Barb1260 Posted July 13, 2020 Share Posted July 13, 2020 Can radiation cause ribs to break? Just got a CT report showing a second rib that has an issue Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lin wilki Posted July 13, 2020 Share Posted July 13, 2020 I have bilateral rib fractures. I believe my osteoporosis got worse from steroids from chemo They aren’t healing since I keep coughing! Not fun Tom Galli 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BridgetO Posted July 14, 2020 Share Posted July 14, 2020 Radiation sometimes weakens bones. When I had pelvic radiation (for a non-lung cancer), I subsequently had spontaneous fractures in my sacrum (part of the pelvic bones), not caused by any stress or accident to the area. I learned that fractures in some locations (such as the wings of the sacrum) caused by radiation are not uncommon. Fortunately my fractures were not displaced and weren't painful and were discovered in a routine surveillance CT. I didn't need any treatment, but I did, out of abundance of caution, stop doing some things that seemed like they might cause impact , like splitting wood.. This is one of the several late occurring or ongoing side effects of my cancer treatment. I have to remind myself from time to time that without the aggressive treatment that I had I probably wouldn't be alive today (NED 9 years later) so it's a small price to pay. Bridget O ColleenRae 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barb1260 Posted July 14, 2020 Author Share Posted July 14, 2020 I hate these little surprises on the CT reports. jack14 and Tom Galli 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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