Back Pain

Sinead,

Rule of thumb is a two week wait. So if there is something up and you treat it as best you can and if it is still there after two weeks and you don't know why, then tell your onc team.

Do you go to Beaumont? If so call onc outpatients and ask for an early apt ie in next week or two. Otherwise call BC nurse. Jot down now when pain started and what you have done to alleviate it and sort of diary the pain. They may request xray or bone scan.

I am in Beaumont and happen to be on a clinical trial so in and out on oncology every 4 weeks. I had hip pain some months back. Mentioned it after suffering a month or so, but we agreed to give it another 4weeks and see how I faired. Pain was still there so Doc ordered a bone scan. Came up clear TG. We figured pain was from monthly injection I get in my arse as part of trial!!!

I very much doubt it is anything cancer related but no point in stressing if it is nothing!

Hi sinead

I too suffer with my back and since I started on tamoxifen it has been constant.I saw oncologist just before Christmas and he has organised an MRI this month.HE says he's not looking for anything nasty but that with tamoxifen and lack of oestrogen it could be weakening my back.SO hopefully that's it.I have been on tamoxifen since June.GIve it another week or two and if it hasn't helped I'd ring your oncologist.

Xx W

Hi Wilma and Lindylu
Thanks a mil for the responses. I am indeed attending Beaumont under Oscar Breathnach. I was on a clinical trial but I only attend every three months now that I am finished Herceptin. I have been having awful problems with joint pain in my hands and feet and the last time I was there in Dec they said they would refer me to see a Rheumatologist and organise a Dexa scan as well as I had previous issues with bone density. I have yet to receive any of these appointments and was going to ring the secretary to chase it up.
I am probably just stressing my head over nothing but my Mum passed away from Breast Cancer and it manifested itself as a back pain - she had previously been given the 5 year all clear, so my mind is working over time. I think you are right , I will ring the secretary on Monday and organise an appointment.
I hope you are doing well and life is treating you good..
Love and light
Sx

Hi Sinead,

I am under Dr B as well tho I don't actually see him very much!

Sorry to hear about your mum, I had not realised she had passed away from BC.

As you know Beaumont don't do routine scans but they will scan if patients are having symptoms or problems. If you think they are reluctant to scan, don't be afraid to bring up the situation with regard to your mum. Stress and cancer are not ideal pals so you probably need to know that there are no issues with your unresolved back pain. As I said earlier it is highly unlikely it is anything sinister but for peace of mind you should get it checked.

Are you on tamox or any other drugs that could cause joint pain?
Are you on calcichew to help with bone density?

For what it is worth, I have a dodgy back, had a disk removed in 2006. I have had problems on and off over the years ESP when pregnant! But about 18 months ago I took up pilates and back(and joints) have have been pretty good since then.

Let us know how you get on with the Sec.

Lindylu

Hi Lindylu

It is interesting that Beaumont dont scan, especially when other hospitals do. I dont get to see Oscar too often either but always see a Reg, but as you know they are all on rotations so change frequently. I have been very lucky with the ones I have seen to date as they are always on the ball.
I am on tamox and yes it is an evil little beggar for causing joint pain. I take glucosamine , calcichew and also do aqua aerobics twice a week and it does help. In fact I am probably the fittest I have ever been. Never used to do any excercise and now I walk for an hour every day and go to the gym as well. It is amazing how your life changes when you have had Cancer!!
Sorry to hear you suffer bad with disc problems, thats an awful lot to deal with on top of the dreaded big C!!!
I will defo let you know how I get on with contacting the hospital
Enjoy the rest of the weekend
Sx

Hi Girls,

am due my checkup with Prof H in Beaumont in Feb & am getting nervous already. Shinners I see your comment on Beaumont not scanning, do other hospitals scan or do any other testing e.g. bloods? I am very concerned if Beaumont don't & other hospitals do. As far as I know I will just have a clinical exam & then they'll make an appointment for a mammogram. Would love to hear from other people to find out what kind of checks they get & what they actually consist of. Personally I would prefer if I got bloods done & a bone scan on top of the mammo but am I being OTT or is this a realistic expectation?

Am a public patient with private health cover, does this make a difference?

Look forward to hearing your comments\experiences.

Hi Funky Chick

I am under Prof Hill as well. At my last appointment I only saw the Reg and to be honest I was less than impressed. She had a feel around and nothing much else. In fact she contradicted me on facts relating to previous mamograms. Found it to be a waste of time to be honest. I asked in oncology about bloods and scans and they said that Breast Cancer will not show up on bloods so there is little point in doing them for that and that bone scans according to research are a waste of time unless you present with some sort of pain . I know the Mater scan as I met someone who was being treated there but I also know someone who insisted on a Bone Scan and Prof Hill agreed to it. By the way, I heard a runour that the Prof may be moving on , not sure how much truth there is in it but you might put your ear to the ground when you are next in and report back if you hear anything. I notice you had a DIEP done. How are you finding it? Did Nadeem do it?
To be honest I would not be worrying about your appointment, all will be aok. The most important thing is that you get your mamogram done
Love and Light

Sinéad x

Shinners, sent you a PM

Hi Funky Chick;
I cam understand why you might be biting your nails a bit and I won't laud you with platitudes but I hope it all goes well for you.

Last year was my first "anniversary" check up since my diagnosis. Bear in mind that I was on Herceptin all last year, so was privileged to blood tests and urine tests every 3 weeks. The "anniversary" was marked by having a mammogram and ultrasound on my non-surgical breast, (ultra-sound followed me having a tiny bump in said breast which turned out to be fatty tissue, thank God), and an MRI on surgical breast (only because I had LD reconstruction with implant & can't have mammogram on it). All came back clear as a bell.

I was in with surgeon again last week for follow-up, as it looks like I'm going to have a small bit of surgery to sort out encapsulating around the implant, and a pup of a tendon that is tight so needs to be freed up. She has me booked in for a mammogram this year, and she doesn't see the point of me having an MRI this year seeing as there was nothing to remark on last year. However, purely because I'm 2 years down the track, she is sending me for a bone scan or CT scan but there is no panic on that so will happen sometime after April.

Hope this is of some use to you, take care of yourself x

Girls,

thanks for all your replies & pm's. I guess I got a little spoiled being on the Herceptin route getting checks every 3 weeks for a year & now feel a little abandoned. Onwards & upwards from here.

Hi All

Just to give you a quick update. I saw my GP today and she is faxing a letter to Oscar Breathnach recommending a bone scan just to be on the safe side and to rule out any nasties. In the meantime she has given me some new painkillers to take at night so hopefully that will help me sleep. I will keep you posted on what comes back from Oscar. Ann, I have sent you a PM

Hope you are all doing well and enjoying a relaxing evening with your feet up

Love and light

S x

Thats brilliant thats what I call a result - better to get checked out - go girl

Great news about the bone scan Sinead. It may take 4-6 weeks to get an apointment so please dont be disapponted if you get a letter and then have to wait for a bit (this happened to me hense me saying it).

Hoping you are off in snooze land thanks to the new meds.

Linda

Hi there Sinead,
I wanted to reply to your post before now but I couldn't remember my password to log in. Anyway I too have been experiencing back ache since December and have been on tamoxifen since last March 2012. Have had all kinds of different aches, etc, had right hip pain, that went away then it moved to my left hip and that eventually went away and now the latest is my back ache and also headaches and also pelvic menstrual type ache, ok I am a crock but otherwise feeling great and very fit compared to what I used to be. Anyway Sinead I just thought i would tell you that I have scans every 6 months and the most recent scans were only 3 months ago. I rang my oncology nurse today and they advised I shop the tamoxifen for 4 weeks to see if it goes away and said it is more than likely the tamoxifen that's causing all the aches. She also said that they get many many calls like mine over tamoxifen as it is quite a difficult drug to tolerate. I just think that we get so many aches/pains after such harsh treatments and it does accumulate in our bodies and when you say you are so fit yourself I just wondered are you doing a bit too much? Maybe not but no harm being a bit gentle on yourself until your aches clear up which I am really confident they will. One of these days we will be able to have an ache and not think it's anything other than an ache.
Take it easy x x x[quote="LindyLu":a4cwcwr2]Great news about the bone scan Sinead. It may take 4-6 weeks to get an apointment so please dont be disapponted if you get a letter and then have to wait for a bit (this happened to me hense me saying it).

Hoping you are off in snooze land thanks to the new meds.

Linda[/quote:a4cwcwr2]

Hi Spadge68

Thanks for replying to my post. You sound like you have been through the wars with Tamoxafin. It is a very difficult drug to take and like you I have had nothing but problems with joint pain in my hands and feet. The back pain is a new one. I was interested in your comment about pain feeling like a period was coming on. I have had that as well and never attributed it to the Tamox. My consultant wont take me off it yet, he wants to see if the pain can be managed and hopefully eventually settle down. Its a long 5 years waiting on things to settle down.! In the meantime I am like a 90 year old woman, all I am short of is the zimmer frame

Keep smiling !!!

Sinéad