Swollen breast, told it can be permanent

gypsyscout

My treated breast, already larger than the other, is swollen and sometimes painful 6 mos after radiation and 1.5 years after surgery. Has anyone had this problem for this long and then seen improvement? My first radiation oncologist warned it can be permanent.

godisone

Its a very strange thing that you are telling me here. suffering for around 2 years post surgery is no joke. please consult your doctor and discuss your discomfort with them. let them know it and get this thing treated. Its too bad for someone to suffer this long. There is no healthy reason behind this pain and swelling.

God bless you honey and keep us posted.

Spoonie77

Has anyone mentioned to you the possibility of Breast Lymphedema? With physical therapy and manual lymphatic massage treatments it can be managed and less painful. I would suggest asking for a Lymphedema specialist referral for assessment.

Hope you find answers soon. I feel for you!

Bounce

I too highly recommend a lymphedema specialist.

My treated breast was slightly bigger to begin with and the swelling after surgery and then radiation was very bothersome.

I thought lymphatic massage treatment would be unpleasant but to my surprise I was treated with dignity and compassion and it really helped me start healing physically and emotionally.

edj3

gypsyscout I commiserate with you, I'm seeing a lymphedema specialist but neither of us think my swollen breast is lymphedema or a seroma. It's visibly bigger than the non-operated breast and it hurts all the time.

My RO and my BS both said the breast w/ the cancer & radiation would shrink up so the swelling was a good sign I'd end up with similar sized breasts. But surgery was five months ago and radiation's been done for three months and my breast is still swollen.

Betrayal

My RO told me that radiation can cause changes in the breast for a year. Have you asked RO about breast fibrosis secondary to radiation? Pentoxyffylline and Vitamin E can be prescribed for this. I would contact the RO and ask to be seen.

ruthbru

It can take a LONG time for things to settle down. It is definitely a good idea to check with a lymphedema specialist if you think that might be the problem. If it's not, it really can take a year or longer (think maybe 2 years) for things to get back to 'normal'.

Numb

I had radiation about 3 years ago and my treated breast is still swollen and can be painful. I have just learnt to live with it. It is not unbearable.

gypsyscout

Numb, that is my fear. I'm pretty sure it isn't lymphedema because I had that after surgery, but I can go back to my therapist and ask about this situation. The widespread lymphedema was short-lived, I discovered when an emergency bowel resection stopped everything. Betrayal, I will ask about fibrosis. I haven't seen anything about that, but my new RO has me taking vitamin E. All, thanks for the input. It's comforting to have support but disconcerting that this problem really can last for years. It would have been better if the smaller breast had been treated.

MinusTwo

gypsy - Lymphademea can start or re-occur any time in your life. Like even 20 years out after either surgery or radiation. My RO is the one doc who was able to pinpoint the problem - breast & truncal LE. Take a look at the website below if you haven't seen it before. It was created with lots of input from BCO members. Whatever it is - do get it checked.

https://stepup-speakout.org/

edj3

It's super annoying to have so much discomfort in my left pec and armpit and to have my left breast be visibly bigger than my non-cancerous right breast. If I fit the left breast, my poor right breast is not supported at all which isn't comfortable when I run. And if I fit the right? I bust out all over and my bra cuts into me on the left side.

I hate being lopsided.

gypsyscout

Thank you, Minus Two! I will call and ask to go back to the people who helped me before. I don't know how to handle it when it is this localized. BTW, I grew up in Huntsville. Hi to SE Texas.

gypsyscout

Exactly, edj3. It makes me crazier than I know it should, but confining the right one gets really uncomfortable and I don't want to pad the left one for a better match.

ruthbru

Insurance will pay for a partial breast prosthesis. I wore one of awhile until everything settled down and the fat shifted to fill in the gaps. Here's a story that might be hopeful; I saved a favorite swimsuit just because I loved it. For the first TWO years after my lumpectomy & radiation, there was no way I could wear it because I was so obviously lopsided. The third summer I was going to up it in the Goodwill bag, but tried it on just for fun.......it fit fine and I was able to wear it again!! So.....the changes will be slow, and maybe not that obvious, until one day you may be pleasantly surprised by how 'normal' your breasts have become.

gypsyscout

I went to a lymphedema specialist to see if that was the problem and she confirmed it. I'm back to the self-massage I was doing after surgery except for the hand and arm work. I'll see her once more to see if it's working -- that is, if I'm doing it correctly -- and then go on until the breast reaches an appearance that resembles what it was before. It's a bit of a pain and includes money for compression garments, but it's a relief.

DorothyB

My breast was also huge after surgery & radiation, but has now been drained twice and is back to "pretty much normal" size after draining. If it starts to swell again, I will be trying to find lymphedema pt specialist even though surgeon isn't thinking it is needed.