breast pain 4 weeks after RT

Hi I am really concerned, I have just finished RT 4 weeks ago and today my breast is killing me. Had a day out with the kids to the cinema and i took my soft sports bra off in the cinema ! its like a constant dull pain inside. I had a lumpectomy 2 months ago healed nicely. ( did have an infection with it thou which caused 2 seperate hosp admitions for a sacoma) 

Ive taken pain killers and its not touching it. The redness has subsided thankgod but im quite shocked now that its so painful 4 weeks on when before i just had shoooting pains and the burns. Its almost like someone has elbowed me in the boob, hurts to move my arm, it not so bad if i sit and dont move. could i had over done the house work ?

 

Any advice please. cant face another day down the hosp.  ( its not that local to me) was there last weekend all day sunday with a knee popped out. I have just finished antibiotics for a dental infection ive had enough !! just want to feel well again.

 

Suzie.

  • Hi suziesuze, 

    I'm really sorry to hear that you're experiencing breast pain 4 weeks after your radiotherapy has finished. I'm glad that the redness has gone down but can understand your concern. I know you've had your fill of hospital visits lately - I hope your knee and teeth are better now by the way - but if the pain is really bad it may be worth going to see someone today to see if they can figure out what may be causing it. If you can hold out until tomorrow then maybe you could give your doctor a call and see what they say? You can chat to our cancer nurses about it as well if you like. They'll be available tomorrow - friday between 9a.m-5p.m on 0808 800 4040, which is free to call from a UK landline.

    I hope this helps and hopefully others who have been in a similar situation will post soon to share their advice and experiences with you as well.

    All the best, 

    Steph, Cancer Chat Moderator

  • HI I lended up spending 7 hours down the hosp sat to be sent home with CO CODOMAL. not good enough really. I want them to scan me. I am ringing back the hosp on monday where i had the Radio therapy and ive left a message with the breast care nurse. Ive spent all day in my pjs, cooked kids some lunch and basicly not done much at all. I feel so weepy because its so painful. I do not understand how i felt ok 2 weeks ago now totally rubbish again. Dental pain gone thankgod ! so antibiotics got rid of that one. Knee still under investigation. Im just fed up of feeling so rubbish. Im trying so hard to remain positive but I feel im so tired and emotional all the time. ( im on hormone drugs 10 years that does not fill me with happiness either side effects gettig me down.)

    I feel so not  me anymore.

     

    Suzie

  • I'm really sorry you spent so long at the hospital and weren't able to get a scan but I'm glad you've contacted your breast cancer nurse and are going to ring the hospital where you had the radiotherapy tomorrow. 

    I'm sorry you're having such a rough time of late and it's completely understandable you're tired and emotional as a result. Just remember that we are here for you if you need us and even though it may not seem like it right now, things will get better. For now just try and take it a day at a time if you can.

    Do come back and let us know how you get on with the breast cancer nurse and the hospital. We'll be thinking of you suziesuze.

    Kind Regards, 

    Steph, Cancer Chat Moderator

  • Thankyou steph.  I feel sometimes my mum dreads me rining her as now all our chats are about my health shes the one whos taken me to appts and sat with me in the hosp for hours and hours. As i no longer have a husband i relie on my mum quite alot and I do not drive. I just know they are going to say to me to pop back to hosp tomorrow.

    Does it sound normal to you that week 3 1/2 after RT i was feeling good again redness gone and just the twinges then this comes out of no where week 4. Its like a pinching feeling, when the doc at hosp pressed all around my boob my mum said when i shouted out in pain it was when he touched the scar he said it was quite localized but did not seem that worried and happy to dish out the pills and send me on my merry way.

    Another thing i wanted to know was should the hosp be telling me about the RT ? I asked how it went was it all ok etc and she said all I needed to know was the surgery was margains clear and no lymph nodes, RT was a big deal to me and I Am still struggling if i made the right choice to put my body through that and how it would effect my internal organs and risk developing further cancer from it. of course I want to know if they found anything else or how it went, i feel they are holding back on me.

    The care plan was a disapointment it was so basic nothing much on there. Tamoxifen date started review and end of treatment in 10 years. name address GP etc thought it would be way more detailed than that. 

     

    Suzie x