Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum. ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
Breast Cancer (Expert Forum)
Chronic Breast Pain 2 yrs. Post Lumpectomy
Questions posted in the Breast Cancer Forum are answered by medical professionals from The Cleveland Clinic. Topics include Breast Biopsy, Chemotherapy, Hormone Therapy, Lumps, Lumpectomy, Lymph node dissection, Lymphedema, Mammograms, Mastectomy, Radiation Therapy, Reconstruction, Self Breast Exam, and Surgery.
Chronic Breast Pain 2 yrs. Post Lumpectomy
by Geral, Sep 24, 2002 12:00AM
ARE THERE ANY TESTS THAT CAN BE DONE TO SEE WHAT IS CAUSING THIS PAIN? In 6/00, at 43 yrs. old, after a surgical biopsy, I was diagnosed with infiltrating ductal carcinoma. I had a lumpectomy (1.5 cm mass) & axillary dissection of 16 lymph nodes (3 positive). Following surgery, I had 8 chemos & 33 radiations. I have had chronic pain SINCE THE LUMPECTOMY. Feels like I'm in a mammography machine with varying amounts of pressure/pain from barely tolerable to severe. Pain increases the more active I am and the longer I'm sitting up or standing. The whole breast is painful including the nipple. Sometimes there's so much pain, my nipple feels like it's going to 'explode'! I am very small-breasted (A cup), but the longer I am upright, the heavier my breast feels. Also, the affected breast 'jiggles' when I'm walking or riding in a car (very uncomfortable then). However, the other breast does not 'jiggle'. I can't understand why the difference in the 2 breast since the tumor removed from the affected breast was only 1.5 cm. I'm in so much pain & can't find any dr. who will take the time to help me. Each dr. (surgeon, pain spec., oncologist, rhematologist, orthopedist, etc.) wants to refer me to another dr. within 5-10 min. of the consult. However, not one of these dr.'s has run any tests to TRY to find the cause of my pain. Are there any tests that can be done to see what is causing this pain? If so, what dr. would I see to have these tests done? Currently, I only use ice & heat & lie down for pain. I chose to stop pain meds 9 mos. ago. Please help! Thanx,Bobbie
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-RN,MSN-rf, Sep 24, 2002 12:00AM
Dear Bobbie: Breast pain can be very difficult to sort out. We might recommend that you consider seeing a breast specialist - not necessarily a surgeon, but someone who deals specifically with problems of the breast - related or unrelated to cancer. There is no test, other than your regular followup that would shed much light on your problem.
