kat in the Delta
 

How have some of YOU found out that YOUR cancer had recurred?? Was it only by a tumor marker- blood test?-or a scan?? Did any of You have Pain in an area that wouldn't go away for longer than 2 wks? "I have had pain at the site of my Masc.in my RIBS on that same side for about 2 or 3 wks". Sometimes I can even feel (with hands on rt.side of rib cage)-""-a rattle/movements like congestion . My last tumor blood marking test CA 27-29 was normal. My Onc is giving me Zometa every 3wks because my bone density was in the lower range of w Osteopenia. I have had about 3 IV's of Zometa since the end of All other chemos. I am also taking Tamoxifen. My Onc. never returned my call, so I went to my reg. MD who ran a bone scan --which was fine. He said something about the "membrane/ ?" between my bones and muscles, & this could make me hurt like having a broken rib(s)....CAN any of YOU explain this to me, or what other tests or scans, if any, would YOU ask for to find out WHY I AM STILL in PAIN ??? Anyone think I Am I overdosed on Zometa??
------- kat in the delta

Kat...
 

Please do not let me create any fear - but the pain you are describing is indicitive of liver metastasis. These are exactly the symptoms Lisa fought before they found the meatastasis in her liver (test after teast after test) and when they did find it in the liver it was already 30% invovled.

PLEASE to not wait. If you cannot see your onc on Monday see your PCP - in our case our PCP was the physician that found it!

Love and Light
Mel

Thread from the HER2 database...
 

http://www.her2support.org/vbulletin...ad.php?t=24212

...regarding this type of pain with recurrance.

Kat -

I think your doctor was talking about Pleurisy regarding your rib pain. I have had that malady too and it is not the same pain as with my liver mets. Pleurisy is a sharp pain that stabs when you take a deep breath. The liver mets was more of an ache due to the swelling liver capsule on my right side.

But, get it checked out.

Kat I had a pain around my surgery site and ribs and it turned out to be nothing more sinister than radiation induced fibrosis but as the other replies have said it may be worth checking if only for peace of mind.Good luck!
Tricia

hi Kat--
I can't remember what your exact situation is, but I have also had a lot of pain in my ribs since my mastectomy (which was two years ago). It turned out to be bruising from my bra (I was still trying to wear my pre-mastectomy bras). I have better bras now so I don't have nearly as much trouble.

All I have is skin over my rib bones, and human ribs are much more accustomed to having something over them--muscles, breasts, something besides skin! I still get sore there.

I hope you are having a problem similar to mine, rather than a recurrence!

Val

kat in the delta
 

My MD knows it is not pleur(sp)....I have not been coughing with congestion,,but the sound or feeling my rt.rib cage when I take a deep breath in --is very noticeable....my sister could feel it also when she held her hands over my ribs...Know anything else....I did not even know where the liver was...I have gotten rid of books and have this computer instead....I will go to a link with a picture of the body. How did YOU know you had cancer in your LIver?? Could it be felt or have a fluid movement with it ?? What type of SCAN should I have?? kat in the delta

kat in the delta,
If one of your concerns is a rumbling noise when breathing it could be caused by a slight anomaly in the spacing of the 2 membranes surrounding the lungs.
If this is so it is of no concern.

My onc said a person can have pain/discomfort in the mastectomy area forever. These pains may come and go.

I've been told that Zometa can cause people a lot of pain. Of course that varies with each individual, but the possibility of additional bone discomfort is the reason I have put off taking it. I'm taking Actonel for bone loss, and have some bone discomforts at many locations. I was afraid that Zometa would be even worse.

Regarding the ribs, they have given me discomfort since finishing chemo several years ago. They are very tender if I press on them, and the area between the ribs is tender, too. When scans etc came back OK, I decided those pains were from one of the medications I was taking, so I tried to stop worrying about it.

Hi Kat -

In my case I did not KNOW I had cancer moving to my liver - I just had a dull ache starting in my right side about the time I had my regular 3-month tumor marker check - the marker was up out of normal range then. My med onc felt my liver (our liver covers the whole of the front of us over our stomach and a little ways under the ribs) and could tell that it was a little swollen. I had noticed that my pants were getting a little tight.

I had NO PAIN just the discomfort and NO rumbling or fluid noise. Cancer moves in stealth mode - that is important to remember.

Just have a CT scan of you chest and abdoman and it will show anything.

I hope one of your docs can figure out what is bothering you.

Here's a link to a thread from this site not long ago that you might be interested in. It's very strange what our bodies go through with all types of chemo.

http://www.her2support.org/vbulletin...ad.php?t=26896

I also had minimal symptoms with my liver mets. So you just never know....

Until you get it checked out. CT chest/abdomen is probably the best bet, as StephN says.

You will rest easier once you know.

I hope...
 

... that my previous post in this thread has caused you NO distress. Your symptoms are not 100% indictive of mets. As pointed out throughout this this thread, there are several possible issues. But, please get tested, knowing is over half the battle...

Love and Light
Mel