5 day radiation following mastectomy

Hi BethS, I had a mastectomy, chemo and radio at the end. Surgery was December 2021 and my Radio started June 2022 (after chemo), so a few months later and my wound had healed well. I can only think that perhaps your skin was somewhat delicate after only 8 weeks of healing ? After my five days of radio, I did have an itchy spot that still flares up occasionally a year later. I would suggest (I don’t know) that the radio has maybe taken some of the elasticity from your skin and it may take a wee bit longer for it to “settle”. Either way, I’m sure it’s nothing to worry about and hopefully it’ll pass in the fullness of time. All the best! x

Hi, I went on holiday to the US a few weeks after my radiotherapy finished, with the blessing of my oncologist. The biggest risk she warned me about is infection, which needs to be treated early and the warning signs are inflammation, redness and tenderness. The infection comes (I think, but I'm no medical expert) if the lymph nodes in the radiated area don't work properly afterwards and sort of block up, as they move stuff around our bodies.

To be honest, I have struggled with radiotherapy side effects quite a bit, some swelling, tingling and occasional shooting pains, and breast lymphoedema but it has never stopped me travelling or doing anything. Hope this helps, best wishes, 

Thanks for this. I’m hoping by the time I go most of the side effects will have been and gone. Seems shooting pains are common. I mentioned this was my biggest concern about radiotherapy to the oncologist before treatment and she said she wasn’t aware of such a side effect! I have quite a few trips planned over the next 12 months so trying hard to get back to normal. It’s the tightness across the chest that’s really worrying me. 

Thanks Mazz

Fingers crossed it will settle. 
xx