pain after rads

SJacques

 does anyone have any discomfort after there Rad treatments?  It has been a year and a half and I am still feeling the discomfort.  Is that normal?

janey47

I guess you and I are the only ones, which seems peculiar, since my radiation oncologist said that the shooting pains/pinching/stabbing/burning sensations can last up to 5 years after radiation although the frequency of the painful episodes is likely to decrease.

But I asked a similar question a few weeks ago & haven't heard a thing.  Well, SJacques, at least we have each other.

http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/70/topic/741663

SJacques

Hi Jane 47

Yes I finf this strange also.  The bone it feels like the top of my ribs actually hurt.  just to touch the area that was radiated is tender.  Is that what it's like 4 you?

Thanks

Stacy

janey47

For me, the pain is almost exclusively in the breast tissue, but there's a spot on my side over my ribs, near my second radiation point, that feels bruised and is tender to the touch even though there's no swelling of any kind.   I have to be really careful when I try to sleep on that side.

It hasn't been very long for me, but a nurse who worked in the radiation department confirmed that she had continuing pain and her treatment had ended five years ago. 

Did you see this page on the site?  http://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/side_effects/chest_pain.jsp

Bren-2007

Gals .. I am 2 years out from rads and still have pain in the radiated breast.  My armpit on that side was completely numb for over a year.  Made shaving kind've tricky!  It's very painful when I get CBE and mammograms.  I think this might be permanent.  My docs told me it was nerve and scar tissue SE's of lumpectomy and rads.  They (surgeon, rad onc and PCP) don't seem too concerned about it.  Most likely because there is nothing to fix it.  I had a lumpectomy specifically to save my breast .. and truthfully, at this point, it is not functional ... just there.

I had a very small 7 mm IDC tumor, and in hindsight, I think I would have skipped rads altogether. 

None of these thing were discussed with me prior to tx.  I wish I knew then what I know now .. and had taken the time to do more research about tx options.

I also have rib pain to touch on the treated side under my arm.

On the plus side, by observation, you can't tell I had radiation tx. 

I hope you both continue to improve and your pain lessens.

Bren

SJacques

Thank you Bin Va ans Jane 47

  You both have helped me with my questions.  Maybe now I can try to relax.

Thank you both

Stacy  XO

janey47

I noticed this article today on the home page: 

http://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/surgery/new_research/20091110b.jsp

caycaye

YES!  I have shooting pain from time to time throughout my breast tissue and also a dull ache in my breast bone on the radiated side.  It's not too painful tho.  Today was my LAST of FIVE weeks of radiation....now only 2more weeks of boosts. 

MAN!  Am I burned!  It looks horrible under my armpit all the way down to my nipple.  My neck is burned pretty bad also...from mid neck down to front of the breast also.  The skin is starting to slough off....YUK!  I was basically UNBURNED up until about a week and a half ago.  The doctor kept asking me about any burns....and I was like, "nope...just a little redness"...and I was sooooo thinking radiation was a BREEZE, and all of a sudden I am horribly burned....(radiation is STILL A BREEZE compared to chemotherapy and the alternative!  lol!)

THEN not only do my huge boobs have to go braless for Thanksgiving at my house.....THEN I get the yearly hacking-cough sinus infection.  I spent Thanksgiving Sat and Sun in the recliner coughing so forcefully I kept peeing all over the towels I was sitting on!  No sleep! I am a MESS!!!  I am soooooo tired of being sick!

I keep telling myself that I am at the END of this journey, hopefully for good....but atleast for a while! God help us!  Keep on praying girls...that's all I do....and it REALLY works!

Bren-2007

Hi CaeCae ... I popped on here when I saw your name ... brought a smile to my face.  My sister's name is KK, given to her by me when were so tiny, I couldn't pronounce her real name!  And she's been KK ever since.

The good thing about the boosts, in my case, was that the field of rads was narrowed.  My tumor was at about 3:00 on the left side.  The areas outside the boost field started to get better.  I burned really badly as well.  And the itching was awful! 

I developed a cough during radiation .. and the techs told me to try not to cough during rads.  Oh gosh .. that put a lot of pressure on me, trying to focus on NOT coughing!

I'm sure you gals know that the cummulative effects of the rads and boosts will continue for a couple of weeks.  The burns may even get worse for a few days after tx ends.  The good thing is, in my case, after that, they healed very quickly. 

I don't know how long it takes for the long-term effects to go away .. maybe some are permanent.  After 2 1/2 years, I'm finally close to acceptance that this may be the best it's going to get.

You gals will get through this ... when rads ended, I was sort of stunned ... like, what now?!  For those two months, my life and schedule revolved around my tx. 

I wish you all the best,

hugs,

Bren

somanywomen

Just had my first rad yesterday, got up thinking "that wasn't so bad"....But what it sounds like is that is a accumulated effect....So I am interested if all or any of you had sentinal or auxillary node involved after reading the post by janey47 and also were any of you treated by the latest "Trilogy Radiation Technology"?...I was expecting my treatment to last about 15-20 minutes yesterday and it only lasted about 5 minutes..I was told to hold my breathe about 5 times and that was it...One down and 29 to go......Interested in your rad treatment,also if you have any advice for me to use while going through these, cremes etc.... thank you

Bren-2007

Somany ... the actual radiation tx is a very short time.  I counted the seconds so I knew how long it took for both fields.  That helped with my anxiety!  About 45 seconds for one view and a little more for the second field.

I used Aquafor religiously.  Because it's so thick and slimy, I wore old tanks over my breast, then a regular shirt on top of that.  I also went bra-less.  If I had to go out, I would skip the Aquafor until I was back at home.  I also used 100% aloe vera.  For the itching, my doc had me use Benadryl itch creme first, then put the Aquafor on over that.  Both are OTC and in just about every big store.

The time seems to drag in the beginning, but somehow when it's over, it seemed to pass so quickly.

Best to you,

Bren

PS .. Wanted to add that my rad nurse also recommended using a cold, damp hankie and laying it on my breast until it air dryed.  This really helped me with the burning and itching.

somanywomen

Bren, that's a great idea of putting the bendryl under the aloe....thank you, I am buying my aloe today...They gave me a couple of tiny tiny tiny tubes (big spenders) of Aquafor yesterday....but your suggestion makes alot of sense when I come to that point in treatment.....

blondie45

caycaye - You said it all for me exactly. I did so well also up until last week. I have 2 boosts left today and tomorrow. Not only is it killing me under my arm but now the boost site where the tumor was is starting to hurt also. To me I liked Taxol better as the steroids covered up so much. Only thing I hated was gaininig 25 pounds with Taxol. The other thing that is driving me nuts is hot flashes, I hate them and would rather have my periods back LOL.

caycaye

LOL!  I totally agree with you Blondie. I gained 20 lbs on TAC chemo and I had just LOST 40lbs. before my diagnosis. I was pissed! LOL! 

Also, BinVA (I also earned the nickname from my baby niece who just liked the sound of it...my name is Cay!  LOL!)......Everything you have done to help during radiations....I did......I think the wet hankie (my case a thin washcloth) did a lot to make me feel better.  I loved the cooling effect it seemed to have, and it dried out the bad areas very well. Then I applied the same lotions that you did.  One "new" lotion my doctor had the pharmacy order is called "XCair" and it is a wound repair cream.  It seems to work well. I just started using it though.  I have 8 "boosts" left....God help me!

lynniejojo

I finished rads on Sept 4--the same day my mom died from breast cancer 2 years ago.  About treatment # 16 I started to burn really bad. I used the aquaphor and a precription cream, but neither helped much.  Now after being done for 3 months, I am in constant pain.  I have shooting pains which I guess  are common, but I am also very sensitive to any kind of touch.  Even my bra makes me hurt.  The radiologist said my breast is very inflamed due to the fact that I have very large breasts and they had to give me very large doses of rads. He prescribed 1000 mg. of Naproxen which hasn't helped.  He said the pain could last for months or years.  The surgeon said it will never go away. The radiologist also said that my sweat glands and oil glands were destroyed on that side and I will need to use a lotion without fragrance every day.  I'm having trouble finding something that will stay on and actually help with itching and dryness.  Does anyone know of anything that works and doesn't cost a fortune? Thank you and I wish for everyone to have a New Year free of pain and worry.  We deserve it!

Linda G.

Liz08

Linda-

 have you tried "pure"aloe from a health food store since it has natural healing properties.  I hope your're able to resolve some of your pain & discomfort.

lynniejojo

Hi Liz,

Yes I have tried aloe, but it seemed to dry out my skin.  Right now I am using a few different fragrance free products.  Haven't found anything to stick with though.  Thanks for the advice!

lauralew

Hi I have not gone through radiation and really do not want to so I am getting a second opinion but a friend who went through radiation said the only lotion that helped her from getting a burn was: L'Occitane creme mains peaux seches dry skin hand cream, 20% shea butter. Maybe this may help you now with your dry skin. Did you consider not having radiation? do you have a hereditary gene? hope this helps and thanks for the reply

tangi-girl

I just finished rads on Feb. 24.  I use Gold Bond Ultimate Healing; fragrance free.  My rads doctor says it is working well and to continue.  You might try that.  It is an ointment and features the medical caduceus on the bottle.