Hello all, just want to confirm that breast pain post surgery/radiation is a long term thing? I read somewhere at the beginning of my journey that you should expect 12 months of breast pain/discomfort but it really hasn’t let up at all. My breast is sore to palpate all the time and, even tho I haven’t had a period in 8 months, I feel it may be cyclic/hormonal. It gets hard and aches.. Thanks for your help.

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

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.

"Pain management | Breast Cancer Network Australia" https://www.bcna.org.au/health-wellbeing/physical-wellbeing/pain-management/

Thanks for your reply. I guess with trying to move forward I’m getting a bit impatient for this to stop reminding me everyday (through constant pain and ache) that I’ve had cancer!

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 😊🍀♥️

Breast pain 2 years post | BCNA Online Network

Stormbird63
Member
4 years ago
Thanks for your reply. I guess with trying to move forward I’m getting a bit impatient for this to stop reminding me everyday (through constant pain and ache) that I’ve had cancer!
FLClover
Member
4 years ago
Hi @Stormbird63. I only had radiation in July last year, so not that long ago. I do have pain, although I had a DMX with expanders. I feel tightness in my shoulders, and actual pain in my breasts (well, the skin). And it does get worse as my Zoladex injection starts wearing off after about 21 days. That’s when my body feels like it wants to go back to having periods again, and I get PMS symptoms, one of them being very sore breasts (or skin). It’s like a dull pain, and at moments i get shooting pains too.
To me, it sounds like you’re having a very long period of PMS. When I had my own tissue, that’s exactly what my breasts felt like before my period, hard and very sore to touch. And swollen.
Are you on Tamoxifen by any chance?
If you’re thinking it might be ca related, I highly doubt that. If you’ve had radiation in the past year, I’ve read this is common.
iserbrown
Member
4 years ago
"Pain management | Breast Cancer Network Australia" https://www.bcna.org.au/health-wellbeing/physical-wellbeing/pain-management/
Stormbird63
Member
4 years ago
No one has long term ongoing pain following radiation??? Would welcome any comment thanks

Forum Discussion

Breast pain 2 years post

Related Content

Joint pain, muscle stiffness

After 6 years back pains

Breast Pain

Pain Pain go away

Having breasts removed

Recent Discussions

Petrea King retreats?

Would like to chat to others

Work/grief/sadness

Help i feel like a robot

UTIs ... Do you get them often? What do you use to 'fix it'?

Disclaimer:

Foundation partner	Major partners