Itching 2 years post rads

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Lainey64
Lainey64 Member Posts: 740
edited June 2014 in Radiation Therapy - Before, During, and After

Hello survivor sisters.  Wow it's been so long since I've posted here. 

I completed chemo and rads in May 2009.  Well, the past few months I've been experiencing some odd things with my radiated breast.  I breezed through rads with little or no SE's.  Then a few months ago I started getting some weird itching sensations in my radiated breast.  It feels itchy yet there is no skin rash.  It feels almost like it is inside.  At first I panicked and thought I had IBC.  I saw my surgeon, had tests run and was assured it was not IBC and I do not have any recurrence.  Thank goodness!  But the itching still comes and goes.  It's completely random.  I've also noticed that when I sneeze or laugh really hard, I feel a sharp pain in that side.  I had a really bad experience with a mammogram in March and wonder if that could have jogged things around in there.  None of these things started to occur until after that. 

Has anyone experience these weird things so long after finishing rads?

Thanks everyone and God bless!

Elaine

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  • simba
    simba Member Posts: 46
    edited July 2011

     My itching was about 18 months after rads. It was on my back exactly where the exit burn had been. It drove me crazy. Like you said, no rash or marks of any kind. The itching lasted several months but eventually went away. I also get really bad "catches" or spasms in my surgical and radiated side when I move in certain ways. It takes my breath away. I think its just damaged muscle and scar tissue. It helps it I do stretching to that area every day. Hugs, Simba

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  • Lainey64
    Lainey64 Member Posts: 740
    edited July 2011

    Simba, thank you for your post!  Sometimes I wonder what in the world is going on!  I almost went crazy yesterday with the itching.  This morning it is slightly better.  It just seems so odd that this has started 2 years after finishing rads.  I agree, stretching does help I just have to remember to stop throughout the day and do it.  Thanks again!

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  • peggy_j
    peggy_j Member Posts: 1,700
    edited July 2011

    I wonder if it's a nerve thing? i.e. long term SE of the nerves being radiate?  Maybe your RO has ideas?

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  • udpt82
    udpt82 Member Posts: 124
    edited July 2011

    I haven't been on the boards in a long time and decided to check things out today.  I finished my radiation in June 2009 and still get the itching (front and back) as well as some of the spasms mentioned.  I thought the spasms were related to my multiple attempts at reconstruction.  I bought a telescoping back scratcher for the itching, which has been a lifesaver. 

    As a doctor told me, radiation is the gift that keeps on giving!  Great.

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  • MizChiz
    MizChiz Member Posts: 36
    edited July 2011

    Wowwwww... You posted this at the perfect time! I only finished my rads 2 months ago but I never itched much, even when I had dry skin there. This past week I have felt like a monkey scratching right beneath my armpit where they zapped me from the right. It DOES feel like it's inside, just beneath the surface of the skin. I have ALL my doctor's appts in August, so I'll ask about this delayed reaction. Glad to be amongst all you survivors! =)

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