Breast cancer is a disease that affects both men and women, although it primarily affects women. Breast cancer refers to tumors that originate in the breast. There are many different types of breast cancer, including adenocarcinomas (cancers that begins in the glands or ducts) and sarcomas (cancers that begin in the breast tissue). Generally, breast cancer is diagnosed when a woman discovers a lump in the breast, although a specific form of breast cancer called inflammatory breast cancer appears as a skin infection, with no lump present. Typically, breast cancer is painless. Pain in the bones may be a result of breast cancer treatment, or it might indicate that the cancer has metastasized or spread to the bone.
Symptoms
The symptoms of breast cancer vary by person. In its early stages, breast cancer may have no symptoms at all. When symptoms do appear, they may include lumps, skin changes or swelling of the skin on the breast. Typically, breast cancer is discovered during breast self-exams or mammograms. There is generally no pain associated with stage I, II or III breast cancer, unless the pain is caused by treatment for the breast cancer.
Bone Pain
Bone or joint pain can be caused by medications or other treatments that are used when fighting primary breast cancer or there may be no known or discoverable cause for the bone pain. However, bone pain can also indicate that the breast cancer has metastasized, or spread, to the bone. This is a serious condition and indicates that breast cancer has reached stage IV and is no longer curable. If you experience bone pain after you are diagnosed with breast cancer or while you are undergoing treatment, it is important that you discuss this pain with your doctor to identify the cause.
Non-metastatic Bone Pain
Chemotherapy used in the treatment for breast cancer can cause pain in the hips, arms or legs. The pain may be caused by chemotherapy's effect on nerves, joints, ligaments or muscles. This pain may begin during chemotherapy and may get progressively worse with each session. The pain may last for a year or more after treatment ceases, however, eventually it will go away. Non-steriodal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), such as over-the-counter pain relief medications like Tylenol, opiates and tricyclic antidepressants may be used in the treatment of this pain.
Tamoxifen, one drug used in the fight against breast cancer, has been specifically identified as causing stiffness and pain that resembles arthritis. Again, NSAIDS may be helpful, and if these over-the-counter treatments fail to help, your doctor may prescribe a stronger pain reliever like an opiate.
Breast implants following a reconstruction may also cause pain in and around the bones in the rib cage.
Treatments for non-metastatic bone pain include physical therapy designed to build strength, massage or heat. Yoga and swimming may be recommended because these activities strengthen muscle and tissue without taxing the body. Ultimately, however, time may be the best cure.
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Metastatic Bone Pain
Bone pain can also indicate that the cancer has spread to the bone. The bone is a common site of breast cancer metastases, and cancer in the bone tends to cause pain. Local external beam radiation therapy has proven effective in approximately 85 percent of patients at treating bone metastases and providing relief from pain. Tamoxifen may also help reduce or eliminate cancer cells in bones.
Certain bisphosphonates such as Zometa or Aredia can also help treat bone pain by stopping or slowing bone destruction from metastases and keeping blood calcium at a normal level. Anti-inflammatory medications or opiates can also treat pain.
New Treatments
The majority of metastatic bone cancer begins with breast cancer as the primary cancer. Approximately one-half of bone fractures caused by cancer occur in patients with primary breast cancer. New treatments, including the bisphosphonates described above, have greatly improved the prognosis for breast cancer patients with bone metastases. These drugs can help slow or even stop the growth of cancer in the bones and can protect the patient from bone lesions or fractures.
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