pain in shoulder blade

[Curry55]

I’ve been diagnosed with 3c ovarian cancer I’ve had hysterectomy 6 rounds of chemo now on a maintenance drug I’ve just started getting a pain on my left side in my shoulder blade

[Lyndy]

Hello Curry55

A pain in your shoulder blade isn’t a usual presentation for a recurrence. You don’t say if your ca125 is stable? I would have thought if anything were going on that’s the indicator for most.

So what is this pain? Parp inhibitors can produce joint pain, treatment generally can leave you weaker and more prone to mechanical problems within your body.

I would suggest a trip to the GP and maybe a physio. By all means mention it to your team but hopefully this is something more routine and can be easily resolved.

Best of luck xx

[Curry55 in reply to Lyndy]

Thank you my last c125 was 7 but that was about 8 weeks ago I will mention it when I go to the marsden hospital 🌹

[Willowsmum51]

Are you on Avastin by any chance?

[Purplepansies54]

Hello Curry55

I am HGS OC stage 4a and had 4chemo , surgery, more chemo and then went on Niraparib July 2022. I had pain in my right shoulder joint and in the blade. It was very painful at night and I couldn’t sleep on my side. I was referred to physio who did a full assessment and their conclusion was it was related to the cancer as a mass in the abdomen/pelvic region can cause referred pain to the shoulder and is a known red flag for things like ectopic pregnancy. However my Ca125 has been stable at 7 for a year and all scans have been clear. Physio said it could be scar tissue or swelling or anything. If your Ca125 is stable and your scans are good then I wouldn’t worry too much. Mention it to your Onc Team see what they say. You get all sorts of aches and pains as well with PARPis. I hope this is helpful. It’s difficult not to worry at every twinge ache and pain I know.

[Curry55 in reply to Purplepansies54]

Thank you for your advise I’m going back to the marsden in two weeks I will mention then

[FlowerRose in reply to Purplepansies54]

That is exactly what happened to me and I remember that pain in my right shoulder blade as so painful I would wake myself up crying. Went away as soon as I had my surgery and I am convinced - though nobody could pinpoint it - that it was the referred pain of which you speak. Tumor pressing on the wrong parts.

[DinkyAnnecy]

It could be a side effect from the park inhibitor. When I first began Olaparib, my feet felt like cement blocks for a few months. I could not walk inside my house without thick cushioned sandals. Within a few months, I was back to walking outdoors for exercise. Also, are you sleeping on your shoulder? While I was going through treatment I slept upright in a recliner to help with chest pain. After a few months of doing that my shoulder and lower back were painful.

[thejoannabell]

Avastin and Niraparib both caused all kinds of musculoskeletal pain for me. I hope your docs find a good way to help you manage it!

[Weaves in reply to thejoannabell]

Me too! I had terrible achy joints on Avastin, especially neck & shoulders. All went away once the Avastin was stopped…