Breast radiotherapy side effects or possible reoccurrence?

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Just for context before I ask my question:

…

Diagnosed in March 2024 with TNBC (age 28),

Chemotherapy May-October,

Double Mastectomy with immediate implant reconstruction on 18th December 2024,

Did have clear margins but had about 30% of viable residual disease, and no known lymph node involvement (my surgeons could not find my lymph node at surgery),

5 days of radiotherapy at the beginning of June 2025 (so late due to skin healing complications)

…

So I had my radiotherapy to my left chest about 5/6 weeks ago now, and I didn’t get any side effects apart from a very slight skin burn, I was only a little bit pink and warm and it wasn’t sore. Like having a minor sunburn that disappears quickly. For the last couple of days I have noticed a tenderness or slight swelling/firmness of the tissue in between my armpit and my breast. Then last night I was woken up by a sharp shocking pain around the area of my lymph node surgery scar. It felt like a couple of little electric shocks, like I was being zapped. It has happened a couple more times throughout the day.
The radiotherapy nurse did mention that some people feel ‘shooting pains’ and that it is normal, but at what point do I need to be concerned? Obviously every cancer patient fears reoccurrence, but what if it is a reoccurrence and I mistakenly brush it off? Is it common for the armpit area to feel tender 6 weeks after treatment?

Pauline - Macmillan 2 months ago

Dear sophie louise

Thank you for getting in touch, my name is Pauline and I am one of the Cancer Information nurse specialist's here on the support line.

I am glad to hear that you have completed your treatment and that you didn’t have much in the way of side effects with the radiotherapy. I am sorry to hear that you are now having some pain and that it is causing you to worry.

It can be common to have some varying sensations around the treatment site and this can feel tender for more than six weeks after treatment. It can start soon after the radiotherapy and can go on for weeks to months after the treatment. These sensations can change when the body is healing and can sometimes feel more intense as the inflammation around the area reduces and the impact upon the nerves change.

However, we always advise that any new or worsening symptoms be reported as soon as possible. Due to the quickness of the change in sensations that you describe, we would advise speaking to one of your healthcare professionals such as your CNS. This would be for assessment and to rule out any acute issues, such as inflammation due to infection for example. If the symptoms worsen while waiting to speak to your nurse specialist, please contact your GP or 111.

If you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to get back in touch.

You can speak with the Macmillan Support Line on 0808 808 0000 (7days a week, 8am-8pm) or email us.

I hope this information was helpful.

Ref: PF/AMc

Best wishes

Pauline

Cancer Information Nurse Specialist

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Breast radiotherapy side effects or possible reoccurrence?