significant boob shrinkage after radiation - anyone?

daisydaisy

Dear ladies, I am here as a caregiver for my dear mother 60 yo, who completed rads in September 2016 and is now experiencing great shrinkage. Her two breasts are completely asymmetrical - untreated one is flat and saggy, while the treated one is tight and up. It's like she has a melon on one side, and a flatbread on the other. She won't agree to untreated breast lift or reduction, so we hope for help with fat grafting. If anyone can share their experience, I'd appreciate it.

Thank you all!

ChiSandy

I originally had swelling that made my radiated breast look like a melon that had swallowed a softball, and now that its seroma has greatly resorbed my radiated breast is almost its original size (it was always the smaller one). However, it used to be just a “shorter flatbread” but is now round and perky, like a large grapefruit. The other, “normal" breast is still a flabby flatbread.

MinusTwo

Radiation tightens all the muscle & sinews. If you don't stretch every day, it will continue to pull up just like a rubber band.

Did she have a BMX? Or just one side? Or just lumpectomy?

My radiated side is nicely placed now. My non radiated side continues to sag a little more each year - even though both sides have the same implant

Sounds like you are more concerned than your Mother about how it looks. Hopefully you'll be able to reassure her that it is fine & it won't show much in a good bra.

daisydaisy

ChiSandy, MinusTwo - thanks for sharing. My mother was able to find a special silicon insert in her bra and it looks quite good when she wears a bra. Originally she had a lumpectomy and then radiation.

dlj140

I had a lumpectomy Jan 30th of this year on my left breast. Radiation was in March. My breasts looked normal once the swelling was gone. I always stand in front of the mirror and inspect them before my shower every night. This past Thursday, everything was normal. On Friday, my right breast was normal DD. My left breast had suddenly shrunk and now looks to be about a large B or small C. I am sure it's due to the radiation, but it is alarming...