After radiation treatment, the breast can remain swollen for months or even years — this is known as edema. Another type of swelling called lymphedema is more common, and is a result of either lymph node removal surgery (which has nothing to do with radiation), or radiation that has damaged nearby lymph nodes.
Full Answer
What are the side effects of radiation therapy for breast cancer?
If you’re getting radiation therapy to the breast. If you have radiation to the breast, it can affect your heart or lungs as well causing other side effects. Short-term side effects. Radiation to the breast can cause: Skin irritation, dryness, and color changes; Breast soreness; Breast swelling from fluid build-up (lymphedema)
Why does breast cancer surgery hurt so much?
Treatment side effects, including pain, are a problem for many women diagnosed with breast cancer. There are a number of reasons why someone might have continuing pain after surgery, including unavoidable tissue and nerve damage when the cancer and any lymph nodes are removed.
Why do I have breast pain 10 months after radiation?
This discussion is related to breast pain 10 months after radiation. Hi. The nerves around the your breast may be inflamed as a result of the radiation treatment. The Advil might help decrease the inflammation, but I suggest you start taking medications specific for controlling neuropathic pain (pain from injured or inflamed nerves).
Can radiation therapy to the breast cause a second cancer?
In rare cases, radiation therapy to the breast can cause a second cancer. The most common cancers linked to radiation therapy are sarcomas (cancers of the connective tissue) [ 20-22 ]. For women who are long-term smokers, radiation therapy may also increase the risk of lung cancer [ 19 ]. The risk of a second cancer is small.
Why do I have pain in my breast after radiation?
Radiotherapy can make it more difficult for fluid to drain from the breast tissue. This can cause swelling of the breast or chest area. Doctors call this lymphoedema. The swelling usually goes down a few weeks after the treatment ends.
What are long-term side effects of radiation for breast cancer?
Long-term effects of radiation therapyRadiation therapy causes changes to the skin and underlying tissues so the breast may feel firmer and be slightly smaller after treatment. ... Some patients experience breathlessness, a dry cough, and/or chest pain two to three months after finishing radiation therapy.More items...
Does radiation cause pain months after treatment?
Chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery may affect how a person digests food. Surgery or radiation therapy to the abdominal area can cause tissue scarring, long-term pain, and intestinal problems.
Can radiation cause breast pain years later?
Pain in the breast or chest area Although these are usually mild, they can continue for months or even years, but they usually become milder and less frequent over time. You may also have stiffness and discomfort around the shoulder and breast or chest area during and after treatment.
Do tumors grow back after radiation?
Normal cells close to the cancer can also become damaged by radiation, but most recover and go back to working normally. If radiotherapy doesn't kill all of the cancer cells, they will regrow at some point in the future.
Can radiation for breast cancer cause joint pain?
Aromatase inhibitors reduce risk for breast cancer recurrence in postmenopausal women. But joint pain, a common side effect, causes some women to stop treatment early.
How long does it take for your breast to heal after radiation?
Most skin changes get better within a few months. Changes to the breast tissue usually go away in 6 to 12 months, but it can take longer.
How long does pain flare from radiation last?
Of a total patient population of 94, 42 (44.7%) were documented to have pain flare. The median duration of pain flare was two days and the majority (88%) occurred between days one to five post-treatment [16].
How long does pain last after lumpectomy and radiation?
Your Recovery For 1 or 2 days after the surgery, you will probably feel tired and have some pain. The skin around the cut (incision) may feel firm, swollen, and tender, and be bruised. Tenderness should go away in about 2 or 3 days, and the bruising within 2 weeks. Firmness and swelling may last for 3 to 6 months.
Can you get pain 2 years after radiotherapy?
Summary: Nearly 50 percent of women surveyed indicate they experience pain symptoms 2 to 3 years after breast cancer treatment, with women who were younger or who received supplemental radiation therapy more likely to have pain, according to a new study.
What are the long term side effects of radiation therapy?
Radiation to the brain can also have side effects that show up later – usually from 6 months to many years after treatment ends. These delayed effects can include serious problems such as memory loss, stroke-like symptoms, and poor brain function.
What is the most common acute side effect of radiation treatment?
Fatigue is the most common acute side effect of radiation therapy. It is believed to be caused by the large amount of energy that is used by the body to heal itself in response to radiation therapy. Most people begin to feel fatigued about 2 weeks after radiation treatments begin.
If You’Re Getting Radiation Therapy to The Brain
People with brain tumors often get stereotactic radiosurgery (radiation given in one large dose) if the cancer is in only one or a few sites in the...
If You’Re Getting Radiation Therapy to The Head Or Neck
People who get radiation to the head and neck might have side effects such as: 1. Soreness (or even open sores) in the mouth or throat 2. Dry mouth...
If You’Re Getting Radiation Therapy to The Breast
If you have radiation to the breast, it can affect your heart or lungs as well causing other side effects.
If You’Re Getting Radiation Therapy to The Chest
Radiation treatment to the chest may cause side effects such as: 1. Sore throat 2. Swallowing problems 3. Loss of appetite 4. Cough 5. Shortness of...
If You’Re Getting Radiation Therapy to The Abdomen (Belly)
If you are getting radiation to your stomach or some part of the abdomen (belly), you may have side effects such as: 1. Nausea 2. Vomiting 3. Belly...
If You’Re Having Radiation Therapy to The Pelvis
Radiation therapy to the pelvis (for example, as treatment for bladder, ovarian, or prostate cancer) can cause side effects such as: 1. Bladder pro...
What happens if you have radiotherapy after breast surgery?
If you’ve had radiotherapy after breast-conserving surgery, the breast tissue on the treated side may feel firmer than before, or the breast may be smaller and look different .
What are the side effects of radiotherapy?
Late side effects. 1. Skin reactions. Radiotherapy can cause skin reactions. Most people have some redness around the area being treated. The skin may also: become pinker or darker over time. feel tender, dry, itchy and sore. peel or flake as treatment goes on.
What happens if you have radiotherapy to the collarbone?
5. Sore throat. If you have radiotherapy to the area around your collarbone or near your breastbone, you may develop a sore throat or discomfort when swallowing. If this happens, talk to your radiographer, specialist or breast care nurse.
What side of the heart is radiotherapy given on?
Although particular care is taken to avoid unnecessary radiotherapy to the tissues of the heart, if radiotherapy is given on the left side you may be at risk of heart problems in future. Breath hold technique is thought to reduce the risk of any possible damage to the heart and lungs.
How long does it take for a breast pain to go away?
You may have aches, twinges or sharp pains in the breast or chest area. Although these are usually mild, they can continue for months or even years, but they usually become milder and less frequent over time.
What happens if you have had chemo and have been fatigued?
If you have also had chemotherapy, you may already be experiencing fatigue by the time you start radiotherapy. 7. Lymphoedema. Lymphoedema is swelling of the arm, hand, breast or chest area caused by a build-up of fluid in the surface tissues of the body.
How long does it take for a reaction to occur after a syringe?
Skin reactions usually begin around 10 to 14 days after starting treatment, but can happen later or after it has finished. Your treatment team will monitor any side effects and advise you how to take care of your skin according to the type of reaction you have. Let your treatment team know if you develop a skin reaction.
Why does chemotherapy hurt after breast surgery?
There are a number of reasons why someone might have continuing pain after surgery, including unavoidable tissue and nerve damage when the cancer and any lymph nodes are removed.
What are the factors that contribute to pain after breast cancer surgery?
The researchers found that certain factors were linked to continuing pain after surgery: preoperative pain problems . preoperative pain in the area where breast cancer surgery would take place. preoperative depression. axillary lymph node dissection. radiation therapy after surgery. chemotherapy after surgery.
How much pain did breast cancer patients have before surgery?
The results showed that: 24% of the women had pain problems before surgery, including pain from fibromyalgia and low back pain. This means that about 66% of the women had mild to severe pain 1 year after breast cancer surgery. The researchers found that certain factors were linked to continuing pain after surgery:
How many women had lumpectomy after breast cancer surgery?
To see if any specific factors were linked to continuing pain after surgery, the researchers looked at the medical records of 860 women diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer who had surgery to remove the cancer: 54% of the women took hormonal therapy before surgery. 62% of the women had lumpectomy. 38% of the women had mastectomy.
How many women took hormone therapy before surgery?
54% of the women took hormonal therapy before surgery. 48% of the women had axillary lymph node dissection. 73% of the women had radiation therapy after surgery. 68% of the women took hormonal therapy after surgery; about half the women took tamoxifen and about half took an aromatase inhibitor.
How many women are older than 50 after surgery?
75% of the women were older than 50. about 7% of the women were suffering from depression. A year after surgery, the researchers sent the women a survey on pain, asking about pain both before and 1 year after surgery, as well as its severity. The results showed that:
Can breast cancer cause swelling in the arm?
Lymphedema, a swelling of the arm, hand, or chest wall caused by a build-up of lymph fluid in those tissues after breast cancer surgery, also can be painful. But you don't have to suffer. With proper treatment, most people can get relief from most, if not all, of their pain.
How long does it take for radiation to cause side effects?
Late side effects can take months or even years to develop. They can occur in any normal tissue in the body that has received radiation. The risk of late side effects depends on the area treated as well as the radiation dose that was used. Careful treatment planning can help avoid serious long-term side effects.
How long does it take for side effects to show up after radiation?
Some side effects might show up quickly, but others might not show up until 1 to 2 years after treatment. Talk with your radiation oncologist about what to watch for and when to call your doctor. If the cancer is in many areas, sometimes the whole brain is treated with radiation.
How long does it take for radiation to show up in the brain?
Radiation to the brain can also have side effects that show up later – usually from 6 months to many years after treatment ends. These delayed effects can include serious problems such as memory loss, stroke-like symptoms, and poor brain function.
What is the most common drug used for radiation therapy?
The one most commonly used today is amifostine. This drug may be used in people with head and neck cancer to reduce the mouth problems caused by radiation therapy. Not all doctors agree on how these drugs should be used in radiation therapy. These drugs have their own side effects, too, so be sure you understand what to look for.
How long does radiation side effects last?
Remember that the type of radiation side effects you might have depends on the prescribed dose and schedule. Most side effects go away within a few months of ending treatment. Some side effects may continue after treatment ends because it takes time for the healthy cells to recover from radiation. Side effects might limit your ability ...
What is the best treatment for radiation?
One way to reduce side effects is by using radioprotective drugs, but these are only used for certain types of radiation given to certain parts of the body. These drugs are given before radiation treatment to protect certain normal tissues in the treatment area. The one most commonly used today is amifostine. This drug may be used in people with head and neck cancer to reduce the mouth problems caused by radiation therapy.
What are the side effects of brachytherapy?
If your treatment includes brachytherapy (internal radiation implants), you might notice breast tenderness, tightness, redness, and bruising. You may also have some of the same side effects that happen with external radiation treatment.
What is the treatment for breast cancer?
This may include surgery like a lumpectomy or mastectomy, hormone therapy, chemo therapy, or radiation (also called radiotherapy).
How long does it take for side effects to show up after radiation?
Some side affects won’t show up until months or years after your treatment. If you have a higher dose of radiation, your chances of getting side effects are more likely — but if you get too low of a dose of radiation, it won’t be as effective against the cancer and could leave cancer cells alive. Here are some long-term side effects to be aware of.
What is the swelling of the lymph nodes?
Another type of swelling called lymphedema is more common, and is a result of either lymph node removal surgery (which has nothing to do with radiation), or radiation that has damaged nearby lymph nodes. Lymphedema presents as swelling of the affected area, as the lymph nodes can no longer drain fluid properly.
What is the term for a thickening of the breast?
Breast Fibrosis. Fibrosis is a term that means a thickening or scarring of connective tissues, and many women naturally have fibroids and simple cysts in their breasts already — they are a common factor in having “dense breasts.”.
What is the condition where the nerves in the upper chest are damaged?
Nerve problems. Also rare is a nerve condition called brachial plexopathy. This happens if radiation damages the nerves in the area of the upper chest. Symptoms can include a tingling sensation, pain, and weakness in the shoulder, arm, and hand. The condition is typically permanent.
Can radiotherapy cause lumpy breasts?
They do not increase breast cancer risk and are not harmful, though they can make detecting breast cancer more difficult because your breasts may feel lumpy or ropey. However, breast fibrosis can also be long-term side effect of radiotherapy. You may hear your doctor refer to it as breast fibrosis or glandular atrophy, ...
Does radiation affect breasts?
Because of the location of your heart and lungs in relation to your breasts, radiation has the potential to cause heart and lung problems down the road — though this is far less common than the other side effects we’ve covered, as radiation has improved significantly over the years.
How to post cancer on message board?
2. Choose the tag from the drop-down menu that clicks most with you (and add it to any posts you create so others can easily find and sort through posts) 3.Start posting.
Does ice massage help with breast pain?
The doctor said that basically the massage will get the fluid to move out of the breast and be absorbed by the body. She also suggested ice and Aleve as needed. My breast does feel better, but still hurts. She said this could take time and to continue the massages each day.
Did the armpit get radiated?
The armpit was not radiated either, just the breast which was done in the prone position (face down). In that position there was no way the armpit received radiation. However I did not wear a bra even when I was shoveling snow - here in NJ we received over 50" of snow.
