I was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer in Oct 2019; I had 7 cycles of chemotherapy, followed by wide local incision surgery and then 5 intensive days of radiotherapy. Whilst I was happy to be told I was cancer free following this treatment, due to the COVID-19 pandemic I was not seen for any follow ups as these were only done by phone. By the summer of 2020 I had developed severe puckering on the side of my left breast where the lump had been removed, and on the inside of the breast a hardening of the skin. I eventually got seen by breast surgeon on September 2020 and was diagnosed with severe fat necrosis and fibrosis. The area becomes infected every few months meaning I was to take antibiotic for up to 2 weeks ata time, I amin severe pain and take painkillers as well. I have lymphatic drainage massage when I can, although due to lockdowns this has been sporadic.  I am now faced with having to have a mastectomy of my left breast and since there isn't enough viable skin and tissue undamaged in my breast a need a bi-pedicel diet flap surgery to reconstruct the breast using skin, fat and blood vessels from my tummy. I will then have a breast lift of the right breast to give me back some symmetry and a third procedure of tattooing a pile onto the reconstructed left breast.
 

My first surgery is not due to take place until the end of June, since I had to wait for a year after my least radiotherapy session and timings due to high volume of work my breast surgeon and plastic surgeon are having to undertake due to cases missed during the pandemic.  I'm having this done privately as alternative under NHS is to wait another 18 months and I don't think I can live with the pain that long.  This has meant that my cancer journey feels somewhat protracted and I cannot put it behind my until after these surgeries.

I currently take 400mg ibuprofen and paracetamol for the pain during the day, also using volterol gel and take Amitripyline 10-20mg at night.  Any other suggestions of how to deal with pain for the next 7 weeks? Has anyone else suffered like this fro such dramatic effects from the radiotherapy?

I was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer in Oct 2019; I had 7 cycles of chemotherapy, followed by wide local incision surgery and then 5 intensive days of radiotherapy. Whilst I was happy to be told I was cancer free following this treatment, due to the COVID-19 pandemic I was not seen for any follow ups as these were only done by phone. By the summer of 2020 I had developed severe puckering on the side of my left breast where the lump had been removed, and on the inside of the breast a hardening of the skin. I eventually got seen by breast surgeon on September 2020 and was diagnosed with severe fat necrosis and fibrosis. The area becomes infected every few months meaning I was to take antibiotic for up to 2 weeks ata time, I amin severe pain and take painkillers as well. I have lymphatic drainage massage when I can, although due to lockdowns this has been sporadic.  I am now faced with having to have a mastectomy of my left breast and since there isn't enough viable skin and tissue undamaged in my breast a need a bi-pedicel diet flap surgery to reconstruct the breast using skin, fat and blood vessels from my tummy. I will then have a breast lift of the right breast to give me back some symmetry and a third procedure of tattooing a pile onto the reconstructed left breast.
 

My first surgery is not due to take place until the end of June, since I had to wait for a year after my least radiotherapy session and timings due to high volume of work my breast surgeon and plastic surgeon are having to undertake due to cases missed during the pandemic.  I'm having this done privately as alternative under NHS is to wait another 18 months and I don't think I can live with the pain that long.  This has meant that my cancer journey feels somewhat protracted and I cannot put it behind my until after these surgeries.

I currently take 400mg ibuprofen and paracetamol for the pain during the day, also using volterol gel and take Amitripyline 10-20mg at night.  Any other suggestions of how to deal with pain for the next 7 weeks? Has anyone else suffered like this fro such dramatic effects from the radiotherapy?