Breast sensation

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Hi, I had er+ breast cancer in my right breast, it will be 2 years in January that I had a single mastectomy followed by full clearance, I then had pet ct and all was clear, I had 6 rounds of adjuvent chemo, followed by 5 sessions of radiotherapy, which finished December last year, I am now  on abecaclib and Letrozole and monthly zoladex injection, I am now starting to feel more like my old self apart from fatigue, my chest and collar bone is still quite tender , my brain though seems to have gone into overdrive!! I keep feeling sensations in my other breast, not pain but think I feel sensations, tingling,warm ness but then I think I imagining it, I don’t have another breast to compare too?? I always check my left breast and no lumps etc, just these weird sensations, which aren’t always there, I handled my treatment positively and just hit on with it but feel I’m starting to feel a bit emotional about it, any info /advice very much appreciated,l

  • Hi Halley,

     

    Thank you for getting in touch with us and welcome to the online community.  My name is Adrienne and I’m one of the Cancer Information Nurse Specialists on the Macmillan Support Line.

    I see that you are a member of our breast cancer forum.  I really do hope that you are finding it a helpful and supportive community.

    It’s great to hear that you are starting to feel more like your old self again. 

    It’s completely understandable that you would worry about any weird sensations in your remaining breast.  Although it’s been 2 years since you had your diagnosis, you have been through a lot and are effectively still having treatment.  It’s normal to feel worried and emotional when you notice any new sensations. 

    The sensation you mentioned isn’t a typical sign of breast cancer.  It could possibly be due to the letrozole (which is more likely to cause tingling in your arm, hands or fingers i.e. carpal tunnel syndrome) but tingling in the breast is usually associated with changes in hormone levels.   Tingling can also be an issue with your nerves and the breasts are filled with nerves.

    It’s great that you examine your breast for any lumps or bumps and are very aware of any changes.  It would be helpful to talk to your breast nurse or GP about these sensations.  So they can examine you thoroughly and ask you some questions in order to get to the bottom of it.  I know you said that the feelings aren’t always there and you then feel like you’re imaging it, but at the very least they can put your mind at ease about it or even get to the route cause and help treat it.

    I know you mentioned that you are starting to feel like yourself again but we know that psychological or emotional distress does not just stop once you are cancer free.  Even if you were fine during treatment, it can have an impact in the future.  It might be worth looking at Breast Cancer Now’s Moving Forward Course.  They do them online via zoom and face to face and can really help with managing physical and emotional changes. 

    The main thing is to get in touch with your breast nurse or GP to talk about this tingling sensation and hopefully feel less worried about what is going on.

     

    Take care and best wishes,

     

    Adrienne

    (Cancer Information Nurse Specialist)

    You can also speak with the Macmillan Support Line team of experts. Phone free on 0808 808 0000 (7 days a week, 8am-8pm) or send us an email.  

    Ref:  AMc/HM