@sue417 - Understand. It may have been a shock to actually notice your now smaller and flatter breast. This sort of shock happens to most of us, in one way or another. Because even though we "expect" that the breast will not look as it did before the surgery, we are VERY surprised by what we see. This even happens when you have "reconstruction" right away. You are still going to see "different-looking breasts".
I had immediate reconstruction, so when I woke up from anesthesia, the cancer was gone, and both my breasts looked smaller but nice. Yet, it was still shocking to see those "different" breasts, in spite of the fact I liked them.
Another aspect of breast surgery is that there are many tiny nerves that are cut. This means that you may lose some, or all of the sensations you had, both in the nipple and the skin of the breast. In time, some of it comes back, but not always. In my case, most of the sensations came back, in time.
@sue417 - Understand. It may have been a shock to actually notice your now smaller and flatter breast. This sort of shock happens to most of us, in one way or another. Because even though we "expect" that the breast will not look as it did before the surgery, we are VERY surprised by what we see. This even happens when you have "reconstruction" right away. You are still going to see "different-looking breasts".
I had immediate reconstruction, so when I woke up from anesthesia, the cancer was gone, and both my breasts looked smaller but nice. Yet, it was still shocking to see those "different" breasts, in spite of the fact I liked them.
Another aspect of breast surgery is that there are many tiny nerves that are cut. This means that you may lose some, or all of the sensations you had, both in the nipple and the skin of the breast. In time, some of it comes back, but not always. In my case, most of the sensations came back, in time.
Hi
I really did not know what to expect after. So I am very happy that he cut around the nipple and not into my breast. Of course there is still some swelling so i'm sure it will be smaller again. I just hope my pathology comes back with clear margins. I believe that radiation also. How's an effect on how the breast looks? So so I don't know what the final outcome Will be I see the surgeon January 16th for my follow-up and pathology report. Thanks again for supporting me.
DCIS stage 0 grade 3, clean margins and lymph nodes lumpectomy. 20 radiation treatments.
Currently experiencing some discomfort in that breast. I had no discomfort until now and it worries me.
In PT as I fractured my back right after radiation. It has put a strain on my left arm and possibly those breast muscles or tissue (?)
Does this make sense. Going in for radiation follow up appointment this Thursday. Oncologist in a couple of weeks.
Also started Anastrozole a few weeks ago but not sure this is a symptom from that.
DCIS stage 0 grade 3, clean margins and lymph nodes lumpectomy. 20 radiation treatments.
Currently experiencing some discomfort in that breast. I had no discomfort until now and it worries me.
In PT as I fractured my back right after radiation. It has put a strain on my left arm and possibly those breast muscles or tissue (?)
Does this make sense. Going in for radiation follow up appointment this Thursday. Oncologist in a couple of weeks.
Also started Anastrozole a few weeks ago but not sure this is a symptom from that.
@flowergal, yikes! Fracturing your back is not something you needed or wanted, I'm sure. I know one's fear leaps directly to breast cancer symptoms or treatment symptoms. However, I can also imagine that the fracture is the likely culprit for radiating pain, including to the breast. But I'm not a doctor. What did you learn at your radiation follow-up?
Hi thanks for asking. The doctor thinks it's related to radiation.
I wondered why it was such a delayed response but she said it was normal. It's as if that breast "woke up". Reminds me of when I'd get my period and my hormones would make my breast hurt.
She examined me and said it was normal. She did say to contact my surgeon if I thought there was a problem. I actually wouldn't have known which doctor to contact! So that was helpful.
My back is getting stronger with PT - so this too shall pass.
@sue417 - Understand. It may have been a shock to actually notice your now smaller and flatter breast. This sort of shock happens to most of us, in one way or another. Because even though we "expect" that the breast will not look as it did before the surgery, we are VERY surprised by what we see. This even happens when you have "reconstruction" right away. You are still going to see "different-looking breasts".
I had immediate reconstruction, so when I woke up from anesthesia, the cancer was gone, and both my breasts looked smaller but nice. Yet, it was still shocking to see those "different" breasts, in spite of the fact I liked them.
Another aspect of breast surgery is that there are many tiny nerves that are cut. This means that you may lose some, or all of the sensations you had, both in the nipple and the skin of the breast. In time, some of it comes back, but not always. In my case, most of the sensations came back, in time.
Hi
I really did not know what to expect after. So I am very happy that he cut around the nipple and not into my breast. Of course there is still some swelling so i'm sure it will be smaller again. I just hope my pathology comes back with clear margins. I believe that radiation also. How's an effect on how the breast looks? So so I don't know what the final outcome Will be I see the surgeon January 16th for my follow-up and pathology report. Thanks again for supporting me.
Hello @sue417! Totally understand! You do know you can get your pathology report ahead of your check-up with the surgeon, right? You don't need to wait, unless you want to do so.
I prefer receiving the results of labs and any other report (including MRIs, CT, and Pathology) as soon as they are available. But that's me; you may prefer to wait, and that's totally fine.
Hello @prc73. I had a partial mastectomy on the right, with immediate reconstruction. My left breast (no cancer) was reconstructed at the same time, to match the smaller size of the right one. The aureolas with the nipples were removed and reattached on both breasts.
My plastic surgeon told me ahead of time that I wouldn't have any sensations for a while, but she hoped I would regain some of it, in time. For a long time, I had NO sensations on the aureola or nipples. Also, NO sensations on the skin of either breast. But I slowly noticed improvements. It took a long time (over 2 years), but I have full sensations now. So, yes, the sensation returned to the breasts, including the aureolas and nipples.
I was truly surprised this happened! I couldn't be more grateful to my plastic surgeon!
Are you contemplating a full mastectomy with reconstruction? Or did you have one already?
Hello @sue417! Totally understand! You do know you can get your pathology report ahead of your check-up with the surgeon, right? You don't need to wait, unless you want to do so.
I prefer receiving the results of labs and any other report (including MRIs, CT, and Pathology) as soon as they are available. But that's me; you may prefer to wait, and that's totally fine.
Hi
Well, our hospitals here have had a data breach. So all their systems have been down for 4 months. So I don't think I can get it from anyone but my surgeon.
DCIS stage 0 grade 3, clean margins and lymph nodes lumpectomy. 20 radiation treatments.
Currently experiencing some discomfort in that breast. I had no discomfort until now and it worries me.
In PT as I fractured my back right after radiation. It has put a strain on my left arm and possibly those breast muscles or tissue (?)
Does this make sense. Going in for radiation follow up appointment this Thursday. Oncologist in a couple of weeks.
Also started Anastrozole a few weeks ago but not sure this is a symptom from that.
Hello @flowergal - I am sorry to hear about the issues you have been having. Particularly your back fracture! Do you have Osteopenia or Osteoporosis?
As you have already found out, radiation can cause discomfort in the breast; however, the back fracture can also affect different muscles. These are all things you may want to bring up with your surgeon, but also with your GP. Are you seeing an orthopedic doctor for the back? You can ask him/her if and how the fracture may affect the rest of your body. Your PT specialist may also be a good source of information.
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@sue417 - Understand. It may have been a shock to actually notice your now smaller and flatter breast. This sort of shock happens to most of us, in one way or another. Because even though we "expect" that the breast will not look as it did before the surgery, we are VERY surprised by what we see. This even happens when you have "reconstruction" right away. You are still going to see "different-looking breasts".
I had immediate reconstruction, so when I woke up from anesthesia, the cancer was gone, and both my breasts looked smaller but nice. Yet, it was still shocking to see those "different" breasts, in spite of the fact I liked them.
Another aspect of breast surgery is that there are many tiny nerves that are cut. This means that you may lose some, or all of the sensations you had, both in the nipple and the skin of the breast. In time, some of it comes back, but not always. In my case, most of the sensations came back, in time.
HUGS!
D.
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1 ReactionHi
I really did not know what to expect after. So I am very happy that he cut around the nipple and not into my breast. Of course there is still some swelling so i'm sure it will be smaller again. I just hope my pathology comes back with clear margins. I believe that radiation also. How's an effect on how the breast looks? So so I don't know what the final outcome Will be I see the surgeon January 16th for my follow-up and pathology report. Thanks again for supporting me.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsDCIS stage 0 grade 3, clean margins and lymph nodes lumpectomy. 20 radiation treatments.
Currently experiencing some discomfort in that breast. I had no discomfort until now and it worries me.
In PT as I fractured my back right after radiation. It has put a strain on my left arm and possibly those breast muscles or tissue (?)
Does this make sense. Going in for radiation follow up appointment this Thursday. Oncologist in a couple of weeks.
Also started Anastrozole a few weeks ago but not sure this is a symptom from that.
Any thoughts?
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Helpful -
Hug
4 Reactions@flowergal, yikes! Fracturing your back is not something you needed or wanted, I'm sure. I know one's fear leaps directly to breast cancer symptoms or treatment symptoms. However, I can also imagine that the fracture is the likely culprit for radiating pain, including to the breast. But I'm not a doctor. What did you learn at your radiation follow-up?
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3 ReactionsHi thanks for asking. The doctor thinks it's related to radiation.
I wondered why it was such a delayed response but she said it was normal. It's as if that breast "woke up". Reminds me of when I'd get my period and my hormones would make my breast hurt.
She examined me and said it was normal. She did say to contact my surgeon if I thought there was a problem. I actually wouldn't have known which doctor to contact! So that was helpful.
My back is getting stronger with PT - so this too shall pass.
Appreciate your response.
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5 ReactionsDid you have a mastectomy with immediate breast reconstruction and the sensations came back? Wow I was always told it completely disappears.
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2 ReactionsHello @sue417! Totally understand! You do know you can get your pathology report ahead of your check-up with the surgeon, right? You don't need to wait, unless you want to do so.
I prefer receiving the results of labs and any other report (including MRIs, CT, and Pathology) as soon as they are available. But that's me; you may prefer to wait, and that's totally fine.
HUGS!
D.
Hello @prc73. I had a partial mastectomy on the right, with immediate reconstruction. My left breast (no cancer) was reconstructed at the same time, to match the smaller size of the right one. The aureolas with the nipples were removed and reattached on both breasts.
My plastic surgeon told me ahead of time that I wouldn't have any sensations for a while, but she hoped I would regain some of it, in time. For a long time, I had NO sensations on the aureola or nipples. Also, NO sensations on the skin of either breast. But I slowly noticed improvements. It took a long time (over 2 years), but I have full sensations now. So, yes, the sensation returned to the breasts, including the aureolas and nipples.
I was truly surprised this happened! I couldn't be more grateful to my plastic surgeon!
Are you contemplating a full mastectomy with reconstruction? Or did you have one already?
HUGS!
D.
Hi
Well, our hospitals here have had a data breach. So all their systems have been down for 4 months. So I don't think I can get it from anyone but my surgeon.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsHello @flowergal - I am sorry to hear about the issues you have been having. Particularly your back fracture! Do you have Osteopenia or Osteoporosis?
As you have already found out, radiation can cause discomfort in the breast; however, the back fracture can also affect different muscles. These are all things you may want to bring up with your surgeon, but also with your GP. Are you seeing an orthopedic doctor for the back? You can ask him/her if and how the fracture may affect the rest of your body. Your PT specialist may also be a good source of information.
Anastrozole is an Aromatase Inhibitor and has side effects:
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/hormone-therapy-for-breast-cancer/about/pac-20384943#:~:text=Aromatase%20inhibitors%20are%20medicines%20that,hormones%20they%20need%20to%20grow.
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/anastrozole-oral-route/side-effects/drg-20061868
- https://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/hormonal-therapy/arimidex?gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIj4vdtPWygwMV3mtHAR0S2AflEAAYAiAAEgJ0mvD_BwE
If you have any questions about your use of Anastrozole and its side effects, I recommend you talk to your Oncologist if your side effects are bothersome, he/she can change it or perhaps change doses.
HUGS!
D.
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