Long term effects of radiotherapy

2 replies
278 subscribers
901 views

Hi guys

i finished my radiotherapy in November last year. Everything went fine, my skin healed well afterwards and life is retuned to normal. But over the past few weeks the breasts in which I had treatment has started to become quite painful and feels hard and lumpy. With everything that’s happening in the world at the moment I can’t get to the doctors as I am still classed as vulnerable due to the chemo therapy I had before hand.

has anyone else experienced this. I am terrified that the cancer has come back and I won’t be able to get treatment because of the corona virus.

any suggestions would be welcome

bamba x

LondonLass over 5 years ago

Hi Bamba, radiotherapy side effects/breast changes can go on for years after the last session, so don’t panic! One piece of advice I will offer is massage the breast every night or day whichever works for you! I didn’t, because I was never told too and I ended up with fibrous tissue which is actually a bigger feeling lump than the original lump! So annoying! The other thing to look out for is any redness or heat as this could be a sign of infection which would need checking ASAP! Otherwise breast oedema or Lymphoedema of the breast could also cause swelling in the breast! But I would say fibrous changes are most likely by what you are describing! Nothing to worry about, but definitely try massage!

Of course also call or email your BCN if you have one and chat to them! But in answer to your question Radiotherapy can cause issues for quite some time! (Sorry!!) xxx

Bamba over 5 years ago in reply to LondonLass

Hi LondonLass

thank you for your reply. It was a relief to hear that it’s quite normal. I will try the massage and see if this helps. I don’t have a BCN but our Macmillan centre has nurses what run it so I will try and contact one of them if anything changes.

thank you for your advice. Xxx

More from this forum

Long term effects of radiotherapy