Radiotherapy- delayed side effects?

Hi all.

I asked a question a couple of months ago as to whether tamoxifen could affect swallowing or oesophagus and got some helpful replies. Now I am wondering if my issue is actually RT related? I finished RT 6 months ago and I have for about 3 months had a sensation of tablets getting stuck in my sternum and occasionally food too. Also had aching in oesphagus off and on, not constant. My oncologist sent me for a gastroscopy which revealed small hiatus hernia and gastritis. Just finished a months course of omeprazole and, whilst things haven’t got worse, I am not convinced they have improved.

Could this be down to RT? Onc said not…but consultant radiographer said swallowing issues normally were related! Who to believe?!

Also recently started with a pulling sensation in ribs on treatment side so have gone back to my physio exercises. Guessing this is also a likely side effect?!

Thanks for reading and apologies for the essay!

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Hi @blue80. I had 15 x rads in May. I can relate to the pulling sensation on my left side, where I had my mastectomy. I have continued with maintenance stretching ever since my op last September.
Before I had rads my oncologist told me I may experience some discomfort around swallowing or may feel sick because my stomach is a little higher up than usual. I only experienced hiccups more than usual while I was having rads.
X

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Hi Sorry to hear you are having these symptoms. I had radiotherapy in February this year for Stage 3 ER pos HER2neg BC. Left mastectomy Oct 23 and Axillary Node Clearance Nov 23 Over the last few weeks I have developed increased pain and swelling left chest wall . My medical oncologist told me I have radiation fibrosis and also said commonly occurs 3-6 months after radiotherapy . A CT to exclude bony mets in my ribs did not show any bony mets luckily but chest wall swelling and thickening of the lining of the lung and scarring of the anterior left lung . My medical oncologist has referred me back to the clinical oncologist to discuss the likely time frame . So medical oncologists are best with drugs and clinical oncologists best with radiotherapy related matters . So specialised-we need to believe the expert so for radiotherapy related matters it will be the clinical ( not medical ) oncologist you need . For drug related matters it will be the medical oncologist . Hope helps!

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Can’t comment on long term rad effects as on 15th of 19 fractions tomorrow, however, tamoxifen definitely gives me indigestion, which up until starting it, I never suffered from, and regular belching throughout the day. I sometimes take omeprazole that I was given post op but didnt use at the time as didn’t need painkillers much.
The hiatus hernia might give you a feeling of things getting stuck, I think it could cause delayed emptying of swallowed food into your stomach. If there was anything else causing it it would of been picked up in your scope.
You might find you need omeprazole for as long as on tamoxifen, I think I’ll be asking for more when I’ve run out.

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