How long should I expect pain after lumpectomy?

Hi there. It is 18 days since I had a lumpectomy with 2 sentinel nodes removed but have recovered remarkably well.  I too initially had pain when sleeping sideways in bed  or when bending forward.  I don't have that pain anymore though I feel a twinge if I stretch too far for comfort.  I wonder if the radiotherapy is what is causing the pain .  Talk to your Oncologist or the specialist nurse or your GP.  

It may depend where your surgery was, how much  removed etc.  I was told pain normal for a year but I had very little .  My surgery scar is just over an inch on top left side of left boob.  I returned to wearing underwired after surgery for support to stop pulling down on scar but even I had radiotherapy I wore mastectomy bras as softer inside .  I'm a G cup so needed support .  

Hi I had my lumpectomy last August and finished rads end of October . So it’s 8 months after surgery and literally this week I can touch my nipple which I’m so happy about , the little things that matter

mine also hurt bending etc I used to get like a rolling feeling in my boob , think that may have been during rads . Definitely not been able to do any exercise although I may try a low impact joe wickes tomorrow, see how that goes .

so I guess we’re all different, but it will get better, my oncologist said my new boob will be done by a year .

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Hi

I was 51 on diagnosis.  I had 80mm removed from my breast due to 54mm of DCIS and 15mm of IDC.  I had no issue with healing at all and when I was "signed off" by the BC nurse, I mentioned that it still hurt when I was lifting things and sleeping on it, she said "well it's very early days yet".  It was about a year after radiotherapy that I realised that I could quite happily lift my shopping bags etc without suffering the consequences later.  

It shocked me that it took so long as I thought it would be like a broken bone 6-8 weeks and back to normal.  But soft tissue takes a LOT longer to heal.  

I hope it improves bit by bit for you.

Kindest wishes,

Lesley

Hi

I had 2 lumpectomies, followed by a mastectomy and then radiotherapy which i finished 9 months ago. I still get a considerable amount of pain on and off. I was concerned so phoned my breast care nurse who  told me unfortunately this can last for some time. It can be caused by the after affects of radiotherapy not so much the surgery. 

She recommended pain killers especially ibuprofen and to be honest after taking them for a couple of weeks i don't have any pain at the moment. Can i reassure you that i haven't been in pain for the last 9 months it just seems to come and go. If you're concerned ring and speak to your breast care nurse she may be able to offer some advice.

Take Care

Hi,

I'm pleased I read your post because I've been having pain in my Mastectomy site for some time and its sort of comforting to know others do.  I had Chest Wall RT, the pain is quite deep and I've been really worried, Surgeon some time ago suggested Ibuprofen Gel which I use on the mastectomy area and pain killers but this deep pain stresses me out. My BC Nurse said today its likely to be a result of the RT and some ladies have it ongoing, pain wasn't an issue following Surgery I hardly needed pain relief but it started some months ago and has continued. They are going to prescribe Lidocaine patches to try, if that doesn't sort it, don't know what to do as I had a CT and nothing showed up.  

Best Wishes. 

I was the same after surgery, I only took painkillers for a few days and had no issues. I've got more pain now. It's just scaring me that it's getting worse not better.

The rolling feeling is familiar. I feel like I need to hold my boob when getting out of bed etc. I did a Joe wicks a couple of weeks ago and I'm definitely not ready for it yet

My BN told me it does tend to get worse before getting better ️certainly been the case for me ... didn’t get to do joe wickes as boob said no  frustrating.

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Thsnk you all for posting about (i) Post Surgery Pain..& (ii) Post RT pain

  Today I decided finally to phone my BCN about pain & lymphnode swelleing (unususl for me at sternum &;below collarbone).  I have a Seroma that is smaller on a morning but enlarges once I'm upright (regardless of bra).  The pain (& alteted sensation diwn the arm) seems to be directly linked to the Seroma....and the areola (that they took off and re-sewed /repositioned to reshape the breast.  

I've been on painkillers more or less continuously since Biopsy in Jan 2020 (DCIS 13mm).  Painkillers are a fairly new thing for me (I'm 54yrs old).

BCS (March 12th) .....pathology showed DCIS 18mm

When I lean forward I too have to be careful otherwise ...pain

I used to have a high pain threshold (so not familiar with painkillers) but clearly my pain threshold is low now.

Spoke to BCN as was concerned anout the continuing  pain & lymphnodes swelling/stinging (I was supposed to be Node zero...US but not Biopsied).  Was concerned maybe remaining cancer cells had divided after surgery whilst awaiting RT.

BCN suggested it's discomfort but I asdured her it's pain.  Then she told me (I asked a bit about the margins) about how much breast materisl the kind surgeon had removed.  Shock but also pleased.  The 18mm DCIS was removed by removing 62m x 54mm x 31mm ...and down to chest wall.  So no wonder I'm in pain.  Great big area (although they only claim  margins of 2mm or more & at least 1mm at chest wall.   The Surgeon did a great job cosmetically but the Seroma is a pain  quite literally !   It is now one third of the original size but does cause pain. 

Am hoping it will reduce...esp b4 RT as RT can.make it grow....so greater pain maybe.   I am very fair skinned.  The Oncologist said that I am.a bit more likely (than some) to have psin after RT.....& I know it can be permanent.

I'm having Partial Breast RT via Conventional.machine on the 1 week 5 day regime (5.2gys/ fraction; 26gys total) RHS.

Lets see how it goes starting 6th May (but Bank hol Fri off).  I'm nervous.

Anyway, I just thought I'd report on the pain thing.  I'm learning much from all your stories and kind advice.  The biggest thing I've learned is to trust my intuition and  not be disuaded by Consultants and Dr's even if I want to trust their vast expertise &;skill.....still to trust myself !

 Thank you all for being here (as I'm doing this & lockdown on my own).

Take care,

PeppermintPatti.