Large breasts and radiotherapy

Hi everyone, would love to know the experiences of large breasted people who’ve had radiotherapy. I’m a 34G and freaking out a bit of the fact that my breasts just flop to the side when I lay on my back and at the front it folds over, how do they manage to do the treatment? Mine will be full breast radiotherapy.

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Hello, don’t worry. I’ve got big boobs too ( 34H) and I’ve just finished my 5 sessions of radiotherapy. and thier “ floppyness” was never an issue.

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Hi. I’ve just finished 5 days too (32GG). It’s really not a problem. I asked about the same thing at the planning appointment and they said they just see where the breasts flop to and then judge how to give the radiation.

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They decided mine were too floppy and customised one of my non-wired cotton bras to wear for the sessions to keep my boobs in the right place - they cut holes where the radiotherapy markers were !! It was quite comical in a way as they carried the bra through in a bag with my name on in ceremonial fashion just before they called my name for the session !

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Thank you ladies for replying, you’ve put me at ease. @Jill1998 that sounds very comical what they did.
Just got one more question for you all, how did your skin react?

I’m still 36GG after lumpectomy and, as everyone else has said, they compensate for floppiness when you’re measured up and get the tats. That is why it is very important to be comfortable at this session as it is how they’ll line you up for treatment. I had the 5 session hyperfractionated rads and got no skin break down at all, just a nice overall tan which faded after a few months. Moisturiser aplenty and lots of water for hydration will help. The only SE I had was some fatigue about 3 months later. Good luck. As for @Jill1998 all I can say is WOWSERS :flushed:

:flushed: it made it marginally less embarrassing when the machine broke down with me on it and they told me to stay still while the maintenance guy had a look at it !!
I had a bra burning ceremony in the garden when the sessions finished !!

I can well imagine :face_with_peeking_eye:! I was victim to many a broken down machine but thankfully before, not when, I was on it.

Hi,
Definitely not a problem, I’m still 36H after a lumpectomy although my left breast is now smaller after the radiotherapy. At the planning session I had 3 small tattoo dots, 1 on each armpit and 1 in centre of breasts which they line up. It takes longer to put you in the same, correct position than the treatment takes. My skin on breast and armpit did breakdown and looked sunburnt as I had fewer sessions but higher dosage as we had just come out of first covid lockdown. One bonus, I no longer get hair under that armpit!! :rofl:

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Thanks for all the ifo ladies . Im going to be going through this soon not sure how many sessions but all info appreciated :two_hearts:

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No skin reaction, but fatigue was a definite side effect.

Just thought I’d feedback 11 days after finishing 5 days of radiotherapy. On another thread someone very helpfully suggested putting silk inside the bra - to cut down friction and to be a little absorbent of sweat. I can’t now find the post to thank her but it was a great tip!
With big boobs, I can’t go about my life without a supportive bra and couldn’t find any in natural materials. I bought a cheap offcut of silk and cut it up, wearing it everyday. As I didn’t seem to be getting any skin reactions I left it out for a couple of days and it then really looked and felt as though I was getting blisters/ sore areas in the crease under the breast. I then went back to using the silk and my skin has completely settled back to normal again. Hope this helps someone else!

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Ill bear that in mind thanks for the info. :+1: @gabrielle1

I have big boobs too. Radiation wasn’t a problem. I found a website for obese people and ordered inserts to put under my breasts. It was summer and very hot. Unfortunately, after 6 weeks I got a delayed reaction and a radiation burn that was very uncomfortable. I started antibiotics. It cleared up eventually and now I am fine. I was hoping for breast shrinkage but it didn’t happen. In fact my left breast was even bigger from the swelling. I had a terrible time finding bras. It has been 2 years and everything is back to normal. As people say, “You got this”. I refused the permanent tatoo and they used a marker of some sort.

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