Hi,

So today, Sunday, I have had a lot of pain around about, but deeper inside where my tumour was.  My lumpectomy was a year ago April.  I also recovered really well.  I was getting worried but have been reading many women do feel the pain and stabbing sensations a long time after surgery.  It could well be for you and me that it is the nerve endings regenerating themselves.  I think this is probably right but it is so hard not to be worried. From my professional point of view (yes, I am a nurse - the worst of worriers) my site is not red and unusually warm to the touch and the pain is there but not severe.  Like you stabbing pains which correspond to nerves regenerating themselves.  I expect, like me, you had radiotherapy.  Again, with my sensible hat on I think this is the likely cause. 

However, I would say we both need to make a phone call to our Breast Care Nurses to have their opinion.  They wouldn't want us worrying and for us knowing this does happen would be the peace of mind.  

I wouldn't mind betting some of the lovely ladies on here will be along soon to let us know their experiences.

Trisha x

Hi Trisha

Thank you so much for reply - it's just so worrying when I have been pain free and now this ..

don't think I will ever not think it will come back 

but your rely does make sense - I have emailed breast nurse 

but not heard back as yet.

will let you know when I do 

x

I'm so glad I found this thread My timing was almost exactly the same Surgery in May and radiotherapy in July I had chemo before surgery and am now on herceptin and hormone blockers but my breast and nipple felt quite numb for a while but then recently it's started to feel sore and now I am getting stabbing pains all around the side of  the breast and it's really tender to touch The dog jumped on my chest last night and it was excruciating. Of course I am panicking that the cancer is back. I'm terrified of this anyway but to make matters worse my partner who has supported me all through my treatment was diagnosed with colon cancer last week and we are waiting to find out how bad it is. It's unbearable ! So thank you for making me feel that at least I'm not alone in getting delayed breast pain. I need to find the strength to get it checked but just don't have any this week 

I know exactly how you feel as I posted the same so many months ago now.

People on here are so kind and share their feelings.  I do have some news for you and anybody else suffering pain in their affected breast.  I went for my first mammogram post surgery (delayed by about 6 months because of covid).  The radiographer showed me my mammogram and I was so surprised to see a breast with all sorts of metal in it!  Clips from the lumpectomy and the original marker which was threaded in and still there.  No wonder it was painful and still is on occasion.  I don't think it helped  with me prodding around either.  A bionic boob and, my guess is, this is why a lot of the discomfort is there.  I may be quite wrong but the result of my mammogram showed no signs of cancer.

Will we ever not worry about cancer coming back - I doubt it.  But, if it does come back we know we will deal with it.

I really hope this helps.

Thanks so much for replying 

How long after surgery was your mammogram. I think it's adding to my anxiety that I haven't been seen by a doctor since my surgery in May. No post op examination just radiotherapy and nurses giving me herceptin

I m not sure if this is due to Covid Mb I should be pushing for a review and a mammogram. I was told I would be seen in January for a chat but not sure if I should try to be seen earlier. 

I was seen by the surgeon after lumpectomy to say I needed no more surgery as the margins were clear.  Were you seen to confirm your margins were clear? I was then signed off to the care of the oncologist who prescribed the oestrogen blocker  and a few infusions still to be had.  I had an appointment with her to sign me off and was told if I had any concerns to ring the breast care nurses rather than see my gp.  A few weeks after radiotherapy had completed I had an appointment with the Oncology Consultant Radiologist. who examined the affected breast and lymph node removal site.

It is usually one year after surgery that the first mammogram happens but, as I say with Covid it was 18 months.  

For me, the worry doesn't completely go away but it certainly has got a lot more manageable and I have found talking with others in the same position really helps me.  So, I can honestly say, after receiving the first mammogram after surgery I have far less worrying moments.  

Hi, 

I was looking on here to see if there was similar.

I had a lumpectomy in September last year and a week of Radiotherapy in November. 

I felt fine after. I went back to my Health Care Assistant job in January , phased back in 24 hrs with no long shifts. I started working long shifts again last week, these are 13 hrs days.

I have been getting a feeling of being bruised around the area where they took out a couple of lymph nodes and along the top of my breast where the pectoral muscles are. I am worried I might have strained myself lifting and moving  residents . I am also on hormone tablets and find my joints in my hands and knees are very stiff in the morning.

I am 60 years old but am fit and active usually, I am just feeling exhausted at the moment. I do know whether to take more time off or struggle on?

I think the current situation isn't helping as we are short of staff and mentally tired as well. 

Take care x

Hi,

Poor you.  In fact you could be me! 

What I mean is I also work in nursing so understand the long days and the lifting you will be doing.  Believe it or not, the job we do really did help in my recovery because of the arm strength built up over the years.  Long days are something I haven't done since diagnosis.  

Just to let you know that I also feel, even two years later, the bruising like pain.  Sometimes worse than other times.  My one-year mammogram was delayed because of Covid but when I did get it I was so surprised.  I was able to look at the mammogram and saw metal clips around where the lesion had been taken and the little marker was still in there.  

A couple of other things spring to mind which may help.  I take Anastrozole and have discovered a side effect is breast tenderness.  Also with Anastrozole and, I would think, all the other tablets sometimes the drug brand makes a big difference.  Another thing is the area where they removed lymph nodes was really quite painful and stiff.  My Breast Nurse referred me to a Physiotherapist who diagnosed a frozen shoulder from being on the operating table. That is sorted out now.  

Our bodies have been through so much surgery, radiotherapy and medications.  If you work in a hospital Occupational Health is very supportive.  If you work in the private sector I would just say, in case you didn't know, you will be under the Disability Act and they should make allowances for you.  An example for me is not working any more night shifts and also making sure I take my breaks (most nurses just can't fit them in).  My Manager will also allow me to take an extra short break if I feel I need it.  Nursing is such an emotionally and physically draining job that you must not just struggle on.  Your shifts should be planned so that you don't do too many in a row.  OH have put in writing I am not to do more than three in a row without a day off.  If in your break you could go out to your car to chill out in silence and deep breathe it really recharges you.  

I hope this helps you.  

Trisha x

Thanks Trish, that is so helpful.

I dropped a shift last year anyway , so I now do 2 long shifts and one 6. 75hr. 

I do these 3 days split over the week so not too bad. 

I didn't realise about the disability act. 

I will be doing a month of nights at the end of this month., We do this every five months. This is 3 on then 3 off. It is sometimes less heavy at night and we do get to sit down more. 

I am taking Letrozole as my cancer was hormone fed. This makes my finger and knee joints stiff in the mornings but it wears off once I start moving around.

It's interesting about the metal clips on the mammogram. My lump was on the top right breast and less than an inch long and I was lucky enough that they could infill with my surrounding breast tissue. My breast looks really good considering. I still have a blue Square under my breast where they injected the dye to highlight my lymph nodes.

I feel so lucky to have been treated so quickly but amazed at how many women do get breast cancer.

Thank you again and take care xx

You take great care of yourself.

I don't come to the site very often now.  It's just my way of being positive.  The site got me through days when I felt there was no hope.  But I want you, and anybody to know if I can help I always will.

Trisha xx

How grateful I am to stumble across this thread?!?! 

I had my surgery in August 21 and finished my radiotherapy in October 21. Today and yesterday I've had the most severe stabbing pains where my scars are and around the side of my breast. I've been really worried about it because I couldn't understand why all of a sudden I'm getting this pain. I wondered if it was anything to do with some exercising I'd recently tried to do (and failed miserably as im suffering terribly from peripheral neuropathy!) but having read the thread about nerve endings repairing I'm wondering if that's the same for me as it's within the same timeframe that everybody else has encountered. I'll give it a few days and then I'll contact the breast clinic nurse if things don't improve.

It's hard to hang in there sometimes but we've got to remind ourselves we are all Warriors and will get through this

Hi Kassi,

I am two years on and still have breast pain.  I have read many scientific papers which find that many women will experience breast pain years after radiotherapy has finished.  I accept that to be the case and check my breasts and, of course, at the moment still having the yearly mammogram. A persoal choice I have made is not to have unnecessary chemicals seeping into my body - perfume!  I love perfume but have switched now to vegan perfumes with no nasties.  Eden and the Essence Vault have amazing products.

We have been struck down with this breast cancer but, you are right, we are warriors and will fight by looking after our bodies and doing whatever it takes to stay healthy.  If I can help others along their journey with their breast cancer that is a lovely bonus for me.

Trisha x

Hi Kassi,

I am two years on and still have breast pain.  I have read many scientific papers which find that many women will experience breast pain years after radiotherapy has finished.  I accept that to be the case and check my breasts and, of course, at the moment still having the yearly mammogram. A persoal choice I have made is not to have unnecessary chemicals seeping into my body - perfume!  I love perfume but have switched now to vegan perfumes with no nasties.  Eden and the Essence Vault have amazing products.

We have been struck down with this breast cancer but, you are right, we are warriors and will fight by looking after our bodies and doing whatever it takes to stay healthy.  If I can help others along their journey with their breast cancer that is a lovely bonus for me.

Trisha x

Hello Trisha

I just wanted to say thank you for being such a positive voice on here.  Reading through this thread from the start, you have been consistently there with such a positive message and its so lovely and supportive to read.

I agree that talking to friends and even relatives can be challenging as the "keep positive" and "it wont be anything" chats wear thin, even though they are of course meant well.

I had a lumpectomy and lymph nodes removed in June 2022 with radiotherapy to September and I am now on Tamoxifen.  My breast pain has just started and as you said that you have, I have a general soreness and tenderness in that breast. I honestly think we perhaps look for things more than we would having not had our diagnosis.

There is lots of very strong people on this chat and its a reassuring place to be.

Thanks again

Lucy

Hello Lucy,

Thank you so much for your very uplifting message.

I hope you are doing really well and recovering nicely.  I think you are absolutely right that we look for things that we would not have pre-diagnosis.  We become hyperaware - not such a bad thing.  I hope the breast pain is manageable and you can still do your breast exercises - I do mine from time to time and I am three years on from you.  Be prepared the breast pain can be there for years.  During the pandemic, the Radiographer showed me my mammogram picture  (the one-year mammogram and  I was very anxious) there were quite a few metal clips in the breast.   I think it is the clips that make the breast a bit tender.

I do hope you have a nice support group to go to.  I have a really nice one and have found myself knitting the little cushions that go under the arm post-surgery.  I make a wish for a speedy recovery on each one because I remember what a comfort that cushion was to me.

When I was in the depths of despair when I was first diagnosed so many kind people lifted my spirits and shared their stories.  

Take care of yourself and thank you. for your kind words

Trisha x

Thank you Trisha. I was keen to ask about your breast exercises, as I wasn't given any so have done nothing at all. I do yoga but sometimes the downward dog position stretches the skin causing a bit of uncomfort. Any guidance on the exercises would be great.

No I don't know any support groups but that's ok.

Thanks again

Lucy x

Hello Lucy,

I think it is important to do the arm exercises and they have some for us on YouTube. 

If you can't find them let me know.  I am sure though yoga will be of such benefit. with stretching and relaxation.   I do something similar Tai Chi which I find good in many ways.

I don't how I got involved with this support group but I did and glad of it.  We have Pamper Days every month with lovely things for breast cancer survivors - Reiki, Tibetan Head Massage, Hypnotherapy, Acupuncture and my favourite Bowen Technique.   

Please let me know if you don't find the exercises.

Best wishes,

Trisha x 

Thank you Trisha