Breast Hardening After Radiation Therapy

Q:  Regarding your reply to a reader's question about breast hardening after radiation therapy in a breast cancer patient, I was shocked that Dr. White, Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology, said she had never seen that happen. It does, although not frequently.

I had breast cancer in 1982 and had a triangle section of my breast removed. At that time all my nodes were removed but only 2 were positive. The radiation oncologist decided that I should undergo 6 weeks of radiation - 5 weeks at West Allis hospital and 1 week at County General on the linear accelerator. Because I was the first patient at West Allis hospital to have radiation with a breast intact, measurements were taken every day and the information sent to a professor at the Medical College. Each day he sent information about how much radiation to give. I know that years ago higher levels of radiation were given compared to today.

My breast started calcifying after radiation was completed but the doctors assured me not to worry as the breast would soften in a couple of years. It didn't, the calcification only increased until my whole breast was as hard as a rock. I have had doctors over the years ask me what went wrong, and one even remarked how I wouldn't ever have a sagging breast. How insensitive! I don't want to sound like I am complaining, as I am cancer free for 18 years and have no arm swelling. Through the years, I have met women and seen some women on television who have experienced breast hardening.

A:  Thank you for writing -- your letter serves several purposes. It helps to reassure other women who have a hard breast after radiation therapy that it will not necessarily lead to other bad things, like arm swelling.

Your experience should remind doctors to be careful about what they say - sometimes we try to make people laugh or feel better at the expense of trivializing their suffering. Most importantly, your letter sends a message of hope to breast cancer survivors. How wonderful that even with two positive lymph nodes, you are cancer-free after 18 years!

I recently received a copy of A Survivor's Guide to Breast Cancer, written by Alice Chang, PhD, a clinical psychologist. She describes with honesty and candor her own journey from the shock at initial discovery of the lump through mastectomy, radiation and chemotherapy. The book contains informative pictures of breast prostheses, drains, radiation equipment, etc. as well as a helpful chapter on coping mechanisms. I highly recommend this to people newly diagnosed with breast cancer. Published by New Harbinger Publications, this is available at bookstores or by calling 800-748-6273 or at www.newharbinger.com.

"Dear Doctor" is a compilation of patient questions answered by doctors from the Medical College of Wisconsin.