I am 72 and had breast cancer surgery five years ago. Lumpectomy and wide local excision. My five year check up was completely clear. Unfortunately I got a new unrelated womb cancer which is incurable. Tumour in my pelvic bones is being held pain free following radiotherapy and I’ve started immunotherapy. All doing well but out of the blue I am getting sharp stabbing pains in my breast and arm all along the site of my surgery. It could be scar tissue or other things but it is absolutely agonising. I am on high doses of oxycodone and Pregabalin for the current cancer. I can’t take ibuprofen due to being on blood thinners. One doctor at the immunotherapy ward gave me some lidocaine patches. They work brilliantly on the site where I place them, but when I have to remove them of a 12 hour break the pain slowly returns as bad as ever I am at my wits end as I mobilise with crutches and I can’t bear to push down on them to move or get up from a seat. Is it muscle pain or nerve pain, my cancer nurse asks. I don’t know. I just need help. Why would this pain suddenly appear five years on, when I am dealing with my current cancer so well. I feel defeated.
