Breast Cancer: Tight chest wall following radiation

I am sorry this has happened to you. There are quite a few responses about this very topic on another thread. If you post a question there, I bet there will be some tips or at least some common ground. You are not alone in this.
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mastectomy-1/?pg=9#chv4-comment-stream-header
Do you have a sense if this is from the surgery, or the radiation?

The surgery involved using part of my dorsal flap to close the gap from removing 2 small lumps so I'm sure there is scar tissue. The symptoms started to surface about the 3rd to 4th week of radiation ( I had a total of 6 weeks), so I'm assuming that it was a combination of radiation and scar tissue.

I don't know if this could apply in your situation, but I had radio-frequency treatment to break up old scar tissue in another area and I know it's being used for an increasing number of non-surgical protocols including some vein- and cardiac-related procedures. Mine was painless, non-surgical, no blood, almost zero risk of infection and can be done in gentle stages to let changes incorporate and see where more is needed.

Thank you for your response. Did it help you? Why were you having it done? Were you in discomfort?

Last June 2022, after radiation therapy to 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, started Myofascial Release Therapy. In March, after nearly 5 months of MRT therapy and no relief, we took a break. Next I tried Barometric Oxygen Therapy for 6 weeks for possibly loosening the fascia. No change. I am uncomfortable daily with this tight band, and not sure where to turn for relief. 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 that might have. Nancy

Hi Nancy - Thanks for throwing this question out there, looking for inputs to this problem too. So your radition must have been only last year, your post says June 2022 but you must have meant June 2021 base on all the various therapies you tried. My radiation and mastectomy were 7 years ago. I tried stretches recommended by therapist, massage (hard to find a masseuse comfortable/knowledgeable with post surgery/radiation), daily sauna, swimming, yoga, etc. My input to you would be while there is no magic solution, do keep at anything that seems to help even a little bit and that it will take lots of time, it will improve, but never really go away. I understand the frustration as with that constant tightness I never feel 'normal' in the chest area. I believe it is more of a muscle issue then a tendon or fashia issue but I have no data to back that up, just my believe based on my experience. Therefore, just like any other muscle, stretching and massaging will be part continual routine of staying fit and limber. I do monthly professional massages with a masseuse that specializes in shoulders, I do regular self massage to the front, I use massage cups sometimes which are great. It helps to put heat to the area first, hot damp washcloths are great for that. Even with all that there are certain positions (such as certain yoga positions) that tend to cramp up the area that was most heavily radiated. I have accepted that it is a lifetime scar that just needs to be managed and I know it is terrible but it seems similar to if you over microwave meat and it gets rubbery. there is no recovery from that, so I am glad I have most use/function of the muscle even if it takes continual management to have it. That doesn't change that with each breath I take I feel that tightness. Sorry not better news and I hope you don't find this discouraging but this is all information that I wish someone had just been upfront with me about from the beginning. Keep moving and keep active. It does get better, don't think it ever completely goes away, but maybe you will have a better experience then I and get full recovery some time down the road.

My ENT uses it "break-up" scar tissue for patients who've had bad or unsuccessful nose or sinus surgeries elsewhere. And my cardiologist mentioned that radio-frequency is used in a lot areas of medicine that used to have to rely on surgical or laser protocols. I had the Vivaer protocol to 'remodel' cartilage so I could breathe more comfortably and stop using allergy meds and steroid inhalers. It was virtually pain-free. I don't know if it's something that could help but is worth asking your doctor about.

With all the therapies that you're exploring, and keeping up with quijong and the rest, you might be making progress that isn't yet evident. My mother was a doctor and used to remind us that the body experiences trauma (which breast cancer and surgery and treatments surely are) in subtle and profound ways and that it's still healing in deeper ways long after a person might assume that the healing was "finished." So everything that you are doing can be creating a better long-term outcome that just isn't obvious yet.

Thank you for responding, explaining your treatment, and providing comments from your mother, the doctor.