13 months ago I had a lumpectomy for a Stage 1 Grade 2 11 mm tumor followed by 5 days of radiotherapy. 3 lymph nodes were removed and they were all clear. Yesterday I was experiencing shooting paints through my affected breast and today there is a red mark approx 3 cm in diameter on my breast, my breast is tender and I thought there was bruising below the breast however on closer inspection it looks like lots of thread veins. I’m scared that there is something wrong despite being given the all clear on my 12 month mammogram in November. I am currently half way through a 6 week letrozole break due to side effects and don’t know if this could cause the issue. I cannot speak to my breast nurse until Monday and in the meantime I’m worrying myself sick. Any advice gladly received
@linda3 I don’t know what’s happening with you, and obviously you need to speak to your breast nurse on Monday, but I just wanted to tell you what the oncologist told me on Friday when I had my pre-radiotherapy appointment. He said that it is possible for the radiotherapy to cause little thread veins as you describe, and if they occur, then it is usually a year or so afterwards, and that they weren’t significant.
I hope everything is OK. xx
Hi linda3,
Thank you for posting. It is understandable that you are worried after noticing pain, redness and thread veins on your breast 13 months after treatment for breast cancer. It can be especially difficult if you notice symptoms at the weekend, when you are unable to contact your breast care nurse for support.
As @pat says it is difficult to say what is causing your symptoms but broken blood vessels can sometimes be a late side effect of radiotherapy. As you have also experienced shooting pains in your breast do contact your breast care nurse today, if you have not already done so. They can assess you and establish the cause of your symptoms.
We offer a range of free supportive services for anyone who has had a diagnosis of breast cancer which you may be interested in. They include face to face and online courses and events.
You may be interested in our Moving Forward resources that are for people who have had a diagnosis of primary breast cancer and have come to the end of their main hospital treatment within the last 2 years. They include our Moving Forward booklet and Moving Forward courses. You can attend Moving Forward either at our face-to-face course or take part by joining online. Find a course near you or register for an online course via the links above or call us on 03457 077 1893.
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