rads, is it a normal side effect to

sbmly53
sbmly53 Member Posts: 1,522
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
My breat feels like a big, hard, hot ball. It's red, too. I've only had 4 zaps and 28 more to go. Ouch! My headlight looks more like a taillight.

Sue

Comments

  • Sher43009
    Sher43009 Member Posts: 602 Member
    Mine didn't get hard, but
    Mine didn't get hard, but did get hot and red. Keep the lotions on it--3-4 times a day. I used aloe gel and euceriin. Ask you doctor/nurse to look at you to make sure you're ok.
  • TraciInLA
    TraciInLA Member Posts: 1,994 Member
    Ask to see the nurse or doctor
    Sue,

    About 3 weeks into rads on both breasts, my right breast got redder than the other and also hot, in the general area of the incision site -- because of the heat and the location, my doctor felt that I had an infection, and had me do a course of antibiotics, which cleared it right up. Definitely ask to see the nurse or doctor on Monday.

    Traci
  • LadyParvati
    LadyParvati Member Posts: 328
    TraciInLA said:

    Ask to see the nurse or doctor
    Sue,

    About 3 weeks into rads on both breasts, my right breast got redder than the other and also hot, in the general area of the incision site -- because of the heat and the location, my doctor felt that I had an infection, and had me do a course of antibiotics, which cleared it right up. Definitely ask to see the nurse or doctor on Monday.

    Traci

    Ouch!
    Sue, when I read your post, I could only think, "Ouch!" and wanted to hold my breast protectively. I'm going to be doing rads sometime in April/May . . . anyway, I love your sense of humor--and your ability to HAVE a sense of humor even with a sore red taillight on your front!

    Hang in there! Sandy
  • teresa41
    teresa41 Member Posts: 471

    Ouch!
    Sue, when I read your post, I could only think, "Ouch!" and wanted to hold my breast protectively. I'm going to be doing rads sometime in April/May . . . anyway, I love your sense of humor--and your ability to HAVE a sense of humor even with a sore red taillight on your front!

    Hang in there! Sandy

    i burnt
    i burnt really bad during rads i wasnt allowed to use anything but cornstarch for the 33 treatments i was glad when it was over. hope it gets better for you


    good luck!

    :0) teresa
  • susie09
    susie09 Member Posts: 2,930
    teresa41 said:

    i burnt
    i burnt really bad during rads i wasnt allowed to use anything but cornstarch for the 33 treatments i was glad when it was over. hope it gets better for you


    good luck!

    :0) teresa

    I didn't burn, but, I
    I didn't burn, but, I started getting pink by the 4th week. Use your creams and if they don't work, ask for something better. You shouldn't have to be in pain. Let us know.

    ♠♣ Susie ♠♣
  • jbug
    jbug Member Posts: 285
    My breast is harder around
    My breast is harder around the area of the lumpectomy and red and hot. Though I have to say, it didn't get that way after 4 treatments! I got very pink and my nipple was VERY tender very early. I've just finished (on 21 Jan!) and my last 5 boosts have definitely lit up the area. Very hot/hard and painful nipple (again). Usually the rad oncs are really good about seeing you if you are concerned. Let them know when you arrive for treatment or give the doc a call in the a.m. so he know's you are concerned and would like to have your skin checked. They see you once a week anyway!

    Good luck w/the rest of Rads....God Bless...
    Julie
  • sbmly53
    sbmly53 Member Posts: 1,522
    Thank you
    Thank you all so much! It's overwhelming - the initial shock, the information gathered. Trying to keep it all straight. I am so impressed with everyone's knowledge and insight. I already know more than I thought there was to know - had no idea that there was such a difference (er's, pr's, her's, drugs, etc)in bc's. I have learned so much and have been both heartened and strengthed by reading your responses to each other (and to me!)
    Thank you, again.
    Sue
  • lanie940
    lanie940 Member Posts: 490 Member
    jbug said:

    My breast is harder around
    My breast is harder around the area of the lumpectomy and red and hot. Though I have to say, it didn't get that way after 4 treatments! I got very pink and my nipple was VERY tender very early. I've just finished (on 21 Jan!) and my last 5 boosts have definitely lit up the area. Very hot/hard and painful nipple (again). Usually the rad oncs are really good about seeing you if you are concerned. Let them know when you arrive for treatment or give the doc a call in the a.m. so he know's you are concerned and would like to have your skin checked. They see you once a week anyway!

    Good luck w/the rest of Rads....God Bless...
    Julie

    My right breast was a bit
    My right breast was a bit harder for awhile, it isn't anymore now.
  • aztec45
    aztec45 Member Posts: 757
    Tail Lights
    That was funny, tail lights. I just finished RADS. My breast didn't get hard but it got incredably red, light a maroon color. Then it turned black, yes, black. It peeled and then the process would start all over again. The doc said that I had second degree burns. I had to use a prescribed burn cream. Thank God for that. The aloe wasn't cutting it. I didn't blister or get infected but my chi-chi is pretty scorched.

    Good luck.

    P
  • Megan M
    Megan M Member Posts: 3,000
    My breast is larger, but,
    My breast is larger, but, not harder really. They said that might happen. Use lots of your creams and be very gentle with that area. Hope it feels better!

    Megan
  • taleena
    taleena Member Posts: 1,612 Member
    Megan M said:

    My breast is larger, but,
    My breast is larger, but, not harder really. They said that might happen. Use lots of your creams and be very gentle with that area. Hope it feels better!

    Megan

    Sue, my left breast received
    Sue, my left breast received the radiation, and it is definately much, much firmer than the right... I think it's a possible se from the radiation. My radiation oncologist didn't seem too concerned just told me to keep putting on the creams... I still put lots of lotion on it, and I finished rads at the end of October.

    I know it's not easy... but you can do it!

    ♥ & hugs,

    ~T
  • Kat11
    Kat11 Member Posts: 1,931 Member
    taleena said:

    Sue, my left breast received
    Sue, my left breast received the radiation, and it is definately much, much firmer than the right... I think it's a possible se from the radiation. My radiation oncologist didn't seem too concerned just told me to keep putting on the creams... I still put lots of lotion on it, and I finished rads at the end of October.

    I know it's not easy... but you can do it!

    ♥ & hugs,

    ~T

    I am in rads now and I was
    I am in rads now and I was told that the breast could change. In texture and turn red,burn, swell Ect. I would run it by your rad tects just in case.
  • Christmas Girl
    Christmas Girl Member Posts: 3,682 Member
    During treatment...
    I saw my rad onc each Monday. There is much discussion here on the board about the rads SEs we can see and feel from the outside - burns, peeling, use of lotions, etc. ... But, the treatment is meant to affect the muscle and tissue beneath the skin.

    Yes, my zapped breast became larger and very firm. Remained so for over a year after rads were done. I'd say my breast didn't become what it is today until about 2 years later.
  • survivorbc09
    survivorbc09 Member Posts: 4,374 Member

    During treatment...
    I saw my rad onc each Monday. There is much discussion here on the board about the rads SEs we can see and feel from the outside - burns, peeling, use of lotions, etc. ... But, the treatment is meant to affect the muscle and tissue beneath the skin.

    Yes, my zapped breast became larger and very firm. Remained so for over a year after rads were done. I'd say my breast didn't become what it is today until about 2 years later.

    My breast from rads is still
    My breast from rads is still larger and firmer than my other one. My rads oncologist said it may stay that way or it may go back to the way it was before rads. We are all different. Use lots of your creams. If you burn bad, ask your rads oncologist for something stronger. He should look at your skin at least once a week.
  • blackroze1000
    blackroze1000 Member Posts: 50
    I'm starting rads next week
    Hi, Sue! Thanks for bringing this up. I'm going today to have the area marked for the upcoming rads. My doc told me the area would turn "a little red, and then tan," and I never tan -- my pale Irish skin burns or freckles! Sounds like tanning may not be the case, huh? At least I'll know what may be around the corner for me. Is it so hurtful that wearing a bra is out of the question? Here's hoping your "tail light" heals quickly (too funny!).

    Elaine
  • lanie940
    lanie940 Member Posts: 490 Member
    aztec45 said:

    Tail Lights
    That was funny, tail lights. I just finished RADS. My breast didn't get hard but it got incredably red, light a maroon color. Then it turned black, yes, black. It peeled and then the process would start all over again. The doc said that I had second degree burns. I had to use a prescribed burn cream. Thank God for that. The aloe wasn't cutting it. I didn't blister or get infected but my chi-chi is pretty scorched.

    Good luck.

    P

    I can't believe it got so
    I can't believe it got so red for you. The report on the news last night really bothered me.It was on ABC News about how some people get more radiation than others, they were referring specifically to CT scans, which I have had at least 4 in a years time,actually 6 months time! and then the RADS on my breast. But I never burned at all. It was a really new machine, only 2 years old. I am so sorry you had a difficult problem

    Here is the report, I hope I typed it in right.

    http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Cancer/PreventionAndTreatment/story?id=3927117&page=1
  • EveningStar2
    EveningStar2 Member Posts: 491 Member

    I'm starting rads next week
    Hi, Sue! Thanks for bringing this up. I'm going today to have the area marked for the upcoming rads. My doc told me the area would turn "a little red, and then tan," and I never tan -- my pale Irish skin burns or freckles! Sounds like tanning may not be the case, huh? At least I'll know what may be around the corner for me. Is it so hurtful that wearing a bra is out of the question? Here's hoping your "tail light" heals quickly (too funny!).

    Elaine

    another one chiming in
    I finished rads in April. Yes, I got red and burned (see my expression page if interested) and my nipple peeled. Today I am tanned on that breast but the consistency is about the same as the other. The skin seems a little thicker however. Frankly, I'm just happy it's still there!!

    Maureen
  • sbmly53
    sbmly53 Member Posts: 1,522
    I posted that on Friday, my
    I posted that on Friday, my 4th trmt. Today, day 6,and I feel fine. Redder than the other side for sure and a little itchy, so it'll probably be worse at the end of the week than the beginning til I really get cooked.
    I wasn't told about the 'tan'. I find this hysterical, since it will be the only place on my body that has ever tanned in 56 years!

    Sue
  • Maize
    Maize Member Posts: 76
    sbmly53 said:

    I posted that on Friday, my
    I posted that on Friday, my 4th trmt. Today, day 6,and I feel fine. Redder than the other side for sure and a little itchy, so it'll probably be worse at the end of the week than the beginning til I really get cooked.
    I wasn't told about the 'tan'. I find this hysterical, since it will be the only place on my body that has ever tanned in 56 years!

    Sue

    I will need Rads too
    My medical oncologist said his preference is that everyone have a mastectomy. He did not like that i got a lumpectomy. He said my breast will shrink and get hard. The radiation oncologist has not told me this. I just completed a 2nd surgery to remove more lymph nodes for testing. 2 of the 3 removed during the lumpectomy had traces of cancer. None of the ones removed during the last surgery were malignant. I am hoping that I will only need hormone therapy and radiation now.

    Best wishes to you. Keep us posted. I am very anxious about radiation. I hope things get better for you.
    Mary