***NOVEMBER RADIOTHERAPY THREAD***

Hi All, 

I have finished radiotherapy 2 weeks ago and I have broken skin around my nipple. Has anyone experienced this painful side effect and did you deal with it?

I so don't want to go back to the hospital

I have the metilex lite plaster to put on the breast, is that enough.

Thank you for any advice.

X

Hi Sonjha, I didn't have exactly your issue as I was never aware of the skin breaking, but I had a very painful nipple from the time of my lumpectomy, I think from the injection of dye to find the sentinel nodes. It got worse during and after radiotherapy, but then slowly resolved. A huge scab eventually came off the nipple (sorry if TMI!!) and it seemed almost like the top of the nipple fell off. But it actually felt better for it, and slowly got less painful. I was also given some dressings at my mid radiotherapy review (I had 3 weeks of it but I'm guessing you had the speeded up version of 1 week?) but I found they stuck to my breast so stopped using them. 

Although you don't want to go back to the hospital, I think they're best placed to advise you. Could you phone them initially? At the mid rads review, the radiology consultant encouraged me to phone them if I had problems afterwards rather than going to my GP, as she said the GP or practice nurse would be unlikely to have experience of radiation burns. So I'd start with phoning the hospital and then take it from there. If the skin is broken I'd be cautious in case of infection, so best to get some advice I think. 

Hope you get it resolved. Mine was slow to improve but did gradually get less painful and sensitive. 

Sending love and a gentle virtual hug, HFxx

'bumping' for anyone going through Radiotherapy, or about to do so....

Thank you Happyfeet! for shating your experience!

The scab, I have. I'm healing at the moment from the broken skin. 

Before my message I had contacted the radiotherapy unit and they told me it was a normal reaction. I had a prescription for the silicon plaster.

I don't like to look at the bad breast. It's still painful, I make sure to dry carefully the little wounds after my shower.

I had 4 weeks of treatment, 3 weeks  plus 1 week, calle booster.

I'm getting there, we are getti g there or some are already there

Take care and thank you again.

Sandra

Hi,

I’m due to start radiotherapy next week. I’ve my initial assessment tomorrow so I’ll find out more I expect, but I’m still sore from surgery, from the reconstruction 7 weeks ago, fatigued and whilst focussing on building up physical activity the pain as is getting me down at times. The prospect of returning to work any time soon feels quite unrealistic. I just wondered how others may have felt and coped with this stage of the treatment. I’m due to start hormone therapy once the radiotherapy finishes and feel slightly anxious about how the drug will make me feel too.

Hi , sorry you're still in pain from the surgery, do mention this at the assessment so they know that some positions may be tricky for you. Re work, everyone is different but do remember that you have had major surgery only 7 weeks ago. I had less surgery (lumpectomy and node sampling) but it was still a large incision and I wasn't ready to go back to work till a month after the radiotherapy. My doctor and school were both supportive of this as my job was very physical (special needs teacher). So do take the time you need. Some people even work through rads but I definitely wasn't up to it. Hormone therapy also affects different people different ways so I'd say don't 'expect' all the side effects.... you just won't know until you pop the pills. 

Good luck tomorrow, I felt much better about it all after that initial assessment because I knew what to expect once it all started. I tried to walk every day, even if it had to be in the dark (it was January), as it seems gentle exercise is good for helping with fatigue. Sending love and a very gentle virtual hug, HFxx

Thank you Hopi, I guess I will really need to see how I feel in the next month or so. My job is also quite physical, environmental education, SEN training. Hopefully I’ll feel better about everything once today is over.

Enjoy the sunshine ️ x 

‘Bumping’ the thread for new-to-rads folk

Hugs xxx

Hi all, it's nearly 4 weeks since I had my 5 fast track radiotherapy and I was ok till Friday when my boon suddenly got very red and very hot and itchy. It looks burnt. I'm still putting moisturiser on but not sure what else. Phoned radiotherapy nurses at hull and was just told to keep moisturizing but that is not stopping the pain. They said I could go and let them have a look but it's quite a long drive surely they know what it is and can give me something to help.

Hi , my feeling is that somebody should see you as it’s been a sudden onset of heat and itching. Redness, heat and itching can all be side effects of radiotherapy but can also be signs of infection so I do think you should have it looked at. It’s said that the peak of effects is usually 2 weeks after but I wonder if that’s the same for the fast track regime? Mine was pre Covid so I had the old 3 week programme. But at my 10 week post rads check with the oncologist, they thought my breast was a bit red and definitely swollen so gave me antibiotics and a lymphoedema referral. In the end I was diagnosed with mild lymphoedema in that breast, which has improved hugely with exercise. And just to add, I had a ridiculously painful nipple for many weeks post rads but that did eventually resolve. 
Hope you can get some face to face advice, I would definitely recommend having it seen in case of possible infection. Sending love and a gentle virtual hug, HFxx