CHANGE IN MY BREAST AFTER TREATMENT FOR INVASIVE DUCTAL CARCINOMA - WORRIED ITS IBC

Hello, you are obviously very worried so to put your mind at rest I would definitely not wait until march. I would contact your breast care nurse who I’m sure will get you an appointment to have it checked out. Best wishes. M x

Hi Mibby, I am a bit worried yes. I have looked at my pics so many times now I'm beginning to think it might just be a reaction to the radiotherapy or oedema. 

I think like everyone we go straight to Dr Google and imagine the worst. I have sent an email to the follow on nurse at the hospital and hopefully she will pick it up on Monday with the pictures. 

I think I just needed someone to say contact the nurse and don't wait till March.  They are so incredibly busy that if it could wait then I'd have done so. 

Thank you for your time and writing J x

You are as important as anyone else they are busy with.  They will want to put your mind at rest too. So please do not feel you are bothering them. I’m pleased you have been in touch, you will feel better for it I’m sure.  Please let us know how you get on   With best wishes M x

Hi, as Mibby has advised, I would contact them tomorrow. If you have an email address for the administrator (my breast clinic does this) then do attach the photos. These will be passed to the BCN and likely the consultant too. That would save a huge amount of time because your photos are so clear. It could be anything, but almost certainly your team will have seen a similar presentation before, and likely many times.  Xx

Hi Badger6167 , great replies already from the fine folks here, and definitely right to get it checked out. Just thought I’d pop in to add my support and share my experience with post op/ post radiotherapy changes. I had an oncology follow up appointment 10 weeks after rads finished. I had noticed that the treated breast was bigger than the other, despite having started as the smaller one and then being scooped out for the wide local excision/ lumpectomy. Also, during and post rads it seemed like any bra or crop top seam would cause ‘pitting’ on that side but not on the other. When I asked about it they also thought that it was hotter than the other. I was given a course of antibiotics in case there was an underlying infection, and referred to the lympheodema clinic as well as back to the breast clinic. It was confirmed as lympheodema in the breast, which is a less well known possible side effect of radiotherapy. The nurse gave me advice about how to manage it which was very helpful and effective. It’s all in my profile if you want to read it! It’s not going to go away but it’s manageable in my case with better bras and Nordic walking (nurse recommended this, or aqua aerobics). Anyway I’m glad you’ve contacted the breast team, I’d follow up with a phone call if you don’t hear back quickly. I’m 5 years post rads now and self referred to the clinic several times for various issues. I hate doing it but that’s what they’re there for! Love and hugs, HFxx oh and btw the skin on my treated breast is different in parts, the classic slightly orange peel type effect. My nipple never fully recovered from the assault and is still sort of inverted. 

All breast care teams offer what is called as open access / I.e int he first year after surgery you can call them anytime and they will give you an appointment to see the doctors or nurses depending on what your concern is - I would suggest you do that - I had severe redness and both my breasts were very hot when I was still doing the dressing at the hospital - doctors reviewed and said it could be an infection - I was on antibiotics for two weeks (3 times a day) which made me sick in my stomach - but it greatly helped my breasts heal - the swelling redness and heat all reduced once I finished the course - I have read elsewhere that infections can come even after years of surgery - for me it was less than 3 weeks after surgery - I am diabetic so did not help in healing process as well - moreover I had grade 1&2 in both sides - so my lumpectomy was done on both sides at the same time - double whammy and my drains stopped draining after 4 days - which is what I suspect caused the infection - I have solid scar tissues on the left almost like a stone feel - which doctor said will take time to heal - it has been only 90 days since my surgery 

hood luck get is checked out and be at peace knowing you have the professionals looked at - stay strong stay positive - Even this shall pass away xx

Thank you so very much for your messages it does mean a lot. You can't help worrying and catastrophising etc. I've taken another photo this morning from the under side of the breast which is a better pic. I will definitely contact them tomorrow 

Hi

get in touch with your breast care nurses that is why they are there for any worries you may have .  Don’t wait until March .  My follow up appointment after treatment with my breast care team was a telephone appointment with a nurse which was last week and I thought I would see the specialist please phone. 

Hi Badger6167

Hope all has turned out well for you and wondered what the outcome was. I too have a very sudden painful and red boob four months after radiotherapy. Have appt with surgeon this Friday. Hoping that it's just edema but very worried. First time I've contacted anyone throughout the whole process. Thanks. Rhya.

Afternoon Rhya, I did see a consultant about it,  she said I'm sure we can put it down to side effects of radiation.  I was still scared, I didn't like the words I think we can put it down to, it wasn't a definitive answer.  I wrote to a breast nurse and popped in to see them. They kinda said the same and stated you have your mammogram in March let's see how you get on.

My breast is very swollen, heavy,  painful, dimpled and my nipple isn't the same. However, both these people think it's normal so I have to accept this. I had my first mammogram after cancer last Wednesday, it was weird to see the difference between both breasts. My good breast just looked normal and the other looked like a bomb had gone off in it. My radiographer said we underestimate just how serious radiotherapy. I am now on the waiting cycle again for my results which could be up to three weeks, forgot just how bad the waiting was lol! But I'm taking it that if there was anything really obvious I would have heard something possibly by now. 

Basically Rhya, it's easy to say, don't worry, but from everything I've read it does appear normal. Good luck with your appointment and keep your fingers crossed for me and a clear mammogram!  

Jan x