Worried rib pain is secondary cancer

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Hi everyone

I'm 57 and finished active treatment early June after my routine mammogram in February picked up a lump and DCIS. Biopsies picked up a ductal carcinoma tumour 10mm and DCIS over 9cm in my left breast. I had a left mastectomy due to the large DCIS area in March and have recovered fairly well from that. The tumour was ER & PR +ve, Her2 -ve, Stage 1, Grade 2. My sentinel node biopsy was clear. I had 5 days radiotherapy which I tolerated well apart from a sunburn type skin reaction 2 weeks later needing flamogel. I started letrazole around that time late May and have also tolerated that apart from fatigue and occasional aches/pains. Here we are in September and although I'm doing pretty well apart form fatigue I have had 2/3 separate health issues to deal with:

- low white blood cell count and low neutrophils which are being retested early November. I do have an autoimmune (Sjogrens) disease causing low neutrophils regularly so am hoping that is what this is. Not sure about the low WBC and just under normal lymphocytes. Whilst I can rationalise it's likely autoimmune related, I was initially worried it might be some kind of secondary blood cancer. The breast cancer nurse has tried to reassure me this is likely autoimmune and I'll wait for the next blood test.

- increased ectopic heart beats which came on very suddenly when I started the calcium/Vit D3 tablets for osteopenia. I had them like that 20 years ago when I was pregnant and only occasionally have runs of them. This was hundreds plus a day for a week or so.The cardiologist I saw carried out thorough tests, ultrasound and 24 hour ecg halter and concluded they are benign ectopics which increased for a while for whatever reason. They've now subsided, which is a relief.

- The last few days though I have noticed a pain in my rib at the side a bit under my left breast mastectomy site, which is much more noticeable when I stretch in a certain way. In my mind I'm trying to play it as overdoing some pilates stretching exercises or sjogrens, which can also affect bones and ligaments I think. My worry brain, however, catastrophises and I'm wondering if it's secondary bone cancer in the ribs. I've stopped the exercises on that side for now and hope rest improves it. It's a small area and not overly sore to touch, mainly when I stretch there's a pain/burn.

My main question is could it be secondary cancer so soon after breast cancer treatment (3/4 months) and should I ask for a scan of some kind? My cancer was said to be a fairly good one (if there is such a thing!) so it makes me wonder they missed something. Might the blood tests be related to this too?

I'm trying to keep my health anxiety in check but sometimes it's hard, especially during the night if I wake up.

Thanks for listening.

Louise42 23 days ago

Hi,

You've been through a really scary experience which is still very fresh in your mind, so it is so normal to worry.

Have you been given a Predict score which could help to provide some reassurance about your future?

From experience, once you have a couple of clear annual mammograms under your belt, the worry starts to recede.

The rib pain may be from the radiotherapy? My rib pain took around 8 months to disappear after radiotherapy on the left side.

Best to talk things through with a Breast Care Nurse or consultant, as they are so used to all our fears and concerns.

All the best.

Frankie123 23 days ago in reply to Louise42

Hi Louise42

Thanks for replying.

I hadn't thought about the radiotherapy causing rib pain and you're right that it would help to phone the breast nurse and talk things through. I think I'll plan to do that next week if it doesn't improve a bit. I've just revisited my Predict score (which I'd completely forgotten about!) and its 96% survival over 5 years, which is reassuring. It's hard to focus away from new aches and pains but I'm hoping with time passing that will ease, up as you say.

Thanks for the advice

Frankie123

Irishgirl16 23 days ago

Hi, it's so hard isn't it, every ache and pain I get now sends me into a concern about secondary. I'd suggest either a chat with your BCN or your GP, hopefully to get reassurance. They'll be sympathetic I am sure, and it's much more reassuring to have things checked out. Best wishes

Frankie123 23 days ago in reply to Irishgirl16

Hi, thanks. I think that's what I'll do next week, I know it's always good for me to talk things over with someone. Just when you think you're reaching some kind of normality again (whatever that is!) something else turns up and sets your head into a cancer worry spin again!

Thanks for listening

Jennand 19 days ago

Hi Frankie, wow, you have just written a very similar history as mine except I had a lumpectomy rather than mastectomy. I even had the radiation burn. Plus I had a large post op Haematoma which needed draining 4 times. I also have Rh arthritis which is of course an auto immune disease. Like you ER & PR+ HER-ve. Anyway, I developed a sore area above my treated breast & I was worried. Rang BCN who reassured me but 2 weeks later was still bothering me. At the same time, my bones were really painful and I was feeling really down & anxious. Anyway, off I trotted to the breast unit & my surgeon thought the soreness is on the chest wall ( ribs) rather than my breast so sent me for a nuclear whole body bone scan 6 days ago. I think my anxiety is decreasing a little as I’m hoping that if there was any abnormalities they would have let me know by now. But I’ll feel better when I have that result. My BCN also referred me for counselling & complimentary therapies. I’m also on a break from Exemestane to see if that was causing the bone pains rather than the Rh. Just to be on the safe side, I’m on a 3 week course of steroids (WHICH I HATE) can’t sleep. The bone pains seem to be less & I don’t feel as low in mood as I did now I’ve stopped Exemestane, not decided yet whether I’ll restart it or not. You think that once the surgery & radio is done, you can relax a bit, but the truth is, we’re all only human and it’s natural to worry. It does seem though that reb pain following radiotherapy can be common, but my best advice is contact your team, that’s what they are there for, because lying awake worrying about it, isn’t helping. Let us know your outcome.

Frankie123 19 days ago in reply to Jennand

Hi Jennand

It's good to hear from someone with a similar history, fingers crossed for your scan results. I'm glad you're feeling a bit better and in less pain. It seems we live on a rollercoaster, feeling back to kind of normal (whatever that is) and then 'boom', something else gets in the way and we have to deal with the anxieties and worries all over again. It can be complicated with autoimmune symptoms as you know with so much symptom overlap. I spoke to the breast care nurse yesterday and glad I did. Her advice was practical and reassuring. She thought I'd maybe over exercised/stretched so rest up for a while with that or radiotherapy related. I hadn't been aware it could affect you months down the line. Also, to keep an eye on it in case it doesn't improve. She's informing the surgeon too to see if he has any other advice. I'm feeling better after the call and just getting on with it as you do. I'm off out in the sunshine whilst it lasts for a walk now.

Take good care and best wishes xx

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Worried rib pain is secondary cancer