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Fear of radiation after lumpectomy
Breast Cancer | Last Active: Mar 9 5:46pm | Replies (129)Comment receiving replies
I was wondering if you had any long term side effects from either the radiation or the Tamoxifen? My mom's breast looked almost normal after the lumpectomy, but a long term effect after the radiation is that it started to shrink until it almost was not there and looked like a botched mastectomy and the nipple disappeared (inverted?). It was very painful, even to have the water in the shower touch it. (So we had a hard time getting her to bathe!) She had many other physical and mental side effects including confusion and loss of memory, severe hot flashes, something she called the "squiggleies" which would present like restless leg syndrome but worse in her spine and abdomen, leg cramps, insomnia etc. - just to name a few. I am definitely going to see the radiology oncologist and listen to all options, I'm just really scared!
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I did not have anything severe. When I had radiation, there was some severe fatigue. There was a burning of the breast and the greasy salve was not helpful. I bought a bottle of pure aloe Vera with no alcohol and kept it in the refrigerator. Using that a few times a day made it bearable to continue working. All the deformity in my breasts were from the surgeries.
I took tamoxifen for 5 years, and then anastrazole for even more years. I had the hot flashes and maybe a bit of what your mom called the squiggles. I found that staying hydrated really helped with that, it was mostly noticeable in my ankles at night when I wanted to sleep.
The only long term side effects I have had are related to the chemotherapy that I took.
What about this frightens you the most?.