Post lumpectomy and radiation breast infection

[Cavatina23]

Has anybody developed inflammation and tenderness emanating from their lumpectomy scar? I finished radiation treatment 4 months ago and wasn’t expecting it.

[Thaddieus]

Hi,

I’m so sorry you are suffering inflammation post radiation and lumpectomy.

I too suffered inflammation and acute tenderness, 18months (!!!) after radiation. My breast was so tender that I found it extremely painful when any clothing touched it and it was even difficult managing chores, shopping, walking etc

I eventually went back to my surgeon who was horrified when she saw it (it looked dark red with definite demarcation of where the radiation had been), but didn’t know what it was.

I was referred to the dermatology dept and it was discovered that I had ‘onset radiation induced morphea’.

I started a fairly hefty dose of Prednisalone and I started responding well after only a few days. I have now started weaning myself off them by one tablet every week (I am down to 15g a day, having started on 40g per day) - so things are much, much better.

I am wondering how you are doing now?

Try not to worry and contact your GP if it starts to get worse. It can be sorted!!

Harriet

[Cavatina23 in reply to Thaddieus]

Hi Thaddieus

Thank you so much for your reply. I have a network here at home of friends who have had BC but none had this complication so the infection and swelling months after finishing radiotherapy blindsided me quite badly as I thought I was over the worst. My doctor put me on a course of antibiotics which has helped reduce the symptoms. He says it was a bacterial infection that attacked the tissue below the scar and spread. So thank you again for your kind and detailed response it meant a lot to me and I will watch now for any signs of morphea. This site is gold!!!!

[Buddybear123]

Hi I finished radiotherapy in August and was feeling a bit of pain and twinges and what felt like firmness so I have been hospital today for an examination and an ultra sound, all was fine but they did explain that the radiotherapy will have after effects like thicker skin round the scar x

[Cavatina23 in reply to Buddybear123]

Hi Buddybear, thank you for your reply. This BC journey can be a bit lonely at times and sharing post treatment complications is so comforting as well as informative. When you finish your last appointment you do feel your on your own so it’s very reassuring to receive replies like yours when your awake at 3 in the morning. Best wishes Cavatina

[Buddybear123 in reply to Cavatina23]

It's 4.15 and I'm awake, I think of got myself in such a state going hospital yesterday that the adrenaline is still pumping 🤦🏼‍♀️. They have advised me to get councelling as am not dealing with it very well, I will be 50 in a couple of months so was such a shock for me and my family. I actually think the more time goes on (it's nearly a year) the more anxious I am about it coming back. I go to the doctors for a breast exam every month because I'm so scared. X

[Cavatina23 in reply to Buddybear123]

Hi Buddybear, understand your anxiety completely. I was so nervous about starting my 5 years on tamoxifen that my specialist asked if I would like to see a psychiatrist who works with women with BC. I had a couple of consults which helped me a lot as he said I wasn’t going nuts just ‘Processing’ a traumatic event in my life. I still worry about my BC coming back too, especially at night.

[Buddybear123 in reply to Cavatina23]

I'm on tamoxifen also luckily no side effects to until now, I'm still awake and just considering making a cake 😁 but don't want to wake everyone up, they told me yesterday they want me to feel reassured as the type of cancer I had was very slow growing so yearly mammograms would pick it up before it had chance to do any real harm which I believe them when they are telling me but 2 weeks down the line the doubts will start creeping in. I'm glad you found the councelling helpful in definitely going to luck into it that's if everything's not cancelled with the coronavirus x

[Lucifair]

Hi

Yes I did. I had a large seroma after my lumpectomy and had it drained several times without any problems. The last drainage was in the middle of radiotherapy which finished end of last March. Beginning of July I started with tenderness, couldn’t lay on that side, and it was red, then developed high temp and it turned out to be an infection of the seroma. Had IV antibiotics and oral antibiotics and it has settled. My consultant said I had a cellulitis If I was you I would get yours checked in case you are starting with an infection that could be caught early.

Take care

[Cavatina23 in reply to Lucifair]

Thank you for sharing Lucifer because I developed a mandarin size haematoma after my surgery which couldn’t be drained because it was solid. I did wonder if there might have been a connection, my Specialist didn’t diagnose cellulitis but your symptoms were exactly the same as mine! Something not widely known about but worth watching out for if you’ve had a setons or haematoma. So glad you have made a good recovery.

[Survivorsss]

I had scar tissue from the lumpectomy that was worsened by radiation. The plastic surgeon cleaned all that out when she did my reconstruction. I feel no pain now.

[Iknitandstitch]

We all reacts differently to this blasted RT TREATMENT they give us ... 3 years later my boob is still so painful it takes my breath away and have to change my bra some days to the front fastening Royce ones plus awful rib pain ...

the breast care nurse is unsympathetic to say the least... plus pain in my rib cage... my consultant before she left did say radiotherapy is the gift that likes to keep giving.... I think if they told us that we might think twice....

on the other side of things as I finished my treatment my best friend was diagnosed she had lymphedema apart from that has not suffered any of the things I have... unfortunately I have not discovered any pain medications that work and I am on slow release morphine morphinef for other things!

Sorry my note is not full of joy etc but to let you know there others out here who are suffering too.. on the bright side had 3 yearly mammograms all of them clear

Virtual hugs Diane

[Sadiedog12 in reply to Iknitandstitch]

Hi there... sorry this is such a late post but I just wandered onto it now and I haven’t posted before.

I’m having my last chemo today.. tax, herceptin and perjeta. I seem to have had every side effect you can possibly have... bone pain, blood clots, pneumonia, neutropenia etc etc. 🥴

I’m soon to start radiotherapy next and frankly I’m worried about the side effects. My telephone consult with the radiologist didn’t do a thing to reassure me. She mentioned damage to my heart and lungs, lymphodeama, skin and breast changes , rib issues etc, nothing positive at all. Unfortunately too, I had cancer in both breasts ( different types 🙄) so will require both done. My husband doesn’t want me to have it as he is so worried. I need my heart and lungs 🤣 The consultant did say they would try and avoid damage of course but couldn’t guarantee anything. She sounded quite glib really, as if reading from a protocol. I did talk to my oncologist about it and he didn’t seem to want to commit to an opinion and just said you might not get any at all from the radiotherapy.🤷‍♀️ I feel between a rock and a hard place and would welcome any opinions please.

Thanks in advance 😘

[Cavatina23]

Thanks so much for your replies girls, it’s such a comfort to be able to share experiences and hopefully alert each other to possible problems down the track. I’m pretty convinced that our specialists don’t want to worry us with complications that may not arise, but I’m one who likes know of every eventuality!