Mammogram after radiation

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MrsDarcy
MrsDarcy Member Posts: 162
edited August 2014 in Radiation Therapy - Before, During, and After

Good morning :)

I am hoping that I am posting this in the right place.  I am coming up on my 1 year mammogram this Thursday - and since radiation ended at the end of January '14, my breast is still reddish, sore, swollen and has hardened like a softball.

I am very nervous going to my mammogram because there is NO way they can "squish" this breast to get a regular mammo reading without putting me in some very big pain.  The breast will not squish more than 3" and there is a bar of hard mass (from radiation) at the bottom of this breast as well.

I plan on popping advil or tylenol before hand - perhaps 30 minutes prior - but wanted to know if there is anyone else out there that went through this ?  Any advice ?

I will be showing the technician .. my biggest fear is that my incision will pop open - I know that's illogical - it's just a lingering silly fear (amongst others) - just hoping for clear scans :)

Thanks & have a great Monday :)
MD

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  • Rosiesride
    Rosiesride Member Posts: 513
    edited August 2014

    hey...I am glad you started this thread...I was also wondering when/how long after radiation stops, that we have our first mammo.   I know everyone is different but I was curious. Rosie

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  • jdmac1199
    jdmac1199 Member Posts: 65
    edited August 2014

     Hi :) My 6 month mammo is in December right after radiation finishes ..like a week after and I was worrying about this too. I  am going through chemo right now and have chemo induced mastitis and a seroma and am a bit freaked out about how my boob will be after radiation. They are also tiny now since reduction surgery on both after my lumpectomy and there's not much there to squeeze flat..lol

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  • MomMom
    MomMom Member Posts: 523
    edited August 2014

    Wow, now I'm really concerned as I will be having my first mammo post lumpectomy only two months after rads.  I just started rads and will be done Sept 23.  I have small breasts which I'm told may keep did effects to a minimum.  Hope so!

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  • PoohBear-61
    PoohBear-61 Member Posts: 263
    edited August 2014

    Had mammo 3 months after rads as I found a lump in the other breast ...so they did both at the 3 month mark in August 2013....and did not have a problem at all ...skin was fine ....... turned out to be a cyst.! going for my 2nd mammo tomorrow for routine followup .


     

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  • Annette47
    Annette47 Member Posts: 957
    edited August 2014

    I had my first post rads mammo about 3 months after finishing rads, and despite still being quite swollen (actually, 18 months later I am STILL swollen but that's beside the point) it was, while more painful than prior to bc, not as horrendous an experience as I was afraid of.  There was only one view that caused me to break out into a cold sweat, LOL, and that was over quickly.    Just tell the tech if it hurts - they will do their best to avoid causing you too much pain while still getting an accurate picture.

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  • jdmac1199
    jdmac1199 Member Posts: 65
    edited August 2014

    I am not even sure if I will have finished rads by the time I have my mammo...hope I am not too sore.. kind of dreading it. Is it ok to do it while still doing rads or very soon after?

    PoohBear-61… How did your mammo go?

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  • MrsDarcy
    MrsDarcy Member Posts: 162
    edited August 2014

    Hi :)

    So I had my mammogram today - 7 months after radiation - and everything went well.  The technician was very careful and although we squeezed as much as we could - I truly didn't feel pain - just the annoying feeling of being "stuck" LOL !!!

    I did pop 2 tylenols an hour before the mammo - and 2 more a few afters afterwards, just to ensure the pain stayed away should it decide to poke its ugly head.

    So - it's do-able :)   Next step for me is an ultrasound in 2 weeks time - then meet the doctor in September.  Keeping fingers and toes crossed !!!

    Cheers :)
    MD

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  • PoohBear-61
    PoohBear-61 Member Posts: 263
    edited August 2014

    Hi JDmac ...mammo went well yesterday ..thanks for asking ...so now I wait .....no news is good news !! 

    MrsDarcy...Just noticed that you  are from Quebec ...I grew up in Ste-foy...nice to meet you ..... Glad your mammo went well Happy

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  • MrsDarcy
    MrsDarcy Member Posts: 162
    edited August 2014

    Hi PoohBear - I am actually on the South Shore of Montreal.  Nice to meet you :)

    I am going for my ultra-sound this Thursday - and a little nervous (ok, a lot nervous).  During my mammo last week the technician did a double-take for the imaging of my right breast (my cancer was in the left).  I saw lots of white but couldn't get a better look so have no clue.  I am just hoping it was a "technical" thing that made her look ;) and not a "medical" thing !!

    Fingers & toes crossed for Thursday!!

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