Hi. MY mom is a 10 year BC survivor treated with rads, lumpectomy and tamoxifen. She has suddenly noticed a shrinkage in size of the treated breast. She had a normal diagnostic mammo last week. Any ideas what could be causing this 10 years later??? Thanks!
Hi Jessica
My mum is also a BC survivor treated with rads, lumpectomy and tamoxifen. She was diagnosed about 15 years ago in her mid-sixties, she is now in her late seventies. She is now very lob-sided, with the BC side quite shrunken and mis-shapen, but also firmer because of the rads. The other side has sagged with the usual ageing process. I think this has been a gradual process but can’t be sure since she didn’t really talk to me about it until I was also diagnosed with BC! It certainly has been bothering her more over recent years as the difference has become more noticeable. She has been using a softie pad to build up the BC side but not very successfully.
10 or 15 years ago BC patients weren’t given as much info or help as we are now - I was surprised how little my mum knew about what help is available. I gave her some mastectomy bras which I had used for the first few months after my surgery because they were so comfortable, and she is finding those really useful because she can put her softie inside the bra pocket and it doesn’t slip as it used to. I’ve also suggested that she asks her GP to refer her to the local breast clinic to be fitted with a proper prosthesis.
Sorry this has turned into a long ramble.
Sarah x
have posted on the other thread
breastcancercare.org.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=94&t=28607&p=559958#p559958