Evening all i was diagnosed with dcis high grade and hormone negative in Feb this year. I had a mammoplasty and radiotherapy and have had no further treatment. I am struggling to get over it and every ache and pain in my body makes me think it’s back. I’ve already seen a gastroenterologist for stomach issues and all was fine but I find every week I’m suffering with a new symptom. My breast is so sore all the time and I have sharp pains in it everyday. I can’t run or even jog because my breast is painful. If my children come to hug me I have to be careful! Is this normal after radiotherapy? I tried doing meditation but I can’t concentrate. It’s so difficult moving on from this. Would love to hear from someone in a similar position to me .
Sorry I’m not in the same position as you Simi so I can’t fully reassure you. I had a mastectomy and full axillary clearance, with chemo before radiotherapy. However, a few weeks after finishing radiotherapy mid-June (which had been so easy), I started getting severe pain in what’s left of my breast muscle. I was told this was the radiotherapy still at work and in fact the leaflet on radiotherapy talks about ‘immediate effects’ as anything within 6 months! It’s now including an unreachable itch, which the nurse tells me is a sign of healing (I just rang her).
I’d ring your radiotherapy breast nurse (or someone in the department), describe your symptoms and ask straight out if this is typical of radiotherapy. At least you’ll get reassurance. You can then see your GP to discuss pain relief because it’s inhibiting your life and relationships. I’m currently trying my second lot of pain relief (pregabalin, after trying gabapentin - can’t have amitriptyline which would have been my preference) as I’ve got cording again and haven’t been able to exercise it away. I’m only on day 3 and I can touch my arm and chest without a severe pain! No excuse for not doing the physio’s exercises now.
As regards meditation, maybe something online can help you focus. I use Progressive Hypnosis or Michael Sealey on YouTube and Good Vibes with headphones. PH usually has me away with the fairies in minutes and GV you can listen to while doing something else - but the impact of repetition definitely is helping me. I hope you get it sorted - like you say, it’s hard to move on when something physical is holding you back.
Jan