Pain and tenderness in breast months after radiotherapy

Hi Dawnlou

I have exactly this but I had a mastectomy chemo and radiotherapy . I finished radiotherapy in June and only now has this come on. I exercise and massage which helps. I think it is a late side effect which hopefully will go with time. Be interested in any comments.x

I was told by physio that it takes a min of 6 months for effects to wear off and can be up to 2 years. I'm 1 year post rads and get pain still. I suffered with swelling which is going but takes ages. Another lady got me to look at the attached you tube videos which were very helpful so passing the link on. It is normal to have some pain as your body settles down but if you're at all worried, give your breast nurse a ring.

https://youtu.be/KJnAOzFOlwc

Thank you , I think it’s just that it has started so long after the treatment that was getting me wondering x

I had chemo , then surgery , then radio and on Kadcyla , even though still having active treatment it still panics me x

I finished my radiotherapy early November last year and I have been getting these exact symptoms in the last week or 2 but in my right breast (which is the side I had the cancer).

I’ll be contacting my BCN anyway, but it’s reassuring to see that it’s likely delayed reaction to radiotherapy. 

I finished radiotherapy in November 2021 and still have tenderness and some swelling, I was referred to the late effects clinic last summer and they diagnosed lymphoedema of the breast (I had a lumpectomy) and they gave me some massage which doesn't do a lot to be honest. I think this is one of those side effects we don't hear much about but I resigned myself to thinking this is my new normal and most of the time I successfully ignore it.

Hiya,

I am the same, radiotherapy at the start of December and no pain for 6 weeks but now my breast is tender and still warm compared to the other. My consultant said it might gradually lessen or it comild be like this for years. Not ideal but a price worth paying to have cancer removed is my way of looking at it.  I only hope it’s better by my mammogram in October. I hope your aches are feeling better by now,

claire

Hi I had surgery, chemotherapy then radiotherapy and I have to say the late after effects of radiotherapy really took me by surprise. I can't say it's acute pain but definite discomfort, tightness and tenderness. I finished treatment in June 22 and I guess from October this has been ongoing. 

I finally got scar tissue massage in January which has released some ares where soft tissue was stuck on chest wall and under arm. I have been today for second treatment so a bit sore but in a day or two feels so much better. Stretches help too. I had an area today around the back of my arm worked on as this is where the radiotherapy leaves your body which you do not expect.  I really recommend this type of massage.

I don't think we are given enough information about how long after treatment ends these effects can develop.

Hope you get some relief soon x