO who said it was "referred" pain from the breast. I argued with her and said my breast pain was soreness. My rib pain was excruciating and a stabbing pain. I had to carry a small pillow with me to the office and getting in and out of the car was terrible! She didn't do anything. No X-ray, no pain meds. I suffered for 6-8 weeks! Recently I had a CT scan for a kidney problem. The CT scan showed SEVERAL HEALED BROKEN RIBS. I had a CT scan right before radiation that did NOT show any broken ribs. I did some research recently after the CT scan and found that Rib Chrondritis and Rib Fractures are pretty common after radiation. Had I know that, I would have insisted she do a CT scan or X-ray when I went to the RO in October. I am livid!! I sent the cancer center patient relations coordinator an email with all the details. Hopefully nobody else has to go through that. I realize there is nothing they can do for broken ribs but I felt like she was incompetent or lying and showed no empathy. You can find all this info online. I wish I had done more research into the side effects of radiation before I agreed to it. At least I would have known what to expect. Wish you all the best.

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  • Heather2018
    Heather2018 Member Posts: 32
    edited May 2019

    Hi everyone!

    I'm 3 months out of radiation and my ribs recently started hurting like crazy - sneezing, laughing, even lying down! I had a xray on Monday - no cracks. My radiation oncologist feels this is very strange and does not know why I feel this way. She said take ibuprofen and treat it like a rib fracture. Ugh!

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  • Tinkerbell14
    Tinkerbell14 Member Posts: 29
    edited May 2019

    Hi Heather,

    I’m sorry you’re having to deal with this. My rib pain (although it scared me) didn’t last long thankfully. Well I should say I still have a little discomfort but the real pain was short lived thankfully. I finished rad treatments about 4 months ago. It’s so frustrating when the docs don’t find a reason for our issues. I hope you’re pain is temporary. Maybe a stress or hairline fracture not visible on X-ray?? Hope it resolves itself and you are feeling better soon. Take good care

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  • Heather2018
    Heather2018 Member Posts: 32
    edited May 2019

    Thanks Tinkerbell! It is scary. Especially after running to catch the train and I can't take a full breath... I need to take it easy!

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  • Heather2018
    Heather2018 Member Posts: 32
    edited May 2019

    I sure did it myself yesterday by laughing! I felt a big POP in my ribs and then some serious pain. Waiting on xray results...

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  • Tinkerbell14
    Tinkerbell14 Member Posts: 29
    edited May 2019

    Oh no! Sounds like it cracked. I’m sorry! Hang in there Heather! Let us know how things go.

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