I had breast surgery (lumpectomy in left breast) when I was 51 in 2005. This was followed by a short course of Radiotherapy and 5 years of Tamoxifen plus monthly Zoladex injections as I was pre-menopausal at the time. In the main I felt very well during this period although after the first couple of years I experienced pain and discomfort in the breast area around the scar and into my arm pit.
My concern now is that this pain is getting worse and although I have had annual mammograms, ultrasounds and physical examinations the Surgical Team & Oncologists cannot explain why it is painful.They have told me it is perhaps due to scar tissue, nerves re-growing and inflammation in some of the lymph nodes but nothing to worry about?? This pain is chronic and is not too noticable unless touched, when in certain tender parts (which feel like swollen glands?) it is extremely painful to touch and uncomfortable in bed to lie on my left side. (NB: Both my breasts get very hot in bed and sometimes feel ‘pre-menstrual’ tender?)
My querie is: Do other women experience this kind of problem 7 years after surgery? Is this common? Can you give me any other explanation as to what is causing it? And can you suggest anything I should/could do about it?
I’m sorry to read that you are having a pretty tough time at the moment. I’m sure the users of this site will be along to support you soon.
In the meantime maybe you would like to talk to a member of our helpline staff who are there to offer emotional support as well as practical information. The free phone number is 0808 800 600 and the lines are open Monday to Friday 9.00 to 5.00 and Saturday 9.00 to 2.00.
I still get pain nearly 5 1/2 years on from surgery. It’s always in the background, it never really goes. Some days it’s worse than others. Sometimes it’s just the breast scar area, other times my armpit (I had all of the nodes taken out), then it can be my shoulder or even all 3. It’s always worse after a mammogram or an examination of the area.
Poor you, being in constant pain is so debilitating and has a huge negative impact on quality of life. I have been in pain for the best part of a year since my mx in November 2010 and instead of just gritting my teeth and trying to cope with it (which wasn’t working) I had a long chat with my GP about it. As a result I am now taking Gabapentin and Amitriptyline in a slowly increasing dose. It’s not got rid of the pain completely yet but I am *finally* starting to see a bit of an improvement after 5 weeks.
Talk to either your hospital team or your GP about pain relief because whatever the cause, you really shouldn’t have to continue to suffer with it.
Hi CW
This may or may not help as I am only 2 years on from surgery.I had chemo an rads with 18 herceptin. I am now on arimedex till 2016. Anyway since surgery I had localised sore scar tissue but also pain . I was told it was due to rads and to be expected. I could not bear my clothes to touch me and no way could I sleep on that side.After 12 months I could stand it no longer. I had a long chat with my B.C nurse.Upshot of this is that I was referred to a surgicial consultant who was great.He gave me an injection as close to the area of pain that I could tolerate. He said it would ‘unscramble’ my nerves which were joining up incorrectly hence pain.Believe me it worked! I had another jab 3 weeks later an can have more if need be.That was 4 months ago an I have not had ‘pain’ since.He said it can work for some and others may need more but that no woman should have pain.
Hope you too can get some relief
Good luck
This is an interesting discussion for me because I finished my rads in November following a lumpectomy in August. Every now and again my breast gets hot and is tender to the touch. Also I can feel what I assume are blood vessels protruding on the underside of the breast. There is the usual lump of scar tissue under the op scar. From your comments it seems that this could be from the rads? Do you think I should talk to the Rads Dept about this?
I am suffering the same so much so i got an appointment with my BCN and ended up having a mamogram and ulta sound. They found a small cyst which was drained and that has helped with the pain. However the worst pain is around the scar underneath my breast i carn’t even touch it so i am seeing my consultant in 2 weeks to see what he has to say. x