pain after radiation

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neda
neda Member Posts: 36
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
I finished my radiation about 6 weeks ago. I did not experiece any pain during rads. However, I have been having this pain in my both breasts ( short pains. comes and goes) and I am wondering why? My onc said today that it could be the radiation pain. Any of you experienced this after rad?


Thank yoy,

Neda
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Comments

  • Noel
    Noel Member Posts: 3,095 Member
    #2
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    Hi Neda! I haven't been
    Hi Neda! I haven't been done with rads that long, but, I have some pain also. I also asked my radiation oncologist about it, and, he said it was normal. We seem to forget what our poor bodies have been put thru and they are just healing. But, if you think it is something more, be sure and go see your doctor. Always best to check with your doctor!
  • CR1954
    CR1954 Member Posts: 1,390 Member
    #3
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    Hi Neda.......
    I did and still do, at times, get short jabs of pain at my mastectomy site, after finishing rads. I finished in February. It started at about 6 weeks after.
    But it has become less and less frequent now.

    CR
  • seof
    seof Member Posts: 819 Member
    #4
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    its common
    I think it is common. I had it (radiation finished a year ago) I had bilateral mastectomy, then radiation. The radiated side still has little twinges now and then, not much. I think it is easy to forget just how much we are putting our bodies through and how long it takes for the body to heal itself. In our fast-paced, instant world with microwave cooking and high-speed internet we forget that nature's pace is much more sedate. My guess would be that you are OK, but it is always a good idea to check with your Dr. if you aren't sure about anything.

    Take care, seof.
  • Cindy54
    Cindy54 Member Posts: 452
    #5
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    seof said:

    its common
    I think it is common. I had it (radiation finished a year ago) I had bilateral mastectomy, then radiation. The radiated side still has little twinges now and then, not much. I think it is easy to forget just how much we are putting our bodies through and how long it takes for the body to heal itself. In our fast-paced, instant world with microwave cooking and high-speed internet we forget that nature's pace is much more sedate. My guess would be that you are OK, but it is always a good idea to check with your Dr. if you aren't sure about anything.

    Take care, seof.

    Your Pain
    Neda...I also had the jabs and twinges long after my radiation was finished. I had none during the treatment, but about two months later, there were pains. I still have tenderness, guess I will for a long, long time. Take care, Cindy
  • Kristin N
    Kristin N Member Posts: 1,968 Member
    #6
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    Cindy54 said:

    Your Pain
    Neda...I also had the jabs and twinges long after my radiation was finished. I had none during the treatment, but about two months later, there were pains. I still have tenderness, guess I will for a long, long time. Take care, Cindy

    Neda, I also have some pain
    Neda, I also have some pain following radiation. It isn't bad or anything, but, I notice it. My oncologist said it was the norm and that it is to be expected. It is getting better the longer out I am from the rads.
  • Noel
    Noel Member Posts: 3,095 Member
    #7
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    seof said:

    its common
    I think it is common. I had it (radiation finished a year ago) I had bilateral mastectomy, then radiation. The radiated side still has little twinges now and then, not much. I think it is easy to forget just how much we are putting our bodies through and how long it takes for the body to heal itself. In our fast-paced, instant world with microwave cooking and high-speed internet we forget that nature's pace is much more sedate. My guess would be that you are OK, but it is always a good idea to check with your Dr. if you aren't sure about anything.

    Take care, seof.

    You still have pain after a
    You still have pain after a year seof? wow I had no idea that it would still be here after that long. Is yours bad? Mine isn't.
  • mgm42
    mgm42 Member Posts: 491 Member
    #8
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    CR1954 said:

    Hi Neda.......
    I did and still do, at times, get short jabs of pain at my mastectomy site, after finishing rads. I finished in February. It started at about 6 weeks after.
    But it has become less and less frequent now.

    CR

    Me, too.
    It's one year since I finished my rads and the "pinging" and "aching" are not as frequent nor as acute as they once were. Guess it just takes time. I remember asking my docs about it because I was scared that something more was happening. I was told that changes in molecular structures in the breast from radiation continue for about 3 years. So, relax. If the pain is extremely uncomfortable see if you can take Tylenol, Aleve or plain old aspirin. Take care. Hugs, Marilynn
  • arbojenn
    arbojenn Member Posts: 118
    #9
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    Noel said:

    You still have pain after a
    You still have pain after a year seof? wow I had no idea that it would still be here after that long. Is yours bad? Mine isn't.

    Pain?
    Whoah! Radiation is on my list of things to do and no one told me about this pain stuff! What do you do to alleviate the pain? Do they give you some meds or does Tylenol handle it? (I have recurrent in my reconstructed/mastecomy breast. Don't know what they will do with the other side as the cancer may have spread to the lymph nodes on that side, or it may be a new cancer.) I am doing neoadjuvant endocrine therapy prior to the surgery(s). Then I am to plan on the six week course of rads. I guess I really need to educate myself about what radiation entails. I never gave it much thought. And it lasts for a while, too? Ouchie! I am not going to like this I can tell.
  • taleena
    taleena Member Posts: 1,612 Member
    #10
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    arbojenn said:

    Pain?
    Whoah! Radiation is on my list of things to do and no one told me about this pain stuff! What do you do to alleviate the pain? Do they give you some meds or does Tylenol handle it? (I have recurrent in my reconstructed/mastecomy breast. Don't know what they will do with the other side as the cancer may have spread to the lymph nodes on that side, or it may be a new cancer.) I am doing neoadjuvant endocrine therapy prior to the surgery(s). Then I am to plan on the six week course of rads. I guess I really need to educate myself about what radiation entails. I never gave it much thought. And it lasts for a while, too? Ouchie! I am not going to like this I can tell.

    Touche'.... I'm with you...
    Touche'.... I'm with you... arbojenn.... if everything comes back okay from todays surgery, RAD is next item on the list..... I don't think I'm going to like it.. but hell, I haven't liked any of it anyway... guess it just goes with the package... oh joy joy
  • mgm42
    mgm42 Member Posts: 491 Member
    #11
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    arbojenn said:

    Pain?
    Whoah! Radiation is on my list of things to do and no one told me about this pain stuff! What do you do to alleviate the pain? Do they give you some meds or does Tylenol handle it? (I have recurrent in my reconstructed/mastecomy breast. Don't know what they will do with the other side as the cancer may have spread to the lymph nodes on that side, or it may be a new cancer.) I am doing neoadjuvant endocrine therapy prior to the surgery(s). Then I am to plan on the six week course of rads. I guess I really need to educate myself about what radiation entails. I never gave it much thought. And it lasts for a while, too? Ouchie! I am not going to like this I can tell.

    "Pain" is a loaded word.....
    "Pain" is a loaded word. That's why they use a pain scale in the hosptial. On a scale of 1 - 10 how would you rate your pain today? Well, I'm one year out from rads and on that scale I would describe my "pain" as "pinging and achiness or twinges and jabs" and a 1 - 3 on the pain scale. Also,the twinges and jabs are NOT an everyday occurence. I think that most of us would say similar things. This ISN'T post surgical pain, this ISN'T appendicitis pain, this ISN'T fractured bone pain or labor pain.

    Relax. In most cases, twinges and jabs a year out from treatment are common and are not debilitating. But, they are worrisome and caused me to check with my radiation oncologist, which I encourage everyone to do if they are worried. In my case, he explained what was going on. See my earlier post.

    Hope this helps. Hugs, Marilynn
  • ahoyland
    ahoyland Member Posts: 4
    #12
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    radiation pain
    I had radiation 3 1/2 years ago, I still have pains, I believe it is from scar tissue as a result of the radiation and surgery. The weather seems to have an effect on it, I kid that I now have a weather predicting boob, like my dad's knee. Haha. I also have a painful tightness up into my armpit from the lymph node removal. It's more of an irritant than pain though.

    pam
  • Jan_M
    Jan_M Member Posts: 116
    #13
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    I am only two weeks out, and
    I am only two weeks out, and have most of the pain also around the surgery site mostly.
  • neda
    neda Member Posts: 36
    #14
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    mgm42 said:

    "Pain" is a loaded word.....
    "Pain" is a loaded word. That's why they use a pain scale in the hosptial. On a scale of 1 - 10 how would you rate your pain today? Well, I'm one year out from rads and on that scale I would describe my "pain" as "pinging and achiness or twinges and jabs" and a 1 - 3 on the pain scale. Also,the twinges and jabs are NOT an everyday occurence. I think that most of us would say similar things. This ISN'T post surgical pain, this ISN'T appendicitis pain, this ISN'T fractured bone pain or labor pain.

    Relax. In most cases, twinges and jabs a year out from treatment are common and are not debilitating. But, they are worrisome and caused me to check with my radiation oncologist, which I encourage everyone to do if they are worried. In my case, he explained what was going on. See my earlier post.

    Hope this helps. Hugs, Marilynn

    thanks
    Thank you for sharing your experience with this issue. My concern is more about my righr breast ( the tumor was in my left side) It is not that bad, but it worries me. My onc said it is probabaly hormonal changes causing thatpain. But if it will continue they will conceder a evaluation.


    Thank you again.
  • arbojenn
    arbojenn Member Posts: 118
    #15
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    taleena said:

    Touche'.... I'm with you...
    Touche'.... I'm with you... arbojenn.... if everything comes back okay from todays surgery, RAD is next item on the list..... I don't think I'm going to like it.. but hell, I haven't liked any of it anyway... guess it just goes with the package... oh joy joy

    Blog maybe?
    Can you keep me posted on how your rads go? I am checking the board to see if there are messages about how your surgery went. The baby in your picture is absolutely adorable!!
  • taleena
    taleena Member Posts: 1,612 Member
    #16
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    arbojenn said:

    Blog maybe?
    Can you keep me posted on how your rads go? I am checking the board to see if there are messages about how your surgery went. The baby in your picture is absolutely adorable!!

    I will add you to my friend
    I will add you to my friend list.. That way I can email you... okay...

    Hang in there!

    ~T
  • Noel
    Noel Member Posts: 3,095 Member
    #17
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    Jan_M said:

    I am only two weeks out, and
    I am only two weeks out, and have most of the pain also around the surgery site mostly.

    That is where my pain is
    That is where my pain is too. And mine isn't really bad, but, you just notice it. But, doc said it is normal. I am still healing.
  • Kristin N
    Kristin N Member Posts: 1,968 Member
    #18
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    Noel said:

    That is where my pain is
    That is where my pain is too. And mine isn't really bad, but, you just notice it. But, doc said it is normal. I am still healing.

    Like others posted, the pain
    Like others posted, the pain isn't terrible. Or, mine isn't. You just feel a lil twinge or something. But, my radiation oncologist assured me it will go away. It is just the natural process of healing. Problem is, I have no patience. lol I want to be healed now! Don't worry about it. And, if you have questions, ask your doctor. good luck!
  • Alexis F
    Alexis F Member Posts: 3,598
    #19
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    I am still in radiation but
    I am still in radiation but will be done soon! Thank goodness! I have some pain now, but, it is kind of hard to tell for sure cause I am also a little burnt. So, I thought it might be from the burn too. Not sure.
  • Thymelesstreasures
    Thymelesstreasures Member Posts: 1
    #20
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    sharp shooting pains, hardness in breast
    Hi, I have just completed 6 weeks of rads, post lumpectomy. In the last few days I have had small twisting twitches of pain that stop when I grab my breast (very hard to manage that in public), and I have sharp shooting pains that don't last long but enough to make my nerves jump up and notice! I also have hardness in the breast similar to when your milk comes in after having a baby. Ibuprofen helps but, Is this normal. All the posts have been comforting that I'm not alone. Also, I felt good over the weekend and now 5 days after finishing I am soooo wiped. Any comments about fatigue, whether ice or hot would help the lumps? Thanks
  • Christmas Girl
    Christmas Girl Member Posts: 3,682 Member
    #21
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    Congrats for completing your rads, Neda
    The pain you're experiencing could be tissue and muscle now having the chance to heal in earnest since completion of rads. During rads, much happens underneath the skin which we cannot see.

    I'm 5+ years out from my own treatment. To this day, if I "twist" my upper body in a certain way, etc. - I get a "pulling" sort of sharp pain, which doesn't last long. Whether it's residual from rads, scar tissue from surgery, not sure. But, it is there.

    I'll be hoping that your own discomfort passes soon; or, at the very least, diminishes greatly with time.

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