Funny side effects from chemo and radiation...

Hi  

Good thread as we really need to laugh! Can’t share re chemo effects as I didn’t have it but I’m happy to share a cringy and rather revolting radiotherapy side effect….
So my nipple hurt anyway after surgery. I think it was from the blue dye injection as my incision was nowhere near. I believe the injection is given in the nipple area - mine was done once I was under the lovely anaesthetic so I didn’t know where. Anyway as my 3 weeks of rads progressed, nipple got sorer and sorer. Post rads it seemed to turn black! About 11 weeks after I was moisturising the whole breast one morning, when I seemed to dislodge my nipple…. Turned out to be a huge scab, but I really thought I’d lost the end of my nipple. After that it actually felt better as I think the scab was pulling. Long term (this was over 6 years ago) I am left with an inverted nipple and a much paler areola than before.

And I also had a weird scaly effect on the breast skin post rads, a bit like a giraffe pattern. These slowly came off while I did the twice daily moisturising. It was less dramatic than the nipple falling off (not) so I tend to forget about it. 

Sorry not really that funny! But equally might be comforting if someone has similar! All resolved in the end. The lasting legacy I have of rads is lympheodema in the breast but as it led to me taking up Nordic walking, which I really love, it at least led to something good! 
Love and hugs, HFxx

I mean, I'm glad your whole nipple didn't actually fall off! I'd panic too, so thanks for the heads up of the possibility. Can just imagine screaming to my family that my nipple is falling off!

Thank you for sharing ️

Just anything that makes this whole process a bit less "wooo" is good in my book.

Forgot another thing ... was holding in a fart during the 3 biopsies they took. I told the staff who were scanning me & we were laughing about it, and they thanked me at the end for holding it in the whole time :)

Nordic walking sounds very cool. Off to google it :)

Oh yes! Nordic walking looks awesome. Am gonna try this! Thanks 

https://nordicwalking.co.uk/

It has become a much loved hobby  

And I have made some great new friends. I love walking anyway and walk regularly with my ‘best’ friend, always incorporating a cafe visit along the way or at the end. But the Nordic walking adds another dimension and also as it’s ‘led’ I have discovered areas of the countryside around me that I didn’t know existed. It was recommended by the lymphoedema nurse, or aqua aerobics. Both are apparently really good for getting lymph moving in the breast. I’m not a keen swimmer so I looked up the most local Nordic group and signed up for a course. 6 years later, still walking! The group I walk with is now under the WALX membership. Love it! 
And the fart story is hilarious!! We are all human and we all fart just rarely discuss it! Xx

Absolutely brilliant. I do love me a bit of aqua aerobics, but getting out in the fresh air and walking with a group sounds like it'd be great physically and mentally! And any walk that involves a nice cuppa or cheeky latte is even better! Genius ️

Don’t know if it was the paclitaxel or the radiotherapy, but at 70 yrs I’ve become a person who can’t endure having labels in the neckline of shirts, t-shirts etc. 

Also I had node clearance two years ago and now don’t sweat from the cleared armpit. I know you don’t perspire through lymph nodes, so although the scar looks v neat and minimal and I don’t have any cording or problems, the sweat glands must have been taken too.

Ooh that's an interesting one. Just the scratchy scratchy of the label? 

Not sweating sounds good, but I imagine you just sweat twice as much in another area? I'm already the sweatiest person who ever lived, so not overly looking forward to menopausal hot flushes ... I'll just be left as a little puddle on the floor!

I I had quite a few effects from both sorts of chemo and the scaly skin from the radiotherapy but nothing lasting.. 

As it happens I find the sweating in the functioning armpit seems pretty profuse and t shirts can get v damp. In hot weather I certainly sweat from everywhere except that armpit!