Anyone have pain in pectoral muscles after radiation? What did you do?

@tumanic I sort of think some doctor's are just plain frustrated since covid, along with the medical field becoming more of a corporation, and not much private practice so many were used to. Then they have the challanges of patients questioning them due to the information they find on the net. The doctor's have only about 15 minutes to spend with each patient which hurts all the way around.
In my area many top doctor's retired or just left the practice. There is a shortage of doctor's where I live. Confidence is hurting all the way around. Hopefully we can learn to work together and build trust again. Until then I will continue to look everything up on the net on good sights, and the testimonies of those that are going through the same as I am. That is why I believe sites like these are so helpful.
Thank you for sharing because now I know that someone else has experienced the same sort of after effects of SBRT radiation.

@chrispie "piece of wood" is a good description. I feel that in my breast bone as well, the flesh parts feel like cardboard, it's strange but really doesn't cause any problem. My rib fractures remain pain free so I knock on wood that it remains.
I think many of us learn how to prepare for med appointments by doing research and presenting it to the docs in ways that are useful. I learned early to understand what my "baseline" was/is and to describe my symptoms from that reference - the doc would be able to focus on the changes.
I too do as much research as possible and use it to ask questions when when their answers are not specific enough, I've found that there always seems to be an unspoken message in their communications and I have to listen carefully to suss out the details.

The center of the breast bone feels like a piece of wood when I press on it. Is that how you would say your numbness feels? I was unprepared for the fractured ribs and had no idea it could happen. I do hope you stay pain free. When I did a deep dive on SBRT radiation and rib fractures, I found quite a bit of info, even some places saying it was a common side effect. Sadly I have found that I have basically been on my own for the most part. Complaints just seem to lead to more x-rays, and scans. Doc wanted to do a bone scan when we found out that my rib did not heal up, but showed a second one fractured. He said it did light up a little bit in that area.
I told him that I had researched it on good sights and they say there are a lot of false positives when it comes to this, and the best way to get to the correct answer would be an MRI. I don't know if he was frustrated with me, or what, but he then said, "Iam not saying you have cancer, you seem to know what your talking about." So we are waiting for my next scan. It is hard to read doctor's sometimes....some like you to look in to it, and then other's think you are non-compliant. Nevertheless, it has helped me researching the info, and also linking up to other's on this site with the same experiences.

@chrispie I also had fractured ribs following SBRT. They treated two tumors with SBRT and followed up with SBRT two years later for a third tumor. Subsequent scans note fractures of two ribs but without pain. Curiously, the skin on my chest and side is numb to the touch, there is no sensation when I rub the surface. I’ve asked several doctors about this but no one has connected the numbness with the SBRT treatment.

Sorry to hear of all you are going through. I have read that radiation can cause bone fractures. Since my scan did not show anything broken, I don’t think mine is due to that. My pectoral pain is getting less. The radiation staff said that radiation does not cause musculoskeletal issues, but I am not convinced that it doesn’t. Saw my oncologist 2 days ago and he thought radiation could cause musculoskeletal issues. I have an appointment with the radiation oncologist in February. I look forward to hearing what he will say.

Since you have had a scan since your first post, this might not relate to your pectoral pain. I began my radiation treatments in June 2023 and ended in July 2023. I had only five treatements using SBRT radiation on stage 1 lung cancer. I began having some pain right after treatment, but it was more discomfort than anything. The doctor sent me to a heart doctor to get checked, heart ok. Eventually it ceased, but it seemed to flare up when I would eat foods that would cause inflammation. After about a year and a half, it started getting bad, especially when I reached up, or used my arms in a repeated motion, like sweeping, etc. When my next pet scan came up, it showed the 7th rib was fractured. Nothing we could do but give it time to heal. After 3 months it was still hurting and the doctor sent me to get x-rays to check how the healing was coming along. X-rays showed the 6th rib broken now, and the 7th not healed. The pain has been under the arm by the breast, in the center of my chest around the breast, and along the back. This pain is on the same side I had the radiation. So for the last 6 months I have been dealing with this pain. Another scan is coming next month.
I was never told that radiation could cause fractured ribs. I did a deep dive on the info for SBRT radiation....and I just pray that it does heal!

Still a little but it is getting less. Doesn’t seem like it is related to the cancer, but I will be see in the radiologist in February and will ask him about it being caused by the radiation.

@popsue , That's great news! Are you still experiencing the pectoral are pain?

PET/CT showed tumor reduced in size and less metabolic activity. Was very happy with the results. Now immunotherapy for 1 year.

@colleenyoung I will get the results tomorrow. Hoping for good news.