Warm/hot breast

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Illy
Illy Member Posts: 4
edited October 2020 in Radiation Therapy - Before, During, and After

I completed 16 whole breast radiation treatments on April 6. Is it normal for my breast to still be “hot”? Everything looks good and I do not feel sick or have a fever. Is this normal to be experiencing this 11 weeks after completion

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited June 2020

    Hi Illy, and welcome to Breastcancer.org!

    We're so sorry to hear you're dealing with this uncomfortable issue. Others will surely be by soon to weigh in with their thoughts and experiences. Have you tried calling your doctor to see if this is something you should be concerned with?

    We hope you get answers and relief soon!

    Welcome again -- we look forward to seeing you around the Community. Let us know if you need anything at all!

    --The Mods

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  • MinusTwo
    MinusTwo Member Posts: 16,634
    edited June 2020

    Illy - I agree with what the Mods have said. If it's lasted a week or more, by all means call your doc.

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  • Illy
    Illy Member Posts: 4
    edited June 2020

    Thanks for the warm welcome and responses! I saw my RO today and learned that the warmth and redness is inflammation which can last for 6 months for some people. Physical therapy can apparently help with this. So that is my next step!

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  • DebbyLynn4
    DebbyLynn4 Member Posts: 4
    edited September 2020

    I, too, am dealing with this issue. My radiated breast is still more warm to the touch than my other breast. Also, it shows indentations from where my tshirt has folded over...etc...My RO noted a small amount of swelling that he said should subside over the next several weeks. Has yours gotten any better? (I finished radiation 3 months ago)

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  • Illy
    Illy Member Posts: 4
    edited September 2020

    Hi! I am sorry you are having this problem too. I’m now 6 months out from completing radiation and my breast is still much warmer than other side. The swelling is better though. I am doing physical therapy that has helped with the Axillary Web Syndrome and has resulted in less breast swelling. I didn’t think you could get AWS if you haven’t had lymph nodes removed but apparently you can still get it from radiation. I didn’t know that I even had AWS until I went to PT. So, bottom line is that all the stretching I do for PT helped a lot


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  • DebbyLynn4
    DebbyLynn4 Member Posts: 4
    edited September 2020

    Thank you for the reply. I have started to do stretching and today had my first massage in over a year. Never realized how many knots I had in my neck and shoulder. Felt so good! Looking forward to improvement

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  • LB13
    LB13 Member Posts: 49
    edited October 2020

    Illy and DebbyLynn4 - I also have a warm, pinkish red breast. I finished radiation on June 9th - a total of 30 treatments. (25 + 5 boosts) I have soreness in my armpit area too and some slight swelling. I have been doing PT from the lymphadema team since prior to surgery. Some self massage techniques - but am still uncomfortable and sore - especially if I sleep on that side. I had pretty significant radiation burns that have completely healed - other than some residual itching. I see my MO in early November and back to PT in late November. My mind races in the middle of the night worrying that cancer has returned - but then I try to be rational and not worry so much.

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  • Illy
    Illy Member Posts: 4
    edited October 2020

    Hi LB13!

    I’m sorry you’re having issues from the radiation. Sounds like what you’re experiencing is pretty normal especially after 36 plus boosts. I’m 6 months out and my breast remains hot and have chronic dermatitis. Your worry reminds me of how I felt a couple months out. I was convinced that I had inflammatory breast cancer and had to talk myself off of that mindset! I’m still pretty uncomfortable wearing a bra for any length of time and sleeping on that side, I have to position myself perfectly to be comfortable. I really felt that I got off easy when I was diagnosed - early stage, no mastectomy, no chemo. I’ve now had to accept that radiation treatment can have some long lasting side effects and itis not a cake walk. I sure hope your side effects lessen with time. Take care.

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  • Beveridgesmith
    Beveridgesmith Member Posts: 1
    edited October 2020

    I finished my radiation 4 weeks ago, 25 times and 6 boosts. My breast started breaking down after my 15th session, axillary and beneath my breast. Finally they healed but a week after completion I had a pop at my incision site that opened up. I went back for my 2 week follow up and was told this is normal and can continue for weeks to come. They gave me silver nitrate to apply to the open wounds which helped ease the discomfort. My breast is warm and my areola has turned white. So I am just doing as I was told, slather on the moisturizer.


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  • LB13
    LB13 Member Posts: 49
    edited October 2020

    @Illy - thank you. Yes - like you, I felt as though I received a 'lesser sentence' with only lumpectomy, radiation and tamoxifen. But - it is not a cake walk as you said..... every day I try to be SO thankful that I caught this early or would have had to deal with SO much more. I agree so much with whomever said there is life BEFORE a breast cancer diagnosis, and a whole different life AFTER a breast cancer diagnosis. Changed me on so many levels. I will keep doing my PT exercises and drinking tons of water and slathering on the lotions. Best to you as well! :)

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