I am at my first anniversary (December 17th) since having a lumpectomy and 17 radiotherapy sessions on my right breast and am having my first mammogram since then on 20th December.
I seem to have some aches and pains in this breast and have read quite a few threads on this site where it appears that a few of you are or have experienced pain and ‘niggles’ also.
Is this a ‘normal’ thing to experience? I’m also a bit concerned that the mammogram may be painful too. Has anyone else experienced this? It’s such a worry!!
Hi, It’s 18 months on for me since being diagnosed. I had chemo and radiotherapy after a lumpectomy and have just finished a year of herceptin. My right breast is still very tender from the radiotherapy. This isn’t unusual I have been told by oncologist. I had my 1st mamogram in August and yes it was a little painful, but it is very brief. It was a relief to be told that it was clear.
Hope this helps. It’s quite normal to feel a little apprehensive when the mamogram is due. It does give peace of mind though. It’s good to know they are keeping an eye on us! Hope this helps and it goes well for you. xx
i had a lumpectomy on dec 22nd last year. I haven’t had a mammogram - i dont get one until round about June next year but i did have to go back to get a lump checked out last month. My breast is quite sore (and still has a lump) because of fat necrosis which may have been caused by the trauma of radoitherapy. I think a lot of us have some pain even a year later and altho tis always best to get things checked out it’s generally not serious.
so glad to see this topic-i had a wle on july 5th and 15 rads-but just the last week or so am “aware” of my breast-and from under my arm to the breast is sore.i’m not thinking it’s something nasty-just that i’ve been doing too much and (guilt bench )praps didn’t do as many post rads exercises as i should !!!
Hi Sarav,
I had a lumpectomy on Dec 18th last year, followed by chemo and radiotherapy, which finished at the end of May. Since then I’ve had lots of different aches, pains the affected and soreness in the affected breast but when I had a mammogram at the end of November, didn’t feel a thing - in fact it was much better than in previous years. When I saw the consultant earlier this week, he said the aches and pains were to be expected.
Hope this helps.
Love Loula
It’s three and a half years since my lumpectomy and whilst I’ve not had any major issues I have had a couple of worries!
Initially my scar area was very hard which was put down to scar tissue, but two years out and I had a lump appear overnight. It turned out to be a cyst.
Like you, I had a lot of aches and pains, but they were nothing to worry about.
Now, three and a half years later, the hard areas have gone. The soreness and pains have gone. My only problem is that the breast has shrunk!!! It’s now half the size of the other! Do I care? Not at all. I’m here and feeling great and if I have a breast that’s smaller than the other, then that’s fine. It’s a small price to pay.
I think this is very common. I had my op on March 7th this year, had an infection aftrerwards, and then 3 weeks of radiotherapy. My breast still aches some days, and does hurt a lot on others, with sharp pain sometimes. My shoulder also aches and it is hard to sleep on that side. If I do, then it hurts in the morning. As some people say, it does take a long time to recover and aches and pains are not unusual. I dont know anyone who has not had ANY aches and pains afterwards. My first app. with the breast institute is at the end of March 2012. Must admit to being a little apprehensive about this. x
Thank you all, your comments have certainly made me feel a bit calmer! My consultant told me after the op that I would experience different feelings in my breast, but I don’t think we’ll ever stop worrying about them when we do!..
I had a lumpectomy in Feb 2011 with chemo and radiotherapy after. All the lymph nodes were removed. The skin around the area is still prickly sore but the whole area still feels bruised and I am wary of people bumping into me in shops etc. When I mentioned it to the oncologist he said it was normal but reading his letter today sent to my doctor in June he said it was probably a neuroma. I googled this ( I know) and it says that this is a benign bunch of nerves. The nurse practitioner said 2 years for healing. I have got a check up on Monday with a possible mammogram and don’t want to appear a whiner so don’t know whether to mention it or not. Has anyone else experienced this persistant pain?
How did you get on Sarav?
Hi. I had a lumpectomy in DEC 2010 then chemo them ax clearance in June 2011 then rads. I have neglected to do exercises since about november, and the pain im getting now is almost similar to my op pain-- I am also wary of people touching my arm or shoulder, if i stretch my arm out, it pulls and hurts both my breast and the ribs under the breast, which im telling myself is damage from the rads,
I had my annual scan and mammo last month which was okay except for fat necrosis, and a bone scan 2 months ago was also clear.
My arm is still very weak and my kids nor hubby are allowed to rest their heads on that side of me, as im still guarding it, it feels very bruised.
Hi I had a lumpectomy / node clearance in autumn 2006. I still get the odd bit of nervy pain in my arm, sometimes pins and needles. I also have an achy shoulder blade sometimes. When I had the really bad nervy pain post surgery it was explained to me that the nerve endings try to find each other again to repair, so they bang together, hence the pain. I tend to find my arm is a bit iffy if I don’t exercise for a while. My gym membership lapsed end Nov and I haven’t been to yoga either so my arm is currently telling me this. I’m renewing my membership next week. The end of the year is a busy time for our business so I didn’t get time to go there. My waistline knows as well!