swollen breast weeks after radation treatment

Very interresting reading all our similar stories here about pain in the arm etc.. Why on earth are we not told about this and pre warned so we can start doing massage etc to help off set it. Mine is just getting worse and worse and have it a bit in the other arm now so wondering if in fact it is Arimadex partly as well. Althought the left arm - the side of my surgery etc is waaaaaaay worse. 

You are right Radiation seemed to be mostly a breeze, so to have this stuff happening down the track is a bit disheartening. It's like as soon as you resolve one issue there is another to take it's place :(

Hi I started a beach boot camp only body weights.

Cathy, Can I ask what exercise you went back to (cardio/weights etc)?  I need to start again, but don't want to make it any worse - really think my arm needs something to help strengthen and stretch.

Thanks, Kari

Hi Maria. wow I really didntt know radiation had more effect than the time of treatment. All  I can recall hearing is it is not painful.... which I guess its not ... but... the after effect.... ot is that the effect of the surgery.... I am so used to only ever having small breasts now I have one larger than the other by quite a bit and I never thought I would be self conscious about myself but omg... I really am.... I know it is a small cost for getting rid of cancer. ... just feeling a bit flat because I thought I was finished with treatment and that was that.. omg.. I amaze myself at how nieve I am/was. lol

Oh my goodness. radiation was painted as being nothing at all... just a bit of sunburn sort  of symptoms and now I see you have similar to what i am going through... and thank you for making me feel ... normal... what ever that is now. lol I thought it was becauuse I went back to exercising... which was encouraged because exercise is so good for recovery but .. .oh my... it felt like I was being stabbed in the chest. Actually nice to hear from people in the same spot... thanks so much....

Hi Cathy,

I am 4 months post 30 treatments of radio and still have tender spots in my breast and under my arm, especially under my breast. Specialist says it's from the radiation and will continue to lesson over the next 6-12 months. My breast is still swollen too, leaving quite deep marks visible from the seams of my normal bra. I have found on two occasions where I have done a lot of heavy lifting with furniture or gardening that I get the sharp stabbing pains back for about 24 hours after, like you do at the end of radio. I agree with Kari, surgery is the easier bit to get over, it's a slow and steady journey of healing from the radio I guess. Hope you are feeling better soon and I am also on Femara but don't think that's what causing it.

Maria

Hi Cathy & Kari, and everyone. You've all made me feel much more normal. It's almost 3months since i finished radiotherapy &;since about a month afterwards,  I 've had breast discomfort, swelling & increasing axilla discomfort. I had a collection drained from my axilla about 6 weeks after I finished, which has recollected again (not helping matters). Seeing med onc on Monday, so lots of questions. Saw rad onc only 2 weeks after treatment due to complications during treatment, but don't go back to her now until August.

Hope you're  all doing ok. Take care, Lyn

Hi Paula I didn't have chemo. I think it was in a reply but some one said that she was exhausted from the chemo and then threw the radio on top of it.... .......anyone going through chemo is a champion in my eyes

Geez that was a bummer getting an infection... This is all the stuff that is not written in all the booklets lol.... Really understand what you mean about the 5km .... I had it in my head that radiation was finished so I was going to get straight back  to what I could do.... Um argh.  Reality check