Breast pain during radiation?

weavingwoman
weavingwoman Member Posts: 3
edited December 2014 in Pain

I have completed 6 of 16 radiation treatments and it's been seven weeks since my lumpectomy for DCIS;  I've only seen fatigue and skin issues mentioned as side effects to expect. Has anyone else experienced this?  Seems like the ribs behind my breast hurt too.  I'm small breasted.  

New at this, (cancer and support groups 😐) ,

Thanks

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  • Hortense
    Hortense Member Posts: 982
    edited September 2014

    I felt some warmth the first day, but nothing thereafter, except for the usual skin burns. Nothing I would call pain. I have small breasts too, size A cup. You should ask your radiation doctor about it.

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  • golilly2
    golilly2 Member Posts: 23
    edited September 2014

    Hello weaving woman,

    I've just completed two of 25 today and my breast is sore already. It was weird how the first day I got a burning sensation inside out.I told the tech today when I was going in for the second treatment and he told me that I shouldn't be feeling a thing yet.....no one does. Today I even had my husband feel how hot my breast was.  He was amazed how different/ hot the radiated breast felt compared to the other breast. My lymph node area really hurts tonight...it's been 5 weeks since my surgery. I wonder how many other women had an early reaction to the radiation. Since my Lumpectomy was behind my nipple, the tip of my breast feels like a hard golf ball at the crown without a nipple and no feeling there. The radiation just made it feel harder. I just wonder what it will look like and feel like when the rads are over...good luck to you...

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  • weavingwoman
    weavingwoman Member Posts: 3
    edited September 2014

    thanks, I asked my radiation doctor about it and he said it happens to some women.  He had told me I could have long term fragility in the ribs just there (they would be more likely to break in an accident for example) and I was worried that was already happening but he said that was not connected to this pain.  A week later and it's about the same - not worse, thank goodness.

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  • Kohinoor
    Kohinoor Member Posts: 18
    edited October 2014

    Dear Weavinwoman,

    I started to feel dull aches in my breast after about 8 sessions of radiation. The pains gradually increased in intensity and frequency as the rads progressed. The pain has spread to my ribs too. After about 18 sessions the pain started to become more intense - I would get stabs of shooting pain in the breast and the ribs. My oncologist radiologist said that was normal - after all, the breast has been subjected to surgery and now radiation. Both treatments are considered major trauma to the breast and the surrounding area. He prescribed a mild painkiller. It worked fine. I'm also experiencing a very strange tingling sensation inside the breast. Again the doctor said that is normal.  The skin would begin to darken. Again this is a normal side effect of radiation.  To avoid getting burnt you need to apply whatever cream(s) your doctor prescribes. All these symptoms would subside within 2 to 3 weeks after the radiation treatment has been completed. 

    The doctor stressed on the importance of staying hydrated. He explained that radiation kills a lot of cells (sick and healthy) and those need to be flushed out. He advised that I drink a minimum of three liters a day. Water helps detoxify the system and it also helps keep the skin healthy. Needless to say, subsequently, the number of trips to the loo has increased dramatically!

    Good luck. 

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  • caralex
    caralex Member Posts: 35
    edited December 2014

    Hi Weavingwoman, I had my lumpectomy in mid-November, and am currently half-way through radiation. I am also experiencing pain in my breast. It's very tender to the touch, and quite red (but not blistered or peeling). Sometimes the pain is a dull ache, other times it's like a knife stabbing me, or needles poking me! Also, which I find amusing, the 'shivers up the spine' phenomenon affects my breast - what I mean is that, for example, when listening to a piece of music which moves me, the sensation also goes straight to my breast and makes it tingle! Strange, if amusing.

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