Breast Cancer May Be Gone, But Pain Lingers

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The floroquinolone class of antibiotics can cause chronic pain and chronic fatique as well as tendon damage, sometimes severe. There is much information on the Internet about that point, and the entire class was recently "black boxed" by the FDA. The list of those antibiotics is long and includes ciprofloxacin and levoquin. I know that some brest cancer patients get treated prophyactically with these antibiotics and wonder if anyone has done research to see if there is a correlation.

George Eby of TX 5:47PM December 25, 2009

yikes....looking at these comments, made me glad I did not have chemo. I do regret having the radiation for my chest bones ached periodically. And yes because of lymph node removal some days I have swelling and loss of feeling under one arm. But I have found when I started exercising and doing strength training (no weights, then slowly increased), I strengthen the muscles that were weaken by surgery & radiation. I then found out about yoga (stretching) how that can help get the lymph system going again. The chest bones no longer ache. It took 3 years to build the body back up without medications, but using exercise (cardio & strength training) to get me back like new. I also lost 35lbs in the process...another benefit. I got past the ache & pain, the body does a wonderful job of getting itself back together, but it takes time and an effort from the body owner. I do not want to diss anybody's pain or discomfort, just a positive note, some can be overcome. I want to win and I believe I can.

survivor of NJ 10:43AM November 12, 2009

As a 10 year survivor of breast cancer partial mastectomy, chemo and radiation, I have all the issues mentioned including lymphadema in my right arm and side, right side, chest & arm pain, etc., and have reduced lung capacity of 50% from radiation scatter resulting in severe shortness of breath. I have used machines to help move lymphatic fluids daily and at times even sleep in a compression armsleeve to reduce the pain. I've found that stretchy camisole tops with the built in shelf bra (no wires) are all I can wear because bras cut off the lymph flow and cause severe pain.
For years I relied on several extra strength Bayer aspirin to get through the day but have found that Advil addresses the pain better now. While depression is an issue because of pain and the limitations with attempting minimal basic housework and even driving at times, I'm one of those people who can not tolerate most drugs. In the beginning I tried 2 different antidepressants with adverse side effects.
I'm very grateful and thankful for being here, but at times it is extremely difficult to be so limited. It makes sense that some of us suffer greater nerve damage than others, and I know exactly when my lymphadema damage occurred ... after radiation I lifted a container of kitty litter and felt something like a tear or pull. After the lymph node dissection my arm felt like it was disconnected from my body for the longest time.
Thank you for providing this information. It is very encouraging to feel not so isolated and that others are dealing with similar issues. Most people, women included, have no real understanding of these residual issues long after treatment and some think you should just "get over it." Most folks answer is to tell you to exercise whether you can or not. There needs to be solutions found and disclosure so that we all feel supported.

Sue Bon of CA 7:18AM November 11, 2009

Not mentioned in this summary is the pain accompanying lymphedema, a swelling of the breast, arm, hand, underarm and back which often results from breast cancer treatment. The surgery involved with removal of the primary tumor or breast, the surgery to the axillary nodes as part of the staging and treatment process, the radiatiation to the breast and axillary region all contribute to the risk of lymphedema.
Anecdotally speaking, my wife, a 17-year breast cancer survivor, uses the pain to guide her daily maintenance protocols. If she has pain in her underarm she does self-manual lymph drainage and asks me to apply compression bandaging. The pain recedes within a fraction of an hour. If there is no pain she might just don her compression armsleeve for the day.
We are tired of physicians telling us that post-mastectomy lymphedema does not involve pain. We just use it to make lemonade (to mix a metaphor).

Robert Weiss of CA 4:19AM November 11, 2009

I had both breasts removed because I had an aggresive type of breast cancer..that was almost 3 years ago and I have not had a pain-free day since.I mean pain on a scale of 1-10..my typical pain was 7.I have had every test you can think of, I have been to the Mayo Clinic and no one has been able to figure out what is causing my pain. I've lost my job and am on disability. Finally I was started on a Fentnyl patch which dulls the pain enough for me to move around and do a few things. This is no way to live..I am only 58 years old.
This is the first thing I've seen that indicates that it isn't "just me" and I want more information!

deb of KS 11:33PM November 10, 2009

One of the multifaceted benefits of antidepressants in cancer therapeutics is their pain reducing property, alone or in potentiating opiates. In the light of the antiprostaglandin actions of antidepressants, it would be most unlikely were they not effective for post mastectomy pain. Those interested in the remarkable anticancer properties of antidepressants, should access Medline or Pubmed, and enter "antidepressants" and "cancer."

Julian Lieb, M.D of VT 6:06PM November 10, 2009