Forum Discussion

barbara_riley's avatar
barbara_riley
Member
10 years ago

Breast appearance and feel

Can others who are further along the breast cancer journey answer this question please? Will the present hardness and lumpiness of my breast (8 weeks post lumpectomy) improve much in the years to come? I am considering whether to have a radiotherapy boost to the tumour bed which I know will probably cause fibrosis. If my breast will never feel normal again then the extra fibrosis from the boost will not matter. I am of the age (60) where the benefit of the boost in terms of reduction of probability of recurrence of the cancer is quite low so the negative impacts of the boost are part of my condierations.

lumpectomy

2 Replies

  • barbara_riley's avatar
    barbara_riley
    Member
    10 years ago

    Thanks Tansy. I decided to have the radiotherapy boost (10 Gy in 4 fractions). I thought I'd rather have a hard, lumpy almost whole breast than risk having to have a mastectomy if the cancer recurred. My breast may never be normal again but at least I still have it which I am very thankful for. 

    Barbara

  • Aqua_sunrise's avatar
    Aqua_sunrise
    Member
    10 years ago

    Hi Barbara,

    i have am just finishing 33 radiation sessions, onto the final few boosts now ????????

    I am 60 as well & have made a conscious decision to give it all I can, 

    not sure if they will ever be quite the same again, but I'm ok with that,  the nipple feeling was back to normal so I was happy ??

    Its all such a personal decision, isn't it ? 

    I figured that a few things had changed forever anyhow !

    good luck to you, 

    ??????

    Warm regards 

    tansy ??