breast pain post rad

riverdancefan

hello

I finished rad in January this year, since then I have experienced most every day, aches, pains, stabbing pains, the feeling of swelling, and general discomfort. I can't face the breast being touched.

I wondered if any other lady has this? - if it improved with time?

To be honest I don't think I can tolerate this indefinately.. I am seeing the surgeon next month and I am thinking seriously of asking for a mastectormy rather than live with this constant painful reminder....

thanks for reading x

dlb823

River, a couple of possibilities come to mind... First, stabbing pains are not uncommon when nerves rejuvenate after surgery, and my PS told me this can happen up to 18 mos. out from surgery.  I'm also wondering if the aches, swelling and general discomfort might be truncal lymphedema, which some women experience post bc tx.   I get truncal LE mostly in my breast, underarm area and side, and it's exaccerbated by heat -- anything from hot baths to getting overheated while exercising -- and can be extremely painful when it's at its worst.

I can't tell you if either of those is what's going on in your case, but I believe they're more common than lasting damage/pain from RT, so both might be worth reading up on and asking your breast surgeon about.   If you're having nerve rejuvenating, that's actually a good thing, and it should improve on its own.  The truncal LE can require some lifestyle modifications  -- like I always wear a sports bra now for compression -- but can also be controlled.    

Good luck figuring it out.  And by the way, neither of those possibilities would be resolved with a mx, as you'd still have the same underlying causes (cut nerves & damaged lymph nodes) going on.        Deanna

Jennt28

Between the lumpectomy and small amount of rads I had (long different story) my breast hurt every single day too...



Just had BMX with recon - no more pain :-)



Jenn

BLinthedesert

Hi River, I finished radiation at the end of June.  This week has been the first week that I have noticed the swelling is gone, and the pain is nearly gone as well.  Unfortunately, for me, it did take almost 4 months.  For other women it can take 6 months to a year for things to completely heal up.

Best of luck to you!