Still normal to have pain 5months after lumpectomy

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wife1friend
wife1friend Member Posts: 3

My wife newly diagnosed this past December, had lumpectomy in January, began radiation tx in late February. Finished radiation tx in mid April. I know in the beginning after the surgery and during the radiation tx it would be painful, but since the treatments are done, should she still be having pain at the surgical site?

We have spoken to all the doctors involved and none can give us a clear answer as to why. Pain medication is not really helping, just making here groggy. She states its like a hot poker being stuck inside her breast. There is a big rounded lump at the site of the surgical incision, presuming it is scar tissure from the healing process. Could this pain be weather related? It was a cold windy mothers day weekend. I am at my quits end. Hard to see your loved one crying out in pain and nothing you can do or say to help ease the pain.

I need to know from others going through this if their experience was the same;with this appears to be chronic pain. My wife being relatively heathy person and now with BC, she still hasn't recovered from the emotional shock of this diagnoses, but continue pain accompanying is not helping in her recovery.

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  • jdeking
    jdeking Member Posts: 408
    edited May 2010

    Hi wife1friend,

    I do think it is possible (maybe not "normal") to have pain after the lumpectomy and radiation, even years later. I am about 1 yr, 4 months out from my last surgery, and about 9 months out since I did rads, and my affected breast is still sometimes sore and tender. I can't say I am at the screaming in pain, need to take meds level of pain.

    Neve endings are funny about pain, and can fire off for quite some time after the surgery. Stress to the doctors that you feel her pain level is abnormal and that you feel she needs more evaluation.

    Good luck to the both of you!

  • wife1friend
    wife1friend Member Posts: 3
    edited May 2010

    thanks jdeking,

    I have been reading through the forum mostly all day and came upon another with simular pain issues. Possible  costochondritis. All her symptoms leads to this possibility. Will confer with the MD's and see what can be done.

    Thanks for the response and good luck to you also!

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