Breast pain 2 years post

I had radiation in 2015. My radiated breast is still hard/ firm to touch. I can’t lay on it, don’t like a firm hard hug from friends because it hurts. The scar feels rigid and painful if it bends. Many many breast surgeons over the years have said it’s ‘quite normal’🙄.I was so aware of my breast! Finally a wonderful female breast surgeon has told me this is a typical radiated breast. It will not change now and will stay the same size and shape as when it was radiated. She is right. This knowledge has helped with acceptance and moving forward. I don’t think about my breasts constantly anymore.  I look in the mirror with interest at how much the nonradiated breast has dropped… Oh and @Stormbird63 Daily life is definitely better. I don’t think about my breasts very often at all now. 

My PHYSIO gave me a stress ball to roll over the scar tissue - she said it does not need to be hard pressure, just regular movement on it to loosen the tissues and stop them all fusing together as they heal

My lymphoedema therapist keeps twinges from my breast scar at bay by massage. Stretching is definitely helpful. I don’t get this often but still sometimes after more than eight years. 

Hi @Stormbird63,
I went to a physiotherapist who specialises in rehabilitating cancer patients. She's lso lymphedema specialist. She was able to manipulate the scar tissue to loosen the tightness and pain in my upper chest. I also find stretching exercises helpful.

I still get pain in my non existent boob and have found it is mostly dietary. I often go to massage the pain only to find there isn't anything there to massage lol. Mastectomy and chemo was in 2018 and no radiation

My story is similar to @TonyaM in terms of breast discomfort and going hard. At six years out, I haven't had a recurrence but have long since made the decision that if I get another cancer in either breast, they both go!

For a long time, maybe 3-4 years, I would periodically get pain shooting through my breast.  I'm sure I read somewhere at the time that it was related to the radiotherapy so that's what I always put it down to

@TonyaM
Shudder shudder!
Thank goodness it's gone!

My breast was never the same after radiation.It went rock hard and was permanently uncomfortable. Seven years later,cancer came back in the same spot so the breast had to go.

I have ongoing breast pain 18 months later. Stabbing pain, aches still. Can’t explain it, it’s only on the radiated lumpectomy breast, not both. And it’s not my bra! Have tried every kind and style, it’s not the bra. It comes and goes. Had a long pain free stretch past 3-4 months and it’s back. Perhaps overuse of right arm and shoulder triggers it. I don’t know. Nobody will care in the team I see. They are a cancer factory and think women invent side effects just for lols. 

Totally understandable. I also hate showering or changing cos my expanders are uncomfortable and remind me of the same. But remember you HAD it. It’s not there any longer. It’s very hard to do, but I’ve accepted I had it, tried to find a reason why, and am now moving on despite all the side effects it left. Good luck. Don’t forget to cup your booby and thank it for all it’s gone through to keep you alive 😊🍀♥️