I have IBC

Hi Fearless, Wish I was fearless!  I feared the chemo then the surgery, now it looks like I'm fearing radiation or the damage it might do to me.

I had Costochondritis for 9 years before I was diagnosed.  It changed my life.

I haven't been able to go grocery shopping alone, do housework like cleaning or lift anything over 700gm with out chest pain and painful breathing from the inflammation.  I doesn't take much, even pulling open a heavy door or someone handing me something that weighs over my limit.

I got this from doing exercises the physo gave me to do.  The chemo flared up my Costo Big time and I had to stay on steriods longer and then get some laser accupunter when I got home for it.  The other thing that helps

is ice, but only helps temporarily, I think it stops the blood bringing in the inflammation.  Now you have me worried that the radiation which I think  will flare up the Costo.  It's scary for me as I have is severely and hard to kill the pain and breathing probs with it. 

I would say that the heavy lifting, and pushing a mower would aggravate

your costochondritis.   I found that just pulling up weeds caused a flare up within minutues for me.  I am not a person who has done much exercise before I got Costo and I was 50 at the time.  Now I'm 60.

 I'm just  out of hospital from my left mastectomy and lymph nodes but looks like I have probably lots more cancer in the remaining lymphs.  I won't be having any breast reconstruction, only had the surgery in the hope of prolonging my life.

Still walking around lopsided with dressings on my wounds.  Unable to wear a bra because of gastroparesis, slow stomach emptying and bloated stomach most of the time. ( caused by botched gall bladder surgery).

I know what you mean about our bodies deteriating, each treatment seems to leave us worse for wear.  I just hope it's all worth it.

I haven't had the Tamoxifen but I'm about to start some hormone blockers call Armidex.

Lovely to hear from you but sorry you have been through so much,  Must

be difficult having to work with all the health problems from the treatments.