joint and muscle pain

I just happened across this forum.  I have been hoping for a place that fits me and my cancer better.  This seems to.  I am 3-.  Diagnosed May 06. Stage III, 2 positive nodes.  I was 46. I am a white upper middle class married mother of two daughters.  Somehow that seems pertinent when talking about triple neg cancer.   I had the works.  Mastectomy, Dose Dense Chemo--thats every two weeks for eight treatments and 30 radiation burns.  Then in Dec. I had my right breast removed because of signs that were close to those I had in the left.  No cancer there--Thank God.  I also just had double reconstruction in June 2007.  It hurt so bad.  Only one more surgery to go for that. 

I too am having pain in my joints.  Mostly my hands, feet and knees.  It is worse now than when i was on Chemo.  Adriamyacyn, Cytoxan and Taxotere.  I do not hurt in my feet when I am walking that is why it is so strange.  But when I first get up from bed or sitting, I stumble.  And stairs kill my knees.  My hands just ache. 

I have been really positive until lately about all of this.  Reading more about triple neg cancer is scary.  My sister had the same when she was 32.  She is an 11 year survivor. 

I do not have any suggestions for the pain, but would like to tell you Donna, that I know how scared you are.  Maybe through this outlet you will find some reassurances and comfort. 

All the best,
Brenda

Hi Brenda,

Edited by Nancy - Sep 21 2007 at 11:29am

Woolie,

Dear Brenda : I just read on the internet that women who have been treated for breast cancer have a faster rate of osteopenia ,a precursor to bone loss so it may pay to check with your MD for a bone density. JULES

Hi! I'm fairly new here too - I'm a 3-Neg. girl myself.

FYI:  I am on the mailing list for cancer research info. at caring4cancer.com
I get emails weekly - that is how I discovered the high-risk factor of triple-negative status and immediately researched my pathology records for my hormone status - and discovered the day I had my port removed that I was 3-Negative.  

Anyway, the latest email just came in today about Osteoporosis and the drug called Evista.  It is somewhat of a positive report that this drug actually helps osteoporosis and is known to prevent breast cancer in high-risk women!

Here is the link:

 http://www.caring4cancer.com/go/cancer/news?NewsItemId=40518

They also talk about how chemotherapy is hard on our bones.

http://www.caring4cancer.com/go/cancer/news?NewsItemId=20070919elin028.xml

Just thought I should share - since these articles are right up your alley.

Hope you feel better soon.

Teresa J.

Just Completed Rads 8/31/07
All done with treatment

Hi Gals,

Ronda and all:

Thank you for the information.  Now I have to ask about the following part of your e-mail from this morning.



I have read that many bc's occurs as a result of inflammation or changes in the breast (like injury, pregnancy, irritation) as a result the cells mutate and are fueled by estrogen (even the triple negatives according to new information).

I have felt for a long time that my BC might have been attributed to the fact that I had large cysts in my left breast --the one with cancer--drained every year for the past 4 years--before the cancer.  It turns out that I had Squamous Cell Carcinoma  of the breast--a very rare occurrence.  Apparently Squamous Cell Carcinoma tends to occur in tissue that has been injured.

Anyway, my question is--where did you read this information about injury, etc.  I would like to investigate this further. 

Thank you for anything you can add. 

Brenda

Hey Nancy,

Hi Deb522,       I went to your my space,  what a cool site.  You are a survivor!  I'm kind of a vitamin nut and with the guidance of my naturopath took L-carnitine and Co Q10 enzyme during chemo (on nonchemo days) (I am also still taking it) to protect my heart and now repair my heart from damage caused by the adriamycyn.   

Dear Donna and all, I, too, have been having terrible knee pain ever since I started radiation - it actually started one week after and has not stopped since.  I am currently on chemo (every three weeks) and my oncologist says unfortunately while on chemo, they can't treat the knee pain.  I tried hydrocodone but it made me very sick, so I am taking Advil - 3 tablets three times a day.  It helps some, but I hobble around like an old lady most of the time.  I am going to see my onc this Thursday and am going to ask him again about this pain. I've had bone scans and everything was clear, but I'm scheduled for more tests before the end of the year, so I will probably ask for another bone scan.  I started my chemo the 2nd week I was on radiation which also happened to be when I started having my knee pain.  I also have moderate back pain, but to be honest with you, I've had pain off and on for several years now.  I think mine may be osteoarthritis.