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What Causes Dull Pain And Soreness In Chest Area, Under Ribs And Arms?
Question: My dad has stage 4 lung cancer and has had two rounds of chemo. During the second he was given oral Compazine for nausea and he had a terrible reaction. It was caused because he has very early Parkinsons and the Compazine caused him to not be able to swallow, walk or really function and he was hospitalized. When he recovered he had a scan that showed shrinkage and the doctor decided to delay the next treatment so he could get stronger from the effects of the drug reaction. He is now having quite alot of dull pain and soreness under his rib, in the chest area, under his arm and on his back, He went to the ER and had blood work, x ray and ct and the doctors deterrmined he had undetermined musculoskeletal pain. We called his oncologist and he said he suspect the same thing and that it was probably due to the month he was immobile from the drug reaction. However my dad is unconvinced and seems to be afraid it is cancer that has spread all over. Is it reasonable to accept that it is musculoskeletal pain since he did have bloodwork, xray and ct scan? Or do you think his concerns are valid?
Brief Answer:
Hello. It is likely a musculoskeletal pain.
Detailed Answer:
Hello dear. Usually the disease shows response to the treatment in the initial few chemotherapies, say 4 to 6 rounds. Various other things can contribute to the pain like, the general debilitative state of parkinsons, old age etc. As you have undergone a CT scan and it also tells that cancer has shrinken, there is no reason to hold that disease will spread during treatment.
Disease spreads usually when there is a long gap between chemo like 6 weeks or more and that too at a small speed not so rapidly.
More over if it spreads it has other symptoms like increasing cough, breathlessness, hemoptysis, loss of weight and appetite.
I would recommend to continue treatment.
Thanks
Hello. It is likely a musculoskeletal pain.
Detailed Answer:
Hello dear. Usually the disease shows response to the treatment in the initial few chemotherapies, say 4 to 6 rounds. Various other things can contribute to the pain like, the general debilitative state of parkinsons, old age etc. As you have undergone a CT scan and it also tells that cancer has shrinken, there is no reason to hold that disease will spread during treatment.
Disease spreads usually when there is a long gap between chemo like 6 weeks or more and that too at a small speed not so rapidly.
More over if it spreads it has other symptoms like increasing cough, breathlessness, hemoptysis, loss of weight and appetite.
I would recommend to continue treatment.
Thanks
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Thank you! I am a bit confused by the oncologist choice.
My dad was 3 weeks late getting his third treatment
because of the severe reaction to compazine. When he
recovered we rescheduled and went for the treatment.
When they took the CT scan they said it looked "wonderful"
with some shrinkage and fluid decrease and he suggested we
wait 2 more weeks until after Christmas. We returned the
first of January and the doctor said my dad was doing so
good he would suggest waiting 5 more weeks and taking
another scan to see if there was growth before we
resume treatment. This is a major cancer center so he
should know what he is doing but it seems odd. Do you
think this wait is dangerous to promote cancer regrowth?
I forgot to mention the discomfort is in the chest area, under
the rib, under the arm and the base of the spine...if that tells
anything.
My dad was 3 weeks late getting his third treatment
because of the severe reaction to compazine. When he
recovered we rescheduled and went for the treatment.
When they took the CT scan they said it looked "wonderful"
with some shrinkage and fluid decrease and he suggested we
wait 2 more weeks until after Christmas. We returned the
first of January and the doctor said my dad was doing so
good he would suggest waiting 5 more weeks and taking
another scan to see if there was growth before we
resume treatment. This is a major cancer center so he
should know what he is doing but it seems odd. Do you
think this wait is dangerous to promote cancer regrowth?
I forgot to mention the discomfort is in the chest area, under
the rib, under the arm and the base of the spine...if that tells
anything.
Brief Answer:
Hello. yes it is a bit confusing
Detailed Answer:
Hello dear. Usually the chemo cycles in a case of carcinoma lung are placed 3 weeks or a maximum of 4 weeks apart. So a delay of 5 weeks is not justifed.You should discuss this in detail with your oncologist.
Yo can tell me the name of chemo drugs so that i can tell you the exact frequency and number of cycled to be taken
Thanks and regards
Hello. yes it is a bit confusing
Detailed Answer:
Hello dear. Usually the chemo cycles in a case of carcinoma lung are placed 3 weeks or a maximum of 4 weeks apart. So a delay of 5 weeks is not justifed.You should discuss this in detail with your oncologist.
Yo can tell me the name of chemo drugs so that i can tell you the exact frequency and number of cycled to be taken
Thanks and regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Alimpta and Carboplatin. One more thing...when we were
at the Oncologist office and dad mentioned that he was
having soreness under his rib and arm and in the chest
area the doctor did a physical exam and did not seem
very concerned. He did not even mention the possibility of
spread he just said he did not think it was cancer related.
Is it possible that he could tell by reading the CT with contrast
and blood test that he had that day and be able to rule
out cancer spread? I mean is a CT, bloodwork and
a physical exam enough to be pretty confident that it is
a musculoskeletal problem. Thanks!
at the Oncologist office and dad mentioned that he was
having soreness under his rib and arm and in the chest
area the doctor did a physical exam and did not seem
very concerned. He did not even mention the possibility of
spread he just said he did not think it was cancer related.
Is it possible that he could tell by reading the CT with contrast
and blood test that he had that day and be able to rule
out cancer spread? I mean is a CT, bloodwork and
a physical exam enough to be pretty confident that it is
a musculoskeletal problem. Thanks!
Brief Answer:
Hello. In addition to the work up done, a bone scan is required.
Detailed Answer:
Hello dear, So these drugs need to be given at an interval of 3 weeks. Also a bone scan is required in addition to CT scan and physical examination to check for spreads in bones. Please discuss this with your doctor.
Thanks and regards
Hello. In addition to the work up done, a bone scan is required.
Detailed Answer:
Hello dear, So these drugs need to be given at an interval of 3 weeks. Also a bone scan is required in addition to CT scan and physical examination to check for spreads in bones. Please discuss this with your doctor.
Thanks and regards
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
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