7 months post mastectomy 6 months post radiation

Hi there, diagnosed in Feb 2025, failed margins on lumpectomy so mastectomy 3 weeks later in March. Chest wall radiation in May. Besides the crippling anxiety of it coming back I had a good 6 month check up. No recurrence. But, I do have a frozen shoulder confirmed by MRI and my ribs are feeling so tender, like they are bruised. Can’t sleep on my left side at all. Anyone else getting late effects of radiation? :two_hearts::two_hearts:

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Hi,
I had radiotherapy in 2020 and had very tender ribs for quite a long time afterwards. The better news is that they stopped being tender at some point (I can’t remember exactly when) so hopefully yours will improve with time too.
You can always phone the nurses on here (0808 800 6000) they are very knowledgeable and kind, or contact your team if you are concerned at all.
I hope it feels better soon for you x

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Hi

I pity you with frozen shoulder. I had my right shoulder freeze first probably about 7 years ago, followed by my left one around 16 months later. I have never felt pain like it, it was excruciating. This was before any cancer diagnosis etc, but don’t know how radiotherapy could have been achieved, my shoulders just wouldn’t move.

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Sorry to hear of your discomfort. Check with your breast team to see if they have a late effects radiotherapy service, some trusts do. If not ask to see a physio with cancer experience.

I had a bilateral lumpectomy, chemo, Herceptin, radiotherapy 5 days high dose and hormone blockers. I’m two years in but still have some aches and pains. I was originally referred to a normal physio who had no idea about my surgery or treatment plan. She did her best but six months later my oncology team referred me to the oncology therapy department. That was a game changer. It’s not perfect but I know the exercises I need to do to keep me mobile and lessen the pain. I still have pain in the chest wall on one side, the tumour was further back so maybe the radiotherapy penetrated further into the chest wall. It was never fully explained exactly what areas they were targeting. I’m just assuming.

I also take pain killers, it helps.

I hope you feel better soon.
:smiling_face_with_three_hearts:

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