I had a lumpectomy followed by chemothearapy and radiation in the fall of 2000. About three months ago, I began having acute pain in my rib cage beside and under the breast that received the treatment. Usually the pain starts when I have twisted my upper torso or have reached for something behind me, but sometimes it occurs when I am sitting still. It does not feel musculature, but it is severe enough that it makes it difficult to breathe. It starts fairly suddenly and then gradually subsides as I consciously relax my body and force myself to take deep breaths even though it is painful. The pain usually doesn't last for more than a minute total, and it is irregular. Sometimes I go several days without one; sometimes I have quite a few in a short period of time. Could this have anything to do with my cancer or my cancer treatments? More cancer? Damage from the radiation? I have spoken to my oncologist about this, and she did an ultrasound on my breast and did not find anything, but quite frankly, I don't feel that she was taking me very seriously. Do you know of anyone else with a similar situation?