possible breast changes 5 yrs post rads

kdholt

I am wondering if any of you ladies have ever experienced this. 5 yrs ago I had a lumpectomy and rads. Besides my breast being harder near surgery site my nipple was also inverted. It stayed like that for 5 years but the last couple of months I've noticed that the nipple is more normal looking- its not really that inverted anymore. Is this normal? Is my breast healing? I'm vigilant about self breast exams. That's how I found first cancer. I feel no lumps and there is no unusual discharge, rashes, etc. I would greatly appreciate some feedback. Thanks!

bevin

I am going on 3 years out and its just now that my nipple appears normal and is actually looking like one. Prior to the past few months, it was flat as if I didnt have one and had no color variation from my regular skin. Now the color is coming back too. For me, I'm assuming this is normal healing.

ruthbru

I remember my radiologist saying that if I ever noticed changes in my breast, even if it was years after radiation, to see him first if I ever had any concerns.....so, I think that it is normal to see changes for years afterwards.

DoubleWhammy

I finished radiation in December 2010.  My breast has been tender since, but the tenderness has improved significantly.  It sort of feels like a minimally premenstrual breast now.  I stopped seeing the radiation oncologist at 2 years because it seemed like I was always seeing someone and I honestly did not understand why I would see her anymore.  She did say I could see her any time I needed to, but why?  Anyway, around May I noticed a subtle discoloration around the areola which appears vascular.  I showed it to the NP who now does my breast follow up exams and to the medical oncologist last week.  They both said "it's from radiation".   Lately, my little mind has gone to the dark side because I wonder what's going on inside that breast that is causing the vascularization and, of course, I decided to worry about radiation induced cancer.  I have no palpable lumps, had a clear mammogram in June and am due for a breast MRI in December.  Anyone else have this effect?  Maybe I should make an appointment with the rad onc?

DoubleWhammy

kdholt, I have typically felt that I'd rather feel silly for bringing something to the attention of the experts that's nothing than to feel dead, so I'd make an appointment and get some reassurance.  I would think that a nipple change (even tho it's going from being inverted to being normal instead of the opposite) would be something worth checking out.