I’m in a real panic and don’t know what to do. I start 5 days of radiotherapy tomorrow. Tonight after a shower I noticed my nipple and my breast have flattened. My scar is well above the nipple so I’m concerned about this change. Is it normal to continue seeing changes in the breast 8 weeks post lumpectomy? I’m frozen with fear. The nipple doesn’t stay flat but there is definitely a dip or flattening of my breast when I look from the side.
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Hello there and yes it is normal. I had a failed procedure after which my breast sort of pulled in around the site where tissue had been removed then after lumpectomy it contracted again and then a bit further still after radiotherapy . My scar is faint now 3 years on but there’s a flattening in / dent at the side of my breast and when I raise my arm my breast looks smaller than the other one - and it was a gradual process but sometimes for some reason you suddenly notice a change . Maybe if you are nervous about the radiotherapy you have become hyper aware of it ?
My breast was also lumpy for while and the lumps slowly disappeared so again that changed the shape of the breast and it took quite some time. There were times when I could feel it tightening up. My nipple also retracted to an extent as the shape changed .Speak to your BCN if you get the chance otherwise tell the radiotherapy team that you are worried and why as it’s always good to report changes but hopefully they will be able to put your mind at rest . Best of luck tomorrow .Xx
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Thank you so much for your reply. I am probably hyper aware as you say and dreading tomorrow. I’m so grateful for people here to chat to. I feel so lonely even though I have family and friends. Everyone just keeps telling me I’ll be fine. I know they mean well but I’m really scared.
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It’s great to have family and friends and they are right - I’m sure you will be fine but yes this disease puts us in lonely scary places some times that they can’t fully go into with you . I was so nervous I got my appointment date wrong and turned up a day early - it was only morning but I was already the second person that day to make that mistake . But actually I was fine .xx
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