Hello and poorly nipple from radiotherapy

Hi Barbs, welcome to the group we none of us wanted to join. I can relate to the sore nipple and swelling. After my 1st session my boob went red. After 5 sessions it was crimson and swollen and a few days after I'd finished treatment it was blistered and weeping. 11 mths on my nipple is still red and a bit tender. You need to tell the radiotherapists. After the 3rd session they gave me Flamigel. Really soothing, though I did still end up needing Flaminal and Polymem dressings as well when it blistered. Also make sure you're moisturising regularly  and keep it up for as long as necessary when you've finished treatment, even if that's many months. Some are lucky and sail through radiotherapy and some of us not so lucky. But it will improve in time. Talk to the staff - they've seen it many, many times and I found them to be sympathatic and helpful in dealing with the effects.

Wishing you well

Moodyblue62

Thank you for your feedback, I did tell them yesterday and they just said it was normal and not to worry.  I will let them know again today and see what they say, Thats worrying to know its still sore so long after!! I hope it eases for you soon, Im finding that Im having to change my normal mode of dressing which I hadnt anticipated! Might have to order some more baggy tops! Thank you for the tips regarding the moisturiser, Ive started ladelling it on with a trowl so to speak, whereas before I was doing it like normal moisturiser and rubbing it in! 

Hi Barbs 

Yes I had a sore nipple even before the radiotherapy, I think maybe from the injection of blue dye to identify the sentinel nodes. My injection was given once I was under the anaesthetic while some people have it a few hours before the operation. I only knew afterwards that the injection was given just next to the nipple. Anyway during rads it got sorer and sorer. I was given some dressings to wear inside my bra but nothing really helped. And I definitely did lots of moisturising, several times a day (although not within 2 hours of my rads sessions). I carried on for months afterwards. About 11 weeks after rads finished (I had 3 weeks, back in 2019), a huge scab fell off when I was moisturising. I thought at first that my nipple had come off! But it actually felt loads better after that, still sensitive but nothing like so sore. Sorry for such a revolting description but sometimes it helps to know that other people have horrible experiences! At the breast clinic the doctor said that they just can’t predict how each person will react to radiotherapy. She said my breast clearly didn’t like it much! The other effect is that I now have an inverted nipple. At an annual follow up the breast surgeon said that can happen with all the moving around that happens when they do the wide local excision. It’s just my new normal for that breast. Love and hugs, HFxx

thank you my lovely.  Went again today and spoke to them about it and they said oh yes it might be a wee bit swollen!! And told me to take pain killers!! the thing is massive!! Theyve told me to take pain killers so Im doing that and moisturising.  I think its swollen inside rather than it being an exernal thing, but not sure.  I really appreciate the responses as it helps to make you feel like your experiences are all normal :) 

I've had a lumpectomy and lymph nodes done - results all good but still very tender, and sore especially around my nipple. Very sore for a few days whenever the different dressings came off. So I'm not looking forward to radiotherapy. My surgeon told me to moisturise a lot and not to massage it. Is there any particular moisturiser that I should buy? 

Im using cetraben which I get on prescription anyway, but there are a few they recommend.  I didnt have much pain following my lumpectomy, but only had senitinel nodes taken out and my lump was on the outside of my boob, very near my armpit.  But they seem to be irradiating a larger area, I read my surgery eport and it does say I have some tissue which is currently fine but could turn, so they might be irradiating that too? Good luck my lovely, hope all goes as smoothly as it can for you 

Yes, mine was sentinel node, which was clear. I suppose the tissue issue is the same as there was some removed and the aim of radiotherapy is just to mop up any stray cells. Ive had a lot of pain buI think that might be due to oversensitive nipples and big boob's  - gravity causes a bit of movement and drag!