Quick question for those who have finished rads - has anyone here had any of their rads ‘symptoms’ (red skin, discoloured nipple, swelling) happen well after rads has stopped?
Min were finished mid-July and thanks to loads of Aqueous, water and rest, my skin (and me) recovered within a month.
Weirdly, in the last week I’ve noticed that breast has become slightly red, irritated and sensitive, much like it was immediately post rads (though not as bad).
I’m sure these things come in waves, just curious if anyone else has experienced this.
I haven’t done rads yet but in preparation read a great book called “coping with radiotherapy” which is written by an onc who writes for cancer backup too.
He says that the majority of the side effects are delayed by a couple of weeks but that you can get some side effects possibly years later!
I’d go talk to the radiotherapy dept in case you need to get creams again etc.
Not itching no, its more that the area around the scars is tender and the nipple is going a bit brown (which is what happened during rads for me).
I think the tenderness is because I have *really* swollen breasts at the moment from PMT (which has been erratic since starting tamoxifen), so of course that’s stretching the skin in that area more than usual.
Will still see my breast nurse at any rate! Thank you.
I had radiotherapy in May. I got very tired, but thanks to lashings of Aqueous cream I had very little skin reaction. But here I am now with a very tender nipple, and my surgery scar is also tender. I keep getting tingly sensations in my breast as well.
I have talked to my breast care nurse, who assures me all this is quite normal for a long while after surgery/radiotherapy so I wouldn’t worry too much.
Hi, i finished my rads at the end of September and now the breast feels tender and the nipple is quite sensitive and sore, am also wondering if this is normal whilst checking for any more lumps!! Have a 6 week check up on 24th oct so will check with dr.What a nightmare
Regards to all.
Sarah66
i had surgery wle in feb and rads in may. Now and again,my scar and around that area really is sore. Thinking about what we have been through, it is hardly surprising. Surgery can take ages to heal properly and even then the scar tissue will still cause trouble occasionally. Radiotherapy is powerful stuff which is used to destroy cancer cells, so the healthy cells will have got a good blasting as well and trying to recover. It could probably take years before everything settles down.
Yes, Tommo, same boat, the Aqueous was brilliant for me and I healed skin wise almost instantly after rads! I was just shocked to see side effects now, as opposed to 2 months ago.
Cathy59 - you’re quite right, I think sometimes we’re given the impression that surgery in the modern age should be a walk in the park. Even a friend of mine who had a C-Section 14 months ago still has some aggravation where her scar is.
I had 5wks of radio 4yrs ago and the affected breast is still more tender and sensitive than the other one.The area under my arm that was treated has thickened and Ive been told that this is normal and sometimes happens after radio.Mind you I never expected the area treated to ever get back to normal - as long as the cancer cells got zapped I’m happy!
My nipple and areola both turned a darker colour with the rest of my breast turning a dark brown (referred to as radiotherapy dermatitis). I finished my rads 14.8.08 and glad to say that nipple & areola both turning pink again and the rest of my breast is losing it’s dark pigmentation - just looks suntanned now.
Some people are lucky and seem to sail through radiotherapy. I have just been back for a 6 month check up after a lumpectomy. The wound healed fine at first, but I was hit with a really bad reaction to the 20 sessions of radiotherapy. I was exhausted, and my skin boiled like a volcano for 2 or more weeks and then peeled. When I thought that I was past the worst, I had bad pains like pluerisy, and this was 4 -6 weeks after the radiotherapy finished. It still feels painful near the scars, and has started to feel uncomfortable, itchy and hot, although the main radiation burn has faded to a suntan now. Evidently this is all normal during the mending process, and I was advised to continue the good old aqueous cream - I have got through a huge pot! The effects of the radiotherapy can take ages to be settle, but it must be worth it.
This forum was such a help to me when I was in awful pain - good luck and thanks to all who contribute.
Hello all, Its been helpful reading all your comments! I’ve nearly driven myself mad worrying about the pain I have in my breast and shoulder, sometimes my arm and lower back. I keep reminding myself that if my nipple hair hasn’t come back yet, then my breast hasn’t fully recovered, so some pain must be normal.
I had a lumpectomy this time last year followed by chemo and 25 sessions of radiotherapy. I felt great in oct having finished the radiotherapy. But then started Tamoxifen, which I’ve now given up on as it gave me severe flu like symptoms, tiredness and made me feel like I had extreme PMT.
I’m looking forward to my first follow up mammogram on the 9th Feb!