I finish my breast radiation therapy

[wanda319]

Hi guys I finish my breast radiation 3 weeks ago ,but my breast still hurt me so bad, I can touch my nipple,hurt me so bad. It's this normal ??? I have stabbing pain, sharp pain.

[Nylani]

Hi Wanda
Sounds like you do have some nerve involvement which includes very sharp, almost spasm like pain. It's nasty and unpleasant and needs proper pain management.
I have neuralgia which has meant that since the surgery, I have been unable to wear a bra since November last year, though I have now graduated to being able to wear a maternity camisole or shelf bra without it causing too much pain.

I do empathise with how you are feeling but please do get checked out by your oncologist to ensure that it is nerve damage and not something else - if it is, there are many medications that assist.

Depending on the pain and the expected healing time, anything from Tylenol right up to Oxycodone is prescribed and also drugs such as Neurontin - which is a non opiate based medication that works well with nerve damage.

Hang in there, and just remember that no cancer survivor should be in a state of unmanageable pain, ever.

All the very best

[wanda319]

Thanks <3

[zouzi]

Hi again,
If your Hospital discharge paper advised you not to wear a bra,then please call your Oncologist as soon as possible and let him/her that,since your skin is healing well,if you could wear a cotton sports like bra,(not too tight) to limit breast movement,thus lessening the pain you are experiencing inside your breast.Oncologist know quite a few different formulas,such as ointments and/or dressings to relieve nipple pain due to radiation.They can also prescribe a much stronger painkiller if the pain is unbearable.
I am really so sorry you are through this... I  hope that soon the pain will subside significantly...
All the best to you...

[wanda319]

Hi zousi, I have a (r) breast partial mastectomy, under the breast. After that I received radiation therapy, and right now I'm on tamoxifen.
I will see the Radiology oncology the next week, but my dicharge paper says no wear a bra until you see you oncology, and that will be on June. The worse part is the extreme pain in my nipple, even the water hurt me. I take Advil but the pain still with me,sometime shsrp or stabbing but always there. The skin is healing well,only the pain bother me. Everytime I move to one side to another in bed I feel like a pool ball inside my breast moving side to side and is very painfull. I only hope this never comeback. We only have hope,faith and a lot of courage. <3

[zouzi]

Hi,
There are usually no immediate side effects from each radiation treatment given to the breast.
Most patients develop fatigue that builds up gradually when the therapy ends,also it's normal to develop dull aches or sharp shooting pains especially around the nipple area being the most sensitive part of the breast.All this will eventually go away after a few months following treatment.
If you had a lumpectomy,the pain could also be accentuate,due to nerves damage during the procedure.As nerves repair themselves, you may feel pain such as you have described.Acetaminophen or ibuprofen usually can address the pain related to this type of nerve injury and to radiation treatment.
Please ask your Oncologist for stronger medication,if over the counter medication doesn't relieve your pain. Also ask if you could apply warm compresses and massaging the breast gently with a mild lotion that does not contain alcohol. Wearing a good supportive bra,can help in the healing process.
Best wishes and I hope you'll feel better soon!