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lawsdaws's avatar
lawsdaws
Member
11 years ago

breast change after radiotherapy

Hi, I finished radio about 8 weeks ago and have recently noticed my boob is quite a bit bigger than my 'good' one. It seems like it has odema as I had that after my initial lymph surgery and its very similar now but is it normal for it to happen this long after I finished? I did have another armpit surgery 5 weeks ago and had a large ish seroma plus I have got fairly bad cording in my arm. I'm going in for herceptin on weds so will get the breast care nurse to look then plus I'm seeing my radiation oncologist ina couple of weeks but I'm starting to worry that something is wrong.... thanks for reading! Laura
cording
herceptin
radiotherapy
  • lawsdaws's avatar
    lawsdaws
    Member
    11 years ago

    Hi

    I saw the breast care nurse today who said it looked like oedema of the breast and had already spoken to the radio oncologist and she printed off some info for me. I saw the physio (she's amazing!) just before Xmas but she's now left which is so annoying! I have been given the name of another woman who specialises in all things breast cancer lymph related. She also had breast cancer a few years ago so knows about it from both sides of the track! Will call for an appointment - cording still not better and need some of this boob fluid draining! What's the difference between oedema in the breast and lymphoedema of the breast? 

    Thanks

  • lawsdaws's avatar
    lawsdaws
    Member
    11 years ago

    Thanks for your comments. I had a full breast ultrasound done a few weeks ago and a check up with my oncologist at the same time which all was clear so I'm hoping nothing too awful has happened in that time? I saw my physio just before Xmas due to my cording after the surgery a few weeks before and she did all my arm measurements and checked the lymph flow around my body which was all normal. I'll call the breast care nurse today and see if she wants to see me today or wait till I go in for herceptin tomorrow......

  • lawsdaws's avatar
    lawsdaws
    Member
    11 years ago

    Thanks for your comments. I had a full breast ultrasound done a few weeks ago and a check up with my oncologist at the same time which all was clear so I'm hoping nothing too awful has happened in that time? I saw my physio just before Xmas due to my cording after the surgery a few weeks before and she did all my arm measurements and checked the lymph flow around my body which was all normal. I'll call the breast care nurse today and see if she wants to see me today or wait till I go in for herceptin tomorrow......

  • Wendyj's avatar
    Wendyj
    Member
    11 years ago

    Yes get it checked. I did have truncal luymphodema post radiation and definiately my boob was swollen. It didn't appear larger however it should have been smaller as I had a lumpectomy. Now that the swelling has gone it is slightly smaller and I am no longer symetrical!!!

    It is normal to get swelling post radiation however get it checked as they can give you advice on how to reduce any swelling and of course put your mind at ease.

    During my radiation my fluid levels did build up and was staring to back up into my arm.  (not to the point of being diagnosed with lymphodema in my arm but was close) Manual lymph drainage definitely helped and after I had finished my rads a few months later all my fluid levels were back to normal in my arm although still some swelling on my boob. Took some months for that to get back to normal and I still get some swelling and bra marks but nothing major.

  • Cook65's avatar
    Cook65
    Member
    11 years ago
    Hi Laura If you are concerned then off to the doctors today, don't wait. It will either reassure you or it will get onto things quickly if there is a problem. If there is one thing I've learnt along this process is never to wait if you think there might be a problem. You know your body better than anyone else. It may be normal, I don't know as I've not experienced it, but you team still needs to know. Take care. Karen xox
  • Cook65's avatar
    Cook65
    Member
    11 years ago
    Hi Laura If you are concerned then off to the doctors today, don't wait. It will either reassure you or it will get onto things quickly if there is a problem. If there is one thing I've learnt along this process is never to wait if you think there might be a problem. You know your body better than anyone else. It may be normal, I don't know as I've not experienced it, but you team still needs to know. Take care. Karen xox
  • Janet_Plummer's avatar
    Janet_Plummer
    Member
    11 years ago

    I don't really know about odema in the breast Laura but I do know that lymphodema in the arm can develop at any time down the track after lymph node removal. My Mum developed lymphoedema 10 years - yes 10 years! - after having breast cancer and just four lymph nodes removed (possibly more destroyed by radiation therapy). She had been run down and suffered a bout of shingles which seemed to bring it on. I would go and get the swelling checked out asap. Apparently the sooner it is treated the less severe it is (with arms anyway). Good luck.