Back pain in lung area after radiotherapy

Hi Callygran, I haven't had this experience myself, but I just wanted to respond as I noticed your post hasn't had any comments yet.  It sounds a little frightening but good that the medical team are trying to get to the bottom of it. I hope you get some answers soon, best wishes

Hi Callygran, I'm sorry to hear you're feeling anxious about this. Good that your GP is examining possibilities, that's reassuring. I am a little similar to you. I'm wondering whether to go to my GP or if I am just letting my fears and imagination get the better of me. Like you I am coming up for 2 years post surgery. Last year's scan was clear. Recently I have been feeling 'not right' and am lacking energy. Dry cough, sore behind my right armpit, sore chest, palpitations, tired eyes. I've had a slight cold so it could be down to that, and had covid in October. So my tiredness and everything could be post-viral, post-Christmas indulgence. I think it unlikely I have metastases since my cancer was stage 0 and I have faith it was removed, but part of me is anxious it could be a different cancer altogether and then I realise the anxiety itself is making me feel worse. I have to remember to breathe!

I don't want to turn up at the GP and sound like I'm just making a fuss. So my plan is to give it a week. I have an unrelated (I hope!) Gynae app next week, so between now and then I'm going to note if my symptoms improve, remain or worsen. Also times of day I notice them etc.

Having a plan is good for keeping my spirits up. Having a GP take you seriously is good. I guess your symptoms could have any number of causes and hopefully they will help you get to the bottom of things so you can feel better and less anxious soon. Keep us posted! 

Thanks Irishgirl16 and Sparkly bits.

Got a chest xray today, so just have to wait on results.  Got home then got a call for my yearly mammogram tomorrow.

Think your right SparklyBits, we let our imagination run away with us. Just never had problems with breathing before and it's getting I can't do anything without gasping. But don't worry about doc thinking your making a fuss, it's your body you know when things don't feel right.

I had rib pain and lower back pain, 2.5 years after original diagnosis. I got myself into a real tizz, convinced myself cancer had spread to bones!

GP was good and sent me for X-ray and did bloods ..told me unlikely to be anything sinister. But I wasn’t really happy as pain in lower back was getting worse. Phoned BC nurse who made emergency referral to my wonderful consultant. She sent me for a nuclear bone scan and CT scan, 

fortunately all clear and it was diagnosed as radiotherapy damage, which is just a long term side effect! As I’m no longer worried about it, the pain is better..still there but i can manage it. 

so my advice is to phone your BC nurse and discuss. it’s probably nothing,but if it is something then you can get appropriate diagnosis. Good luck x

Thank you Cyprusfav, that's really interesting and helpful. Something to ask doc about. Could explain some of my rib tenderness. 

Xray came back showing fluid on my lung. Breathlessness is worse, ok if I stay seated doing nothing but terrible if I try to do anything.

Was sent yesterday for another CT scan. Got call from hospital today to see someone tomorrow.  Fingers but mind in overdrive. Thanks for all your replies . 

Hope your ok

1 year on from my last post. After CT I was diagnosed with stage 4 metastic breast cancer. My original cancer which was HER2+ had spread and caused malignant pleural effusion in my opposite side and sub cutaneous cancerous nodules in same breast. These appeared as a couple of small rice like grains to start with but spread quickly to around 20, they become purple and hot.  As my original diagnosis was caught early and no spread to lymph nodes, i chose to only have radiotherapy after tumour was removed as was under the impression that meant wouldn't spread. Now they tell me oh yes, can spread through blood etc !!. Any of you aware of this?

I've had chemo, which had to be stopped after 2 rounds as I was hospitalised as so ill and Herceptin with Perjeta. Outcome is lung fluid all gone and nothing on breast skin. 6 monthly CT's and heart scans. Now 3 years on from original diagnosis im on 3 weekly Herceptin injections, had 17 treatments and told as long as its working I will remain on it. 

Don't know if I'm classed as cancer free or living with cancer.  Anyone else gone through the same, and how are they doing.

Oh Callygran, thank you for checking back in with your update! What a mill you've been through. so glad you have been successfully treated and things appear to be under control: "living WITH cancer", I'd say - maybe a question to ask at your next (6-monthly?) review? I'd be interested to hear what they say and when (if ever) they are confident enough to say 'cancer free'. 

I guess I've always been aware cancer can spread via blood. I'm just trying to walk the fine line between burying my head in the sand and being watchful about small changes in how I feel. I still have what I call 'rib pain' on both sides - no idea what it is. After our exchange on here last year I had various tests including X ray and blood tests and was reassured there was no sign of metastasis. I think they did take things seriously; in spite of me worrying that I sounded silly for asking. I am now looking forward to my 3 year mammogram in April or May for further reassurance that my niggles are just ordinary niggles - I do think it's a bit of RT damage tbh. My stepmother has had lumpectomy in the past two years as well and she is a REAL worrier! She has mentioned getting muscle cramps at rib level so I was able to reassure her I have that too and we think that may be RT-related. She has been on Letrozole (hers was oestregen-receptive stage zero DCIS but she is very fearful of the cancer returning) and has had horrendous side effects. She's finally coming off it I think. I had to persuade her that her knowable quality of life was more important than the (probably low) risk of the cancer coming back.

I'll let you know when I've had my next mammogram! Keep us posted x

Thanks SparklyBits, what gets me is I went back with a new lump on the edge of the previous lumpectomy.  They said it was scar tissue, 7 months later I end up rediagnosed and the lump went after the chemo.

Unfortunately i think we will always think every niggle is something to worry about. And agree your MiL needs to prioritise quality of life,  that's why I dint take chemo etc on 1st diagnosis  as given 24% chance if recurrence. We just have to be thankful we're still here.  Both my husband and youngest son died of cancer within 4 months of my 1st diagnosis. Husband diagnosed the week after my radiotherapy ended and died 8 weeks later, son diagnosed 4 weeks after dad died and only got 4 weeks. Neither had early symptoms.