post rads effects

duff0015

Hi ladies,

I'm nervous.  I had a lumpectomy, chemo and finished rads in June for stage 1 bc.  I am also on Lurpon and Tamoxifen since I am pre-menopausal. Well, my breast (lumpectomy side) seems more tender now and is slightly larger/ fuller (non pitting edema) than the other one.  It feels heavier too.  No redness, always had some warmth since rads.   I always thought your breast gets smaller after rads, not larger.  I recently had a breast MRI so that is giving me some sanity.  Thanks for your input!  

Shirlann

Well, since you had a breast MRI, it is a good guess that you are just seeing aftereffects of radiation.  My breast was toasty brown and hot for a year.  Now, 9 years later, it is exactly like the other one, but smaller, due to the lumpectomy.

I also have rib pain.  This is due to radiation and SOMETIMES starts about 6 weeks after treatment.  We won't get into that now.

Some people have breast edema, so you need to check that out.  Just to make sure you don't have that.

Otherwise, since you are obviously watching closely, you probably are just in the "I finished radiation and..... group".

Gentle hugs, Shirlann 

miss-di

Radiation 5 years ago. Lumpectomy.  The "soreness" is a constant reminder of what we go through. The radiation changes the molecular make up of the breast tissue.  It almost makes the tissue the same density of breast tissue you have when you first start to develop.

My radiated breast is still fuller/heavier and fills out my bra more, even though I had the lumpectomy.  I thought about implants because my non-radiated breast, is smaller and needs a lift.  I opted for good bras instead.

Warmth and mild massage help. It gets better, but I don't think it ever goes completely away.

Good Luck to you, Diane

May an angel walk beside you.

Alli

Do you ladies know of anyone that has had breast implants following lumpectomy and radiation?  My radiated breast remains larger than my "good" breast.  It has been 6 mo. since I finished rads.  My BS said to wait a full year before we consider an implant for the good side.  I figured if I had one side done, that I may as well have both if they can put one in the radiated side and have both of them a little larger.  Maybe I am being too vain and should just be grateful to have breasts.

Alli

miss-di

Alli,

I believe most insurances pay for both after lumpectomy, the key word is "asymmetry".(sp?) brain fade.

good luck, Diane

duff0015

Thank-you Shirlann and Diane!  I appreciate it. 

I met with my oncologist and rads onc yesterday.  I guess it's more common than I was led to believe at the beginning of this journey.  They said it could be either fluid trapped by aggravated (rads) scar tissue or the beginning of truncal lymphedema.  Rads onc said it could take a full year for it to adjust and can be quite uncomfortable at times.  Said some women are smaller after and some are larger.  She recommended a pt, who specializes in lymphedema to relieve and prevent swelling and discomfort.  

 Cancer is the gift that keeps on giving!  Sorry, so many of you are dealing with this too.  Best wishes and God bless you all. 

bethanybeane

Has anyone had an "unrelated" chest x-ray show something on the lung? Does radiation leave its mark? going for MRI with and without contrast and CT scan today. Trying to talk myself out of being terrified. ~ Bethany

Mouser

Hi Bethany --

MRIs and CT scans are famous for showing things!

I had a CT scan due to a misunderstanding with my onc (long story, and irrelevant), and it showed spots on my lungs -- not at all cancer-like, but ... they felt they had to do another in 6 months to make sure the spots weren't "something". My onc agreed it was almost certainly nothing - but he also thought i should have the 2nd scan. So i did...

A separate scan (with contrast, to check before hernia surgery) showed fibrosis of the lung on the side where i had rads -- i'd been warned to expect that.

So ... try not to panic. Even if "something" shows, it's often nothing to worry about. They assume my spots are due to living in the midwest for 40 years... 

all the best!