Hi there, I’m new to the forum.
I started radiotherapy (15 sessions) on 31st March, due for my 5th session today. In the last 48 hours, my breast has become moderately painful and tender to touch, especially between the surgery scars. The skin is fine, no redness etc but this is a deep, nerve type pain and is quite uncomfortable.
I had similar pain through my chemo, but then it only lasted a minute or two, this is continuous. I’m obviously worried with another 2 weeks to go that this is going to get a whole lot worse. Any advice or tips gratefully received :).
After the first 3 or 4 treatments (out of a total of 15) my breast went pink, hot and tender and I was getting shooting pains through it. I was really worried that with so many treatments still to go that I was going to suffer badly, but that wasn’t the case. It settled down, became more comfortable, and I didn’t get any blistering. I allowed fresh air to it whenever possible, to let it cool down, doing without a bra, and that helped.
Sarah x
Thanks so much Sarah, that’s really helpful and good to hear. Fingers crossed mine settles down too, it’s pretty uncomfortable at the moment but I’m coping! Looking forward to champagne on 20th April!!
That’s another thing to watch out for! I expected to skip out of the hospital on the last day, ready for a party, but was very upset by how flat I felt. No one at the hospital even acknowledged that it was my last treatment and no one was with me to say “well done”. I suggest you take someone with you for that last one and go for a meal or something afterwards so that you feel it has been properly recognised.
Hope that makes sense.
Sarah x
Brilliant idea Sarah :). I’d already planned to take hubby with me, just to mark the end of treatment but know exactly what you mean about feeling flat, I’m actually struggling more now with that than I have done at any previous point. Everyone keeps telling me that it will soon all be over and seem to expect that I will be back to normal immediately! For me, it almost feels like its just beginning! Does that make sense?! Thanks, Clare
Hi Mythos I started my 15 sessions the same day as you and my boob is warmer than the untreated one,the nipple is very tender and, I am getting some stabbing pain but fortunately it’s not continuous. i was told to rest whenever I could which is ok as I am on on sick leave for the duration ( and then will be redundant) and to drink lots of water as that helps to flush things out of the system.
I treated myself to a Magnum yesterday to celebrate being one third of the way through and have already decided at the end of treatment, to take my sons for a meal at a pub that I drive past on the way to the hospital, because I want to celebrate the future. 
Hi Modbird :), well done you! My skin is absolutely fine so far although that side is a little warmer & I’m plastering on the aqueous cream as often as I can. The pain I’m getting is apparently nerve irritation and they’ve just suggested pain killers. I’m working in the mornings and then have treatment at lunchtime and ‘try’ and rest in the afternoons but not always managing it! I think I probably need to drink more as I’ve not been very good at that recently.
My OH has my last treatment day off so we will mark the end of treatment in some way. How are you coping psychologically, I’m feeling slightly nervous about how I am going to feel after 9 months of constant treatment, appointments, tests etc etc! Good luck & have a lovely meal x
Hi
I finished my radiotherapy on 19/3/11 and now 3 weeks post it. I had pain quite early in week 1 & was told it was nerve pain. Similar to the pain I had following re-exision last November.
I slapped on the aqueous & aloe vera; I was also given some gel patches by the radiographer to place over my nipple as this was the most painful spot. They were wonderful especially if left in fridge for an hour prior to use.
On aqueous side I kept mine in the fridge to make it colder when applying.
Unfortunatly my nipple is still sore/itchy and is now peeling after it went quite leathery.
I had to see the diabetic nurse yesterday & got her to check it for me. She advised to stop with the aqueous as a moisturisor & use it as a soap substitute instead, tried this for the first time this morning & seemed OK. She also prescribed a cream called Diprobase which in my GP surgery is the one they prefer to aqueous as it doesn’t “thin the skin” if used over a long period.
Go for my follow up appt in Onc clinic on the 15th so hope it has settled by then as I want to start swimming again.
Take care with rest of your treatment. When I finished I did skip out of the department; but none saw me as it was Saturday so didn’t make too much of a fool of myself as not many people about. Then as I had lost weight (gone back to size 12; could fit into wedding dress if I wanted) due to diet for my diabetes I went shopping!
Regards
Lynne
Simples I love the idea of skipping out of the department but I think I may give it a miss knowing my luck I would break my leg!and my last appt will be on a wednesday so I think there may be too many people around so I will just make a quite dignified exit. Well done on getting back to a size 12 my diet has rather gone out of the window this year so I will worry about that after rads has finished.
Mythos I don’t know how I am coping psychologically I had a meltdown a week after the WLE & SNB but I think that was bought on by the uncomfortable dressings and the inability of my hospital to give me an appt for their removal because they were so busy! I do found now that I get tearful over silly things and I have less patience with my teenage sons, but I think the biggest problem I have is with the altered shape of my boob I can’t seem to come to terms with it and had to steel myself to put the cream on it the first time - I still don’t like doing it, that has come as quite a shock because I hadn’t actually realised how important my body image was to me.
I don’t have an OH maybe I would feel differently if I had someone close to reassure I don’t know.
I won’t have a job to go back to when this over so possibly that is having an effect as well.I do rather feel like I am in limbo with everything and I think when I can look for a job in earnest (was advised to wait to see how the rads effected me first)I may start to feel more like my old self.I still find it hard to believe that one day I was fit and healthy and the next I had cancer (tumour showed up on my first mammogram and couldn’t be felt at all)
How do you feel you are coping?
While you are thinking about the answer remember to Slip Slop Slap - Slip onto a comfy sofa, slop some water down your neck and slap on the cream. Lol x
Hi Modbird
Hope all is going well today.
I know what you mean about finding it difficult to accept you have cancer. In my case it was my first mammogramme & it showed a small cluster of calcifications; no lump or any other sign. Tests were inconclusive so I had wire guided WLE at end of September this confirmed I had DCIS; but needed 2nd op for good margins.
It wasn’t until I had my CT scan for raiotherapy planning that I did accept I had a very early form of cancer & realised how lucky I was that we have national screening.
I asked to see the CT scan and the radiographer talked me through it pointing out all my body parts and where the DCIS was. For the first time because I saw the area I could visualise I did have something apart from a 3 inch scar (very neat) on my left boob.
Whilst having my rads I asked to see my treatment plan; which again helped to visualise what was happening as it was all in 3D. I was expecting a computer printout.
It may help to ask to see yours; as it made me feel more in control of what was happening.
I didn’t have any problems slapping cream over whole of boob (right one too so it didn’t feel left out), once I accepted this was fact I was able to move on and feel positive everything has been thrown at this to stop it coming back.
Sorry this post is a bit long; a friend decribed to me early on that having the surgery took away the condemned building and the rads are setting the foundation for the future.
Take care and next time you look at yourself say I’m OK, my boob has unique features and makes me more special.
Regards
Lynne
Thanks for your suppoert Lynne. The suggestion of asking to see my treatment plan is a good one but more out of interest than anything else.
I really think my biggest problem is being out of work for the first time in 25 years and I think once treatment is over and I can actively look for another job I will feel better about things generally and I will be able to move on properly from this particular phase, even though there will always be reminders.
Rads setting the foundation for the future? Permanent pain, thin skin, danger of RT induced cancers? What - with the permanent damage that it inflicts? Concrete tissues? Compromising recon results?
Did I miss the point?
Hi, going by most of your posts czechmate I sense that you must of had some bad experiences with you cancer treatment and I am really sorry for this.But there are loads who haven’t and are grateful for the treatment they have had, me included.I had 33 rads and have no problems.I also had chemo and still have some nerve damage to my feet.But I am in no doubt that if I hadn’t had this treatment I probably wouldn’t be here now 3+ years on or I would be very ill.
Sorry ladies for hijacking your thread but just had to get that off my chest (excuse the pun lol)
Best wishes Melxx
Well said Mel, I know rads have SEs and I am sorry if anyone has them. At the same time it is an important weapon in the arsenal against bc and I am very glad it is there to hopefully keep me well xx