TNBC: Pain in armpit, how do I ensure it's not cancer coming back?

Posted by maryk65 @maryk65, Jul 12, 2022

I am 6 month survivor of TNBC. I had chemo, lumpectomy and radiation. All my biopsies were negative. I’ve been having pain in my armpit and area of tenderness near armpit. They did diagnostic mammogram and ultrasound and did not see anything suspicious. I have dense breasts and my cancer did not show up on mammogram. I’d like MRI every 6 months but my doctor won’t do that. I’m terrified this tenderness is recurrence. Any advice appreciated!

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Breast Cancer Support Group.

Healing fr surgery insist on Mamm & U/S didn’t detect
Mine either
Dense breasts
I had a lumpectomy
Toldmrhemntontakemoitntje benign one in my L breast &!thats how they found it
I insisted
In ONCO & my recurrence score was high so I’m getting chemo, then radiation then AI’s then maybe fat transfers for
My deformed disfigured breasts
Feel so abhorrent

REPLY
@leolion811

I don’t know if I tested negative for AR?

Jump to this post

It might be useful to know. 🦋

REPLY
@2ndchance

Hi - it is actually quadruple negative breast cancer. At first classed as a subtype of TNBC, but should be in its own category. It means you also test negative for (AR) or Androgen Receptor.

Jump to this post

I don’t know if I tested negative for AR?

REPLY
@2ndchance

It’s a granulocyte colony stimulating therapy that increases the neutrophil count. The injection is not painful but causes extreme bone pain in the following few weeks. It works like magic to prevent neutropenia.

Jump to this post

It sounds like Zarxio that I took during chemo…

REPLY

Hi - it is actually quadruple negative breast cancer. At first classed as a subtype of TNBC, but should be in its own category. It means you also test negative for (AR) or Androgen Receptor.

REPLY
@2ndchance

Diagnosed with TNBC in 2021 - turned out to be QNBC. I had 4 cycles of NAC and 12 cycles of Taxane chemo. Tumour shrunk by 98%.
Double mastectomy and reconstruction in August 2022. 6 weeks of radiation ending in October 2022. Found a new lump in Dec 2022 and was confirmed same type in January 2023. Now on 6 cycles of Gemcarbo and tumour has shown reaction to chemo.

So many symptoms and not sure whether from cancer or chemo. Also battling recurring cellulitis infections including in chemo port. Severe headaches and bone pain (receiving GCSF injections and compacted blood transfusions). I have a very supportive family, but need to talk to others in the same boat - I want to stay optimistic. Any advice?

Jump to this post

(What is QNBC?)

REPLY

It’s a granulocyte colony stimulating therapy that increases the neutrophil count. The injection is not painful but causes extreme bone pain in the following few weeks. It works like magic to prevent neutropenia.

REPLY
@2ndchance

Hi there - I’m giving myself GCSF injections every 3 weeks. In hospital now for second transfusion and having the port removed. Three rounds of cellulitis and countless antibiotics. Good luck to you also.

Jump to this post

What are GCSF injections? Xoxo

REPLY
@janisbrede

just following up...did anything ever develop from the pain you were experiencing in your armpit? Have the doctors agreed to yearly MRIs or every 6 months? Hope all is well.

Jump to this post

I have pain in the armpit. Dr. Told me it was combination of surgery scar tissue and radiation. The radiation makes the skin tissue harder. At least that was what was explained to me. We are going to watch it. I have dense breast also and “a lot” of my cancer didn’t show up in MRI. However I have always been in that high risk group because of my mother and get a MRI every year.

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.