Radiation After Mastectomy

racemom

Has anyone else had radiation after a mastectomy?  My tumor was large so Dr says I should have it even though my nodes were clear. Supposed to start later this month - I'm still sore from surgery and concerned how radiation will affect that.

Houndmommy

I had rads after an mx due to margins that weren't clear.  My skin held up fine but due to a mistake by a nurse, my rads didn't start until nearly 2 months post surgery so my mx had plenty of time to heal.  Normally they do rads 4 -6 weeks post surgery.

Good luck!

racemom

Thanks, Houndmommy (love your screen name!) - my consult for the radiation is Jan 10 (4 wks after surgery) so I guess it will start awhile after that.  Did you have reconstruction?  I didn't and although my incision is numb, I'm sore above it and in the area where my right drain was. After I've had on a bra for a few hours, I just want to take it off!!  Still have some fluid above the incision, too.  Were you sore for awhile?

Houndmommy

Hi racemom,

Yes, I was sore until about 6 or 7 weeks post surgery (I remember because I could finally sleep on my mx side comfortably at that point.)  I enjoyed that for about 1 week and then rads started and I got sore all over again!  I am 4 months post rads and I am still sore in places.  Also, it seems the soreness comes and goes and moves around.  I have my 6 month follow up in Feb so I will be asking about the soreness.  I don't think at this point it is from surgery.  I believe it is from the rads.  I didn't have reconstruction and I only wear bras when I have to.  They still get uncomfortable after awhile.  I did develope some mild truncal lymphedema which I think plays into some of my soreness.  Good luck with your rads! It really isn't too bad - more of a pain having to go in everyday for so many weeks.  PS - I have greyhounds, hence "houndmommy".