Shoulder and arm pain after breast cancer

[Ophelia24]

I had breast cancer in 2009, wide local excision, re-excision for clear margins, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, Tamoxifen. I have had shoulder pain and arm pain on and off on the opposite side to my cancer for five years since menopause. I had a clear nuclear bone scan in 2019. I was referred by my GP for an ultrasound but had a physio assessment last week and was told I should have an MRI scan appointment within 2 weeks, which makes me think this is the 2-week cancer pathway - “to rule anything out” - I am now panicking that this is the return of breast cancer in the bone. Has anyone experienced this? I am grateful for any replies.

I’m afraid I have no knowledge or experience but I wanted to bump your post for you. I hope the scan slot comes through quickly and it is good news.

Thank you - I hope it’s just the physio assessor’s way of speeding up the MRI.

You've had the pain for around 5 years now? If I have understood that correctly, then I don't think you need to panic as this is not a new symptom/pain - it's literally been going on for half a decade now!

Good to have the scan so you can hopefully get to the bottom of what might be causing the pain but - easier said than done - try not to worry yourself unduly

Shoulder pain is typical with BC and the chemo/ radio treatment. Hopefully that’ll be the reason behind it. Frozen shoulders are also pretty typical around menopause.
I say this as a current BC patient with shoulder pain.
I hope you soon get good news. 💐