Effects of Radiation on Breast?

jacks24
jacks24 Member Posts: 10
edited August 2018 in Radiation Therapy - Before, During, and After

I have DCIS, and a spot that needs removed in my left breast. I have to have a lumpectomy, and I'm also having a reduction. After that radiation. Due to radiation, my surgeons would like to do the reduction to one breast at a time. Does radiation really cause breast tissue to look different than in the healthy breast? Am I wise to wait to have the second reduction done to ensure both breasts are the same size?

Thanks,

Jackie

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Comments

  • Ingerp
    Ingerp Member Posts: 2,624
    edited August 2018

    I had a really big chunk taken out two years and never considered doing anything to the other side. Breasts are never identical anyway. I really don’t think about it any more—just another piece of the story of my life.

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  • mommaof4kids
    mommaof4kids Member Posts: 21
    edited August 2018

    In the short term, radiation does change breast tissue. Mine was firm and leathery. Now 6 months post rads it's not so firm, yet still not back to normal. For instance, I still have my "rads tan" in that area and some fluid retention.My RO says eventually I won't be able to tell I had it done, but not sure how to translate "eventually" into a timeline. I would think that if you want them to match, it would be beneficial to wait until there is sufficient healing from radiation before proceeding with the next surgery. Best wishes!

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  • MM19
    MM19 Member Posts: 8
    edited August 2018

    No one can tell you when it is the best time for you to have surgery; that's up to you. Here is my experience (along with a few friends') for you to consider....

    I just finished radiation today, after a lumpectomy in May. Yay! My breasts have never been perfectly symmertical, but the radiated breast did get progressively firmer throughout radiation. It is a bit smaller than the non-radiated breast. There wasn't a large amount of tissue removed via lumpectomy, so some shrinkage is definitely due to the rads. Two women I know who have had similar procedures, one five years and one ten years ago, both said their radiated breast is smaller.

    Good luck!

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