Sore Joints

Thanks  for your comments Arpie. I am not on hormone treatment due to having Triple Negative Receptors so can't use this as a reason for pain in joints. Yes I will ask GP when she is back from holiday. I have mentioned what oncologist told me to my breast surgeon and he agreed with insensitivity. I take panadol osteo as my stomach can't tolerate ibrufen. Thanks again for your reply.

Hi @jani1 I also  TN mine was stage 2b grade 3 2.5cm in left breast with at least 2 lymph  involved . My  oncologist  said to me at the start of treatment the aim of the treatment was survival  (which I intend to do ) there was no mention of recurring cancer . At the end of chemo when he discharged me he told me to now get on with life.  The only mention of a % was from radio oncologist  and that was there was a 15 % chance of it coming back.  So I look at it as a 85% chance of it not returning.  I was never told anything about knowing it had returned because of pain  and there was nothing said about not having more chemo.  I am now under the breast surgeon and I see him every 3 months at the moment  as they are keeping an eye on something that is possibly just scar tissue but because of the triple negative  they want to be sure.  Every little ache and pain i get now sends a shiver but off i go to the gp and it's usually nothing  (apart from  a cracked rib from coughing ) my suggestion is to live life and not worry too much about  anything if it happens you will find a way of dealing with it . Take care  

Definitely get a second opinion. I have spoken to MANY other patients who have had a second treatment of chemo. Also, My surgeon told me I would be seeing him yearly until I get sick of him so he could follow things through. I am stage 2b, Her2+, hormone -ve, with lymph nodes involved. I had AC, now on taxol and herceptin, will have a mastectomy and lymph nodes removal after the taxol. 

@Jani1 

Here's a link from the BCNA website detailing your type of breast cancer, Triple Negative

https://www.bcna.org.au/understanding-breast-cancer/types-of-breast-cancer/triple-negative-breast-cancer/

If you haven't seen it already hopefully it will give you a better understanding and also gives you an inroad to the BCNA website to explore further.

Take care

OMG!  You've been thru so much already! @Jani1   Shoulder injuries are the pits!! I've had surgery/treatment on both!  Such a shame you had the fall & all the injuries on top of your surgery  :(  Great that your nodes were clear - that's always a bonus. 

Well done on going to the gym - that will at least keep everything 'moving' - with the old theory - if you don't use it, you lose it.  Yes, most hormone treatment causes some sort of joint pain - I am on Exemestane and last night my left foot was KILLING me!  Didn't matter what position it was in or even if I had it hanging out the side of the  bed with no contact with mattress or bedding!  grrrr  It is fine this morning!  (Thank GOD!)

Oh dear .... I think your Onc may have been extremely insensitive in the way he advised you of re the getting of any other cancers in the future & the 'possible' lack of treatment available!  :(   That could muck with MY brain, so can only imagine how you are feeling.  I'd be concerned for every ache & pain I got (which most BC sufferers do anyway!)   :(   Improvements in treatment are ongoing - & who knows WHAT will be a available for us in the future - even on stuff that is currently considered 'untreatable'. 

I wonder if you could get another Onc's opinion to ease your mind a bit and get a more understandable explanation of your condition & treatment?  

I will be seeing my Onc every 3 months (since finishing radiation earlier this year) & it will drop off to 6 monthly or yearly from next year.  I am also seeing my Rad Onc at the end of this year & guess that will drop off next year & have yearly visits with the specialist for a while yet, every Jan.

When do you see your specialist next?  Maybe write down some questions re what the Onc said to you (did you record it?)  Mental well being is just as important as physical well being - and he may be dismayed if his Onc is frightening his patients with comments like that!   (Or even email them to his office for a written reply if you aren't seeing him soon?) 

All the best - I hope the aches & pains settle down.  Are you able to take Panadol Osteo or similar?  I take an anti inflam called Indocid (1 a day) and it helps with mine - but check with your GP before trying anything new.  xx

Bad luck, you don't need a fall
and injury after bc diagnosis! Oncologists often have different preferred processes but I still see mine once a year (6 years on), possible partly because I am still on hormonal therapy. Not everyone sees their oncologist at this stage but as he laughingly says, my breast surgeon (I also see him annually) is only interested in my breast(s)! My oncologist gives me the once over plus blood tests, and is also monitoring my hormonal treatment. I haven't had chemo twice but I know people who have so your oncologist may mean not the same regimen twice. Joint pain is not uncommon with hormone therapy but it's also possible to be something quite unrelated to cancer or treatment. Maybe your GP can advise further? Best wishes