Having 5 days of radiotherapy post lumpectomy and adjuvant chemotherapy for TNBC. If my breast is going to shrink, harden, fibrose when is it likely to happen ? Days, months or years ?
My experience was as follows. Also 5 days of radiotherapy following WLE and chemo for TNBC. At the time of the radiotherapy nothing much happened. About 5 or 6 weeks afterwards, I developed a red area which peeled like bad sunburn all along the skin overlap area under and round the breast, and in the scar tissue. This took a couple of weeks or so to heal, with a couple more peeling cycles. Then, a few months afterwards, I realised I had oedema in much the same area. This gradually thickened and became a bit firmer in texture. It’s now about 19 months since radiotherapy.
Mine hurts already, after 1 session 
not sure I want anymore. The improvement in survival is less than 2% and I’m scared the pain will last afterwards, if it’s like this after 1 session.
All my family want me to do this but not sure I can. After surgery and chemo my resilience is rock bottom.
I always thought people who didn’t do everything were mad, but now I understand why
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Mine was red and hot and a bit oedematous for a while . If you look closely you would see that it looks a bit like I have some faded stretch marks in one area . The skin felt thickened for some time but it feels nice and soft now . My lumpectomy area contracted in a bit more but I’m pretty pleased with how it looks and feels and I had it over 2 years ago . I know you feel like enough is enough and you don’t have anything left but you are on the home strait now and hang in there . Your team will assess your breast as you go - ask them if they provide creams etc. - that varies from place to place . Some areas are routinely giving out Flamigel Medihoney or Aveeno others are not giving out anything but might if you ask .
Sending love xx
Hi Vibby
Thank you for your post.
It is understandable you would like to know what will happen to your breast tissue after radiotherapy and when or if you are likely to notice any changes to the breast tissue. You ask about how the breast will look and whether it will shrink, become hardened and fibrosed. People do react differently to radiotherapy so it is difficult to say if and when you may experience and notice any skin changes or the way your breast looks.
Most commonly radiotherapy can cause skin reactions initially but this usually settles down 3 or 4 weeks after treatment, so it is important to care for you skin during the treatment and for some time afterwards. Do talk through any concerns you may have with your treatment team or breast care nurse during or after your course of radiotherapy. As @JoanneN says your team will assess your breast as you go through treatment. Your breast may also feel uncomfortable as you have mentioned in a further post initially this usually settles within a few weeks after treatment.
As you have had a lumpectomy, the breast tissue and nipple on the treated side may feel firmer than before, change colour or the breast may be smaller and look different. Although this is normal, you may be concerned about differences in the size of your breasts or worry that the difference is noticeable. You can discuss this with your breast surgeon if you notice this after treatment to see if anything can be done to make the difference less noticeable
Hardening of the tissue (fibrosis) is rare but may happen several months or years after radiotherapy has finished. If the fibrosis is severe, the breast can become noticeably smaller and firmer.
You may find information here on radiotherapy for breast cancer on our YouTube channel helpful and our other support services too.
Talking to someone who has had a similar experience can often be helpful our Somone Like Me service can match you with a trained volunteer who’s had a similar experience to you. You can be in touch with your volunteer by phone or email and they can share their personal experiences to answer your questions, offer support or simply listen to how you are feeling.
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Best wishes
Helen
Breast Care Nurse
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