Rib pain post breast cancer treatment.

Hello all,

I finished active breast cancer treatment the end of July. November time I had some rib pain close to my right breast. I got checked over reassured it was nothing and it went away. 

This pain has come back and a little worse this time right sided again ( same side as my treatment). Its lasted around 2 weeks up to now and it gets worse then settles. It only hurts when I touch it or stretch up. I can sleep on it ect....

I got in touch with the breast nurses and now I'm going for a full body CT. I'm absolutely petrified. I was hoping people had had the same and could offer some reassurance....

I had a lumpectomy... chemo and radio. My radio finished end of July.

Thanks 

Jess 

  • Hi Jess, 

    You made the right call to get in touch with the breast nurses when the pain came back and it's good that they are being thorough and investigating this fully even though it might be a bit frightening for you. I hope that the full body CT scan goes well for you and that you will meet others here who have had the same and who can offer you reassurance based on their personal experiences. There are many ladies here who have had a lumpectomy, chemotherapy and radiotherapy and who will I am sure be happy to share their stories with you. I hope that they will be along shortly and share their experience with you. 

    Waiting to have the CT scan and then for these important results can be indeed petrifying and I thought I would share with you some helpful tips to help you cope while waiting for important news. 

    I am keeping everything tightly crossed for you Jess that it turns out to be nothing of concern. It's really important this gets looked into but try if you can not to anticipate the worst as there could be a number of reasons for this pain. 

    Best wishes, 

    Lucie, Cancer Chat Moderator

  • Hi Jess,

    A very warm welcome to our forum.

    I am glad to hear that you finished active treatment in July. I agree with our moderator Lucie, that you made the right call, by getting the pain checked out again. I had quite a few spells of similar sounding pain, for about 12 months after my lumpectomy. I persevered with the exercises that I'd been given to try and improve my reach and it gradually improved. Waiting for a CT is always a worrying time, but I hope that you get the reassurance you need, when it's all over with.

    Have you got a date for your CT yet?

    Please keep in touch and let us know how you get on. We are always here for you.

    Kind regards,

    Jolamine xx

  • Thank you for your reply! 

    I had my CT Saturday evening. So just waiting now - this is the worst part isn't it.

    I'm just past myself that it's spread - although luckily I had no lymph node involvement so I'm hoping it's just radiotherapy induced pain. I've also just got over a recent chest infection. So I'm praying one of those is the answer! 

    Hope your well.

    Jess xx

  • Hi Jess,

    Waiting is always torture. When will you get the results of your CT?

    It spreads via the lymph nodes from the breast, so it is most unlikely to have spread elsewhere, if they are clear.

    Hoping and praying that it's due to either the radiotherapy or the cold.

    Please keep in touch and let us know how you get on. We are always here for you.

    Kind regards,

    Jolamine xx

  • They said within 2 weeks so it's not too long but also a life time ! 

    Ohhh thank you for that reassurance i definitely needed to hear that! I had 20 removed at time of my surgery and all were negative so I've got everything crossed! 

    Jolamime that is really very kind of us and I appreciate you taking the time to message back.

    Jess xxx

  • Hi Jess,

    I was told that  there was a tightness, where the scarring was and that this pulls when you stretch or exert yourself when lifting something. It is unusual for pain to accompany breast cancer.

    If they removed 20 lymph nodes at the time of surgery and nothing showed up in any of these, it should be good news. Do  you know what type of breast cancer you had, or what stage it was?

    Kind regards,

    Jolamine XX

  • Sorry for my late reply!

    Fingers crossed for good news! 

    My cancer was triple negative and it was stage 1 

    Jess xxx

  • Hi Jess,

    It is good news that it is stage one. Let's hope for more good news , when your results come back.

    PIease keep in touch and let us know how you get on. We are always here for you.

    Kind regards,


    Jolamine xx