Forum Discussion
Sore Joints
Hi I was diagnosed in August 2017 at 54 after having pain in my left breast occurring between mammograms. My TNBC tumour was stage 1 grade 3 1.7cm and removed, and then had a reexicision to clear margins. 3 lymph nodes were also removed and clear. I began my first of 4 ac chemos and was really unwell with stomach issues-gastritis. A week later I lost my balance and fell dislocating and fracturing my shoulder also hitting my head passing out. Ambulance to hospital neck brace precaution, shoulder relocation, c.t., xray and MRI. Discharged after 3 nights. Oncologist delayed chemo for 6 weeks until I recovered and then swapped me to Taxol weekly for 12 weeks and then finished with 3 AC chemos last one in April. 5 weeks of radiotherapy followed finishing June. I have taken a few months to recover. My joints are really sore especially after sitting in one position for 15mins or more. The joint pain moves around to different joints so I am wondering whether chemo has brought on arthritis. I have started a gym program and walk most days to keep my joints moving. Has anyone else been affected with joint issues following chemo? Also I am not having PET scans at all as the oncologist says there is no advantage when you are TNBC so he discharged me from his care as soon as chemo finished. I am just under the the care of my breast surgeon. The oncologist says only 1% chance of cancer returning to breast. Apparently I will know if cancer has returned anywhere else because I will be in alot of pain and it will be aggressive so chemo will not have any affect next time. Has anyone else been told this?
26 Replies
- I had sore and stiff joints for months after having TCH chemo, my oncologist said that taxanes do cause this and suggested some recent studies using fish oil and turmeric capsules are showing promise and worth a try! I did find them useful but may also just have been the side effects wearing off finally!
- @joannie I believe that @kmakm was asking for others' opinions about her best option from the medications that she already has been prescribed so that she could make a more informed decision. After all, if you are only able to take the one medication in a given period of time, you want it to be the most effective.
- I think people use this forum as a way to bounce ideas of each other and to get some advice, I know I do. We are all intelligent men and women here and some of us probably know more about some drugs and their interactions and contraindications than some medical staff. I think most of us know what we can and can’t take I think @kmakm was just wondering WHICH of her drugs would be the best to use for her particular pain.
Peace and love to u all xoxoox - I agree with you Joannie, however, I have found the information provided by others with regard to drugs that have eased pain very useful - I have cautiously suggested some of these to my GP and we discuss the pros and cons. He appreciates that this is anecdotal evidence from a private and moderated discussion list.
- Hello @Joannie
Thank you for your comment. Certainly with any pain medications it is advisable to check with your treating specialist or GP as to what to take and the frequency. Your suggestion of Nurse on Call is a good one to contact late at night if you have any concerns. - Will do @Zoffiel.
- Oh damn! That's a real bummer, @kmakm - message sent!
- @kmakm Talk to your GP about some long term pain relief. When I read the word 'Targin' my mouth literally started to water, I really liked that drug, which is probably a very good reason for me to not have it. Tramadol is my best friend at the moment. I take one in the morning and it gives me enough relief to have a couple of hours of normal. One a day is a very low dose and none of the medicos seem concerned about me taking it indefinitely--as long as it is only one a day. It's lucky, in a weird way, that it disrupts my sleep if I take it late in the day--that removes the temptation to take more at night. I'm a morning person, so the compromise works for me.
