Breast Cancer: Tight chest wall following radiation

Posted by thielmann1 @thielmann1, Jun 22, 2022

Last June 2022, after radiation therapy for 6 weeks daily to my left chest wall, (following breast cancer surgery in February) I developed severe tightening in my entire chest, making it difficult to get a deep breath without pushing against what feels like a tight band wrapped around me (24/7 all day). I went to Physical Therapy to help with regaining movement around the surgical area. In August, I started Myofascial Release Therapy 2x a week (interrupted in September and October), then starting up again in November. In March, after nearly 5 months of MRT therapy and no relief, we took a break. My radiation oncologist suggested we try the Barometric Oxygen Therapy for 6 weeks to see if that might help loosen up the fascia. That treatment did not change anything for me. I am uncomfortable daily with this tight band, and not sure where to turn for relief. Is there any of kind of treatment that anyone knows about that might help me. Even with the uncomfortable tightness, I swim regularly and participate in 2 Qijong classes a week and continue to stretch. Thank you for any suggestions. Nancy

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@blue850- I am seeing your post years after you wrote it. So you are now about 10 years post treatment and hopefully doing well. I stumbled upon this Mayo clinic forum after searching for answers for the very same issues you address here. I finished radiation exactly one year ago and had a revision on my implant four months ago. It is already tightening, getting higher, and and painful just as it was after radiation . And the chest tightness feeling/shortness of breath sensation and arm tightness under my right arm is always a struggle. So I'm back to trying to stretch constantly. I greatly value your perspective on this subject so I can be more realistic and not so discouraged. I don't normally comment on these kinds of things. So I really hope you see that I appreciate your post for what I'm going through right now.

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@jrlucas
In reply to @jrlucas
I can identify with your situation. I had 15 sessions of radiation, 15 months ago after lumpectomy. The muscles along my left chest area and underarm are very tight. I stretch and exercise religiously and it seems to stay tight. I even just hang on the bar of the lift assist at the gym which feels good. I suppose it will not change but I keep truckin’!

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