Share important questions and provide support to others experiencing breast cancer and treatment-related pain.
Posted on: Nov 13, 2019 02:51PM
kec1972 wrote:
Is it normal to have pain on the side of the lumpectomy/radiation? On and underneath the breast, and in the ribs? I just feel like the entire side of my chest hurts.
Page 1 of 1 (23 results)
Posts 1 - 23 (23 total)
Nov 13, 2019 06:19PM DorothyB wrote:
I have not had that. I would get it checked out so that you can have peace about it.
Nov 13, 2019 07:15PM Euphoriaa wrote:
I have finished rads a month ago. I have pain and tight muscles, also a burning pain that runs through my arm to my fingers. My SO said it can take up to 2 or 3 years to heal rads damage 😪
Nov 14, 2019 03:46AM Prahan wrote:
Yes me too experiencing the same
Nov 14, 2019 01:00PM MinusTwo wrote:
I'm 5 years our from rads after ALND. My RO told me I would have to exercise & stretch every single day for the rest of my life or the nerves & muscles would pull back like a rubber band. I would make a doc appointment about the pain running down to your fingers
Nov 14, 2019 01:12PM S3K5 wrote:
kec1972, yes it is normal to have some pain after the treatments are over. I remember taking Ibuprofen/tylenol which helped with the pain. As others have suggested, stretching exercises do help.
Did you have the lymph nodes removed on the side of your lumpectomy? I had slight lymphedema after radiation, so I had to wear a compression sleeve.
Nov 14, 2019 05:08PM letsgogolf wrote:
I hope it is normal because I have pain nearly 3 years after lumpectomy and radiation. It's a tight, uncomfortable feeling and I can't wait to take my bra off at the end of the day. I probably should be doing more stretching.
Nov 14, 2019 10:24PM kksmom3 wrote:
I am within 2 weeks of my one year anniversary from radiation. My breast is still achey and sore. They even sent me to PT last March, she said I do not have lymphedema, which of course is good, and gave me stretching exercises to do. I did them religiously at first, but really, it doesn't seem to help. I should try to make it a priority again tho. I do also always massage my radiated areas with coconut oil twice a day. I don't know if the pain is from rads or the lumpectomy or both, in which the surgical area was a centimeter under my nipple, an extra sensitive spot. I have tried OTC meds and nothing really helps. Aleve and Advil take the edge off it a little. I find I am more comfortable with a bra on, but I'm still dying to take it off after work! I really hope it gets better. It's' slightly better than last Feb and March. Funny, because it did not hurt until 2 months post lumpectomy.
Nov 15, 2019 08:15AM letsgogolf wrote:
When I mentioned the pain to my doctor in the year after my procedures she explained it as a train wreck in there. I had 2 different types of biopsies prior to my lumpectomy and several samples taken. I was black and blue even up to my surgery which was a month after the samplings. Add that to the stuff they did on surgery day and then for 2 months after. I can feel scar tissue in both the node area and lumpectomy area and it is always mentioned in my mammogram reports. Guess I should not be shocked that after all that trauma the area has been damaged and continues to hurt.
Nov 16, 2019 03:28AM MinusTwo wrote:
kk - my RO told me I would have to stretch EVERY DAY for the rest of my life to counter the radiation damage. Apparently those muscles, nerves, skin, etc. are like a rubber band once they have been radiated. If you don't keep stretching, they will pull back.
I had to stop my regular exercise for two weeks due to cataract surgery. I can already feel the difference and it's not comfortable.
Dec 27, 2019 09:02PM jessie123 wrote:
My radiation ended in July and I'm just now starting to get tinges of pain. My breast has long cord like lumps which I think is causing the pain. It's not bad pain, but it's a little concerning because it just started. Also, my breast just shrunk about a month ago which I guess was the end of the swelling. I have my yearly MRI next month so I'll learn if there is a problem then. I'm really getting tired of this cancer problem - they say the first year after treatment is hard and that is the truth.
Dec 28, 2019 01:20AM mjane68 wrote:
I feel exactly what you describe! finished radiation in May. PT helped a lot with the radiated tissue. but in past few weeks my breast has shrunk notably and become harder and more pain again. i have so much pain in my rib on one side right at base of breast. i cannot wear a bra past few days. im so disheartened.
Dec 28, 2019 05:34AM edj3 wrote:
MinusTwo I'm having the same realization you mentioned. I must stretch (aka basically rip) that tissue daily or I will lose range of motion. My RO said some scar worse with radiation than others, and here I am.
And the radiated breast is still swollen although that's probably a combination of scarring from radiation and scarring internally from the actual surgery (I've always made a lot of scar tissue). My BS said wherever I am a year out from surgery will be where I stay. I hope this breast shrinks because I'm pretty lopsided and I detest the artificial perkiness from all the scarring.
Dec 28, 2019 10:39AM gb2115 wrote:
It's been three years and my treated breast still hurts. I guess it's the new normal. It's ok if I don't poke at it, so I try to leave the entire area alone.
Dec 28, 2019 01:00PM anamaeted wrote:
My right MX was in Sept of 2018 and I finished my rads in March, 2019. I still have pain in my chest wall and Lymph Node removal area. I have Lymphedema and nerve pain. The pain in my rib cage is nerve pain. The doctor put me on a low dose of Gabapentin. They increased the dosage yesterday to try to help control the pain. You should definitely mention any pain to your doctor. It may be normal, or it may be something that they are able to help you control.
Dec 28, 2019 03:53PM DorothyB wrote:
My treated breast doesn't hurt and is now close to the same size (but perkier) than the other one.
However, I also have found that I must stretch frequently or it hurts when I raise that arm high above my head and / or move my elbow up and behind me.
Feb 6, 2020 06:58AM Confused516 wrote:
I have upper chest pain / tightness and weird tingling feelings in center of chest and random shortness of breath during and after lumpectomy and radiation. I am frustrated because radiation doctor said it was not radiation related so now I am seeing lung and heart doctor to rule out any other issues!
Lumpectomy 11/11/19 radiation 12/16/19-1/21/20
Feb 6, 2020 07:50PM MinusTwo wrote:
Rads can effect your heart and your lungs. Good that you're having consults.
Feb 6, 2020 09:33PM KIDI919 wrote:
I also am still having pain and zings thru my breast. Seroma is supposedly back so breast is a cup size larger than the other. Itchy and red. RO said it might take months to go away. I have occasional periods of feeling SOB but I think it might be anxiety. I feel like I spend a better part of my day with my thoughts going round and round this BC crap. Finished rads on 2/5. Range of motion is good but tight sometimes.
Feb 6, 2020 10:11PM Rain88 wrote:
I'm wondering if anybody else has pain and some sort of heavy numbness along the underam after rads. I was afraid it might be lymphedema, by my MO ruled that out and said it was probably the nerves being affected after nodes removal and rads. Does it go away eventualIy?
Apr 9, 2020 11:20PM Amyadipose wrote:
Lumpectomy in late August last year, was fine until past two weeks I've had pain directly under nipple of that breast. I'm thinking it's maybe feeling coming back? It looks a little swollen and subtly different. No discharge, just kind of a bruised feeling, or like when you're about to start period, but it's not that. Anyone else?
Apr 27, 2020 11:12AM Marie123123 wrote:
Apr 27, 2020 11:42AM - edited Apr 27, 2020 11:52AM by ctmbsikia
May 12, 2020 04:25PM - edited May 12, 2020 04:26PM by KIDI919
I am 6 months post op and my breast is still tender but looks normal (kinda) I did have a seroma which dr said will take months to go away. I had a left lumpectomy and radiation
Page 1 of 1 (23 results)