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Breast pain/inflammation and swelling post radiation?

Posted by risagee @risagee, Feb 19 8:51pm

Hello all,
Wondering if any of you has experienced whole breast swelling and pain (post lumpectomy) a month or two after radiation treatment..? I was reassured it’s “normal” to have “late radiation inflammation” pain and swelling, and that it could last up to 2 years. If anyone has been through tjis, was there any treatment (massage?) that alleviated the discomfort?

Thank you! This support group is so
helpful…sending warm wishes to each of you

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

celestebradham | @celestebradham | 3 days ago
In reply to @glendafl "Hi. I’m Glenda from Florida, I’m about 6 months out from my last radiation 01/08/2024. My..." + (show)
@glendafl

Hi. I’m Glenda from Florida, I’m about 6 months out from my last radiation 01/08/2024. My left breast lumpectomy was done September of 2023. My Left breast is now sore again after all this time. It hurts to move when lying down from side to side. It’s like there’s this weight pulling on it. It’s very tender even in the shower bathing. The weight of water it seems hurts the left breast. I thought at first it was a new bra that I’d been wearing so I switched but it’s sore no mater what bra I wear. I’ve tried compression and no bra. Same effect. It feels better with a bra of some kind. My breast are large, DD cup. I have this hard but numb to touch area, but I think it’s growing more now. I’m calling my oncologist today as the tenderness and pain has been developing for about a week now. I hope this goes away. It’s painful and I’m afraid to hug people even side to side hugs hurt on that side.

Jump to this post

Be seen in person for an exam.

REPLY
sequoia | @sequoia | 3 days ago

@risagee your situation is so very frustrating & I wish you all the best. I had a mastectomy in 2019. All is fine regarding cancer, but I have scar tissue & it causes muscle spasms and the serratus anterior muscles (rib area) have given me problems. The dr don’t know really. I dealt with 7-9 rated pain, until I decided to try acupuncture. The pain that used to go from shoulder blade down to below ribcage on my back and the ribcage itself now stays in one place and is about a circle size of a tennis ball. The “episodes” come and go. Sometimes when I sit too long, sometimes stacking wood for winter - using my right arm repetitively. I’m still learning. I say all this to say, Acupuncture, has helped me tremendously. It is a journey. I’ve been see the acupuncturist for 1 1/2 years. Today I ran across this acupuncture article regarding Cancer Survivorship & acupuncture. It’s a good informative read.
https://acupuncturetoday.com/article/39259-acupuncture-and-cancer-survivorship-the-missing-piece

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1 reply
risagee | @risagee | 2 days ago
In reply to @sequoia "@risagee your situation is so very frustrating & I wish you all the best. I had..." + (show)
@sequoia

@risagee your situation is so very frustrating & I wish you all the best. I had a mastectomy in 2019. All is fine regarding cancer, but I have scar tissue & it causes muscle spasms and the serratus anterior muscles (rib area) have given me problems. The dr don’t know really. I dealt with 7-9 rated pain, until I decided to try acupuncture. The pain that used to go from shoulder blade down to below ribcage on my back and the ribcage itself now stays in one place and is about a circle size of a tennis ball. The “episodes” come and go. Sometimes when I sit too long, sometimes stacking wood for winter - using my right arm repetitively. I’m still learning. I say all this to say, Acupuncture, has helped me tremendously. It is a journey. I’ve been see the acupuncturist for 1 1/2 years. Today I ran across this acupuncture article regarding Cancer Survivorship & acupuncture. It’s a good informative read.
https://acupuncturetoday.com/article/39259-acupuncture-and-cancer-survivorship-the-missing-piece

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Thanks so much for your kind reply and acupuncture recommendation, @sequoia! I’ve been seeing an acupuncturist to manage the significant side effects of Letrozole, and it’s been so helpful! But it’s also costly and not covered by my insurance, unfortunately (even though my acupuncturist is at Memorial Sloan Kettering).
I’m so sorry you’ve been experiencing ongoing discomfort…sending hugs and best wishes to you that your pain recedes over time.

REPLY
ema1 | @ema1 | 2 days ago
In reply to @glendafl "Hi. I’m Glenda from Florida, I’m about 6 months out from my last radiation 01/08/2024. My..." + (show)
@glendafl

Hi. I’m Glenda from Florida, I’m about 6 months out from my last radiation 01/08/2024. My left breast lumpectomy was done September of 2023. My Left breast is now sore again after all this time. It hurts to move when lying down from side to side. It’s like there’s this weight pulling on it. It’s very tender even in the shower bathing. The weight of water it seems hurts the left breast. I thought at first it was a new bra that I’d been wearing so I switched but it’s sore no mater what bra I wear. I’ve tried compression and no bra. Same effect. It feels better with a bra of some kind. My breast are large, DD cup. I have this hard but numb to touch area, but I think it’s growing more now. I’m calling my oncologist today as the tenderness and pain has been developing for about a week now. I hope this goes away. It’s painful and I’m afraid to hug people even side to side hugs hurt on that side.

Jump to this post

My last radiation treatment was mid-February. My breast is still tender, I have some swelling under my arm and it, too is tender. I had my final follow up appt with radiology and they said it can last a year. Always good to have it checked!!

REPLY
leolion811 | @leolion811 | 1 day ago

Just finished 30 Proton Therapy treatments and I am dealing with breast lymphedema but my oncologist said I have to wait for 1 month to see a lymphedema PT and I also lost all my skin from the Proton- it is slowly healing. Wonder if acupuncture would help now?

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