radiation mastitis

About 3 weeks after my last radiation treatment my breast became highly inflamed...swollen...painful...was put on Keflex on Monday....today is Saturday and it really is no better...breast feels heavy...nipple inverted...red and painful..not as much fever as there was first of week...does it ever get better??? I had lumpectomy in November for Stage 1 breast cancer...no chemo...just 35 radiation treatments and now on hormone pills...I had gone back to work and then this painful condition came on...I didn't have this much pain from surgery....Is it possible this is inflammatory breast cancer?


This discussion is related to post radiation problems.

[japdip]

Since IBC was not a factor in the original diagnosis I doubt that it is anything but the result of the Radiation.  Mastitis no matter the cause can be VERY difficult to treat; sometimes even IV antibiotic therapy is required. It may recur several times even though it does respond to treatment at first. Unfortunately this condition is far from rare .... if you enter "Post Radiation Mastitis" in general search you will see how many women are affected by this condition. Regards ...