Pain 6 years out

My dermatologist and radiation oncologist both told me that internal radiation changes in breast tissue can evolve over time, so new scars might be forming or old ones dissolving, as well as nerves continuing to reconnect. Never hurts to voice your concerns to your care team. My derm told me that's why she wants to treat the redness and tanning, as well as fibrosis at the scar site even though I finished radiation months ago and had no irritation or pain at the time. I'm getting periodic "reawakenings" in areas that had gone numb after surgery. I was told this was likely to happen and not to freak out over it. So I won't.

Susanmarie, I had surgery last June and just saw my surgeon this week for my 6-month post-rads check-up. I mentioned that I still had pain in my affected breast and she said I might always have it. She said it would probably never feel the same as it did before surgery, and that I might always have some pain and tenderness in that breast that could come and go over time.

At the same time, I noticed that the questionnaire I filled out at her office asked about any new breast pain. So while developing pain years later could be perfectly normal, I would contact my doctor about something new just to be on the safe side.