Left armpit/arm spasms and breast pain 9 years post radiation

Hi Gailmary (Love your user name) thank you so much for responding. I hope you are right. I am just concerned because I have a couple reasons actually a few reasons. The Symptoms that I read regarding auxiliary webs syndrome or lymphedema don’t really sound like my symptoms. I do not have any swelling in my arm and I don’t have any cording. I can lift my arm over my head and in front with no problem. My main symptoms besides my armpit and breasts having more hard lumps every year are after doing the treadmill (just walking) if I use my left arm to reach behind me it does a painful cramp in my bicep and I have to shake it off. Along with the arm pain the bigger symptoms are severe pain deep in my armpit and extreme painful burning deep in my left breast. Almost feels like a huge charcoal is just simmering in my chest. Both are like a 9 on pain scale. I’ve been accustomed to the post radiation pain for the past 9 years and have pushed through it but it’s never been this painful. I hate hate how my mind goes to thinking it’s a secondary cancer or mets but it’s hard to fight that. I’m sorry this is so long but if you could read on and let me know your thoughts I would so very much appreciate it. Here are the reasons I worry.

• Prior to my DCIS about 5 years prior I had stereotactic procedure in both breasts for hyperplasia in both breasts. Then years later I came down with DCIS in my left breast and I had 2 lumpectomies (a month apart) because the margins were not clear then radiation every day for several weeks.
• My first lumpectomy my dr was delayed by five hours and was planning on taking lymph nodes in my armpit but when he finally came in he said you know I don’t think I’ll take the lymph nodes and I was happy about it at the time but now makes me wonder if he should’ve but didn’t because of his time.
  
• I have dense breasts and my aunt (my mother’s sister) died from bc mets. Combined with my previous bc and radiation and hyperdisplasia they’ all seem to be high risk.
  
• In the recent ER visit they did blood tests and my alkaline phosphosate was high which can point to bone or liver problems. I have had severe bone pain in my hips and lower back (worse at night) but it’s not constant and I’ve always attributed to my age and I do have osteoporosis.
  
  
• Anyways can you see why I am so paranoid? I really hope you guys are right and it’s just the radiation fibrosis/lympedema or axillary web syndrome. I really do!! It gives me hope. I have an appointment next June 11 with oncologist NP so hope to find out more or at least get an MRI to put my mind at ease BTW it sounds like you are such a strong woman and have been through a lot and have kept a positive outlook. You and so many women on this site are an inspiration and I thank you for sharing your journey with breast cancer!!
  
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  All the Best, Elise
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Hi Gailmary! So good to hear from you! Wow I have an update for you and it's crazy how it sounds like we are very much the same with our symptoms and hopefully diagnosis. I was at an 8/9 pain for a couple weeks but can't imagine two months!!! I'm glad you got some answers. Like you said better than cancer!! So here's my update.

My breast MRI came back “unremarkable"! woohoo!Under Recommendation it said “See dictation impression “ but I don't have access to it. I have a follow up with the oncologist July 7th. She talked about doing an ultrasound next but I'm not worried because last week I had a thoracic injection (at a pain clinic that's helped me before) in my upper back (T1 and T2) and it actually took about 50% of the pain away!! The dr that did the injection said if the breast mri and ultrasound are clear then he may do a scan of my neck/upper back to make sure there aren't any issues like herniated disc. I had a herniated disc in my neck about 8 years ago and he helped with that too along with physical therapy. But that one affected my right side not the left. So we'll see but I really think it makes sense. My husband was saying that he thought it may be coming from my spine and hopefully he's right! So did you get the nerve block? If so where and did your injection help your pain? If so how much?

I found this article today (attached)when I googled can the spine affect the armpit, breast. It sounds spot on. Let me know your thoughts. Looking forward to hearing from you!

Sorry this was so long but I was just so excited about it. 😬

p.s. It wouldn’t let me send with the attachment for some reason even though it let me use the attachment option. If you send me your email I can send through email if you’re interested.