Forum Discussion

iserbrown's avatar
iserbrown
Member
8 years ago

Post Mastectomy



Hi!  I haven't been on the forum for a while, mainly reading and just the odd response!  I did say Oo roo! for awhile, probably a month or so ago now, so that I could concentrate on my own health and well being.

Since then I have done the rounds of all the Specialists, some for review and others because of body changes and I have been accepted into the ex-Med Cancer program. http://www.exmedcancer.org.au/

It is coming up three years since mastectomy and the pain and discomfort from the nerves in the last few months has become so intense.  It would appear I am suffering from past mastectomy pain syndrome and the Breast Surgeon has said they had found this can come about even as long as 4 years since surgery.............Lucky me, I used to have PMT and now it's PMPS

I have included a link here for anyone that wants to learn a little about this.  

I am also conscious that there are forum users on here who are yet to have surgery and becoming quite anxious about where they are at and not wanting to upset them.  It's a little like side effects from treatment, some glide through and others end up with more than their fair share of side effects.

My other trauma has been Tamoxifen!  My body has accepted it and settled into routine however now I have medication induced complications which means at the next Onc review, due shortly, I will come off Tamoxifen and onto something else!  One wonders if the something else will be better or give me a new set of problems - now that is being pessimistic isn't it!

http://www.achr.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2007/05/Chronic-Pain-after-Breast-Cancer-Surgery.pdf

https://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatments-and-side-effects/physical-side-effects/pain/post-mastectomy-pain-syndrome.html
mastectomy
  • Deanne's avatar
    Deanne
    Member
    8 years ago
    Hi @iserbrown,
    I have been wondering how you were going. Sorry to hear about the PMPS. Hope that they can help you now you know what it is. That link will be very helpful for anyone experiencing similar issues.

    I really hope that changing from Tamoxifen to something else goes as smoothly as these things can. When I changed from Tamoxifen to Femara my body did take some adjustment time. Many others on here were able to reassure me that in time it does settle. My osteopath also told me that in her experience with others changing hormone meds there is a bit of an inflammatory response that settles in time. 

    My body took about 3 months to start to work itself out on Femara. But things kept improving for about 12 months all up. Depending on the issues you have there does seem to be some things that can help. Right now I am going well thanks possibly to daily Curcumin, magnesium and fish oil. Not game to alter the delicate balance and do find myself counting my blessings that right now, nothing hurts too much.

    Sending you gentle hugs and hope that this next change does not give you too much grief. Take care.
    Deanne xxx
  • Molly001's avatar
    Molly001
    Member
    8 years ago
    Sorry to hear @iserbrown. Hope things settle down soon and you get some relief. Pain is misery.
  • Afraser's avatar
    Afraser
    Member
    8 years ago
    Dear @ iserbrown
    My commiserations. Things that come fast when you are bouncing about from treatment to treatment are hard to handle. Things that come snarling out of the woodwork, when you might reasonably assume you are over it all, are horrible. Hope you have some better outcomes very soon. 
  • primek's avatar
    primek
    Member
    8 years ago
    Hopefully the change over from tamoxifen goes smoothly.

    I so hope they can help you with the pain problem as really nobody needs more ongoing issues. 
  • iserbrown's avatar
    iserbrown
    Member
    8 years ago
    Thank you!  It is what it is!  Just another challenge on the roller coaster called BC!  I like to know what it is and then go about coping with it!