Hi Everyone, i’m just after a bit of advice and hope you can help. I finished my radiotherapy end of May this year and ever since my breast and arm are swollen. My bra digs in and no mater what size I try it is always uncomforatble (non wired). I also have pain in both too. I had my first check up last week and all the Consultant said was “oh yes its swollen and can last for a year”. I don’t think I can put up with this for that long. You’d think that once all your treatment was over you’d start to feel good. Well of course I’m relieved that is all over but these ongoing systems are really getting me down.
Thanks for listening, I would really appreciate any info/advice that you may have.
Lorri
xxx
I had radiotherapy in Feb/March of this year and was very red and a bit swollen. If you are able to, it would be better to stop wearing a bra for a bit - I was advised to do this 2 weeks into the rads, so I bought some little vests with the “secret support” bit inside them (you can pick them up cheaply in shops like Primark). I still wear them on days when I feel a bit uncomfortable and sometimes wear one as a top in bed at night as I tend to be a bit achey on the breast where I had surgery. I also had a very sore arm after rads due to it being held in position every morning. This took weeks to ease off and also affected my shoulder blade.
I still get red from time to time and have been told it can take a while for everything to settle down again. When I am uncomfortable I sleep on my own in the spare room in a single bed as I find this helps a lot too.
Hi Lorri
Ihad WLE & SNB (Jan) and rads March/ April I had 3 monthly appointment with surgeon last week and mentioned pain in area. He did a very good physical exam and said that although I was still a little swollen it was not much compared to most other women and that we have fluid after everything we’ve gone through which causes this pain. It can be worse as the day goes on and after 5 (yes 5!!!) years 80% of it goes but it will never totally disappear! So I suppose we have to put up with this and hope it gets easier as time goes by. I don’t like the pain I get but according to the consultant I’m in a better position than others so I really do sympathise!
Best wishes to you
Shorty
Hi
I had my WLE and ANC in April 2006, finished Rads in Jan 07. Was very very burnt and weeping skin etc. My breast is still slightly swollen and I have lymphoedema in it. It’s uncomfortable at times. The arm I have the ANC in is about 1cm bigger than the other arm just above the wrist for about 4 inches then its the same as the other arm. It took me 3 months to be able to wear an underwired bra again, but now I get pain and a little swelling where the underwired bit goes near my ribs. I was told this was radiation scarring. My BC Nurse has just given me a breast pad to get rid of some of the swelling.
Suzanne
xx
I finished rads beg of March and my breast is swollen - like you, all I got told by the onc is that it is rads damage and will last at least a year. My BC nurse has given me a pressure garment to wear but its so unsightly and a tad uncomfortable that I only wear it at night, she said it was mainly women with bigger boobs that get this (oedema) and she has seen some that are like footballs and really hard. Phew!
thanks to everyone for your advice. It really is helpful and I do appreciate it.
with love and best wishes
lorr
Dear Lori,
It sounds to me like you may have lymphoedema. Did you have surgery and/or radiotherapy to your armpit - this increases the risk. I have lymphoedema (swelling) of my right arm after I had a mastectomy and axillary clearance in 2004. I was referred immediately by my consultant to the local lymphoedema service. I have had various treatments such as manual lymphatic drainage and compression bandaging and I was fitted for a compression sleeve which am supposed to wear all the time.
You can get complications of lymphoedema such as infection which can be difficult to clear. Also you need to know how to help yourself, what to avoid etc.
I would strongly advise you to contact your breast team, your breast care nurse or your GP and see if you can be referred to your local lymphoedema services. I have found my arm swelling one of the worst things post chemo etc and I have had loads of support and advice from the lymphoedema service which has really helped - although there is no cure.
You can also get advice and help from the ‘Lymphoedema Support Network’ they have a helpline.
Good luck. Hope you get some help with it.
Rowena.