It feels like a burning, sharp, sore, inflamed swollen mess. 1 Post-mastectomy pain syndrome (PMPS) is a neuropathic condition defined as pain located in the anterior surface of the chest axilla, shoulder or upper half. A lumpectomy (also called a breast-conserving surgery, a partial mastectomy or a wide excision) is often done under general anesthesia. Water retention, which may also occur during menstruation. , 1995, Tasmuth et al. The researchers found that certain factors were linked to continuing pain after surgery: preoperative pain problems. Medications: Oral contraceptive pills, hormonal injections, antidepressants, and antipsychotics can alter the hormonal balance of the body and lead to breast pain. I also had 2 Sentinel Lymph Nodes removed, in 2008, and that was clear. If you. Changes in size or shape of the breast. Shooting pains and itching are also normal. This year in the U. org. A dry cough or feeling of breathlessness. Radiation therapy (usually given after a lumpectomy) can also affect the look of the breast. It took weeks for the pain from surgery to go away. Some say it feels like when. 1 Introduction. For people under age 70 with invasive breast cancer, radiation therapy will typically follow the lumpectomy to kill any remaining cancer cells. Fig. After lumpectomy, radiation treatment options might include: Radiation to the entire breast. I had only a lumpectomy with lymph node dissection. For most people, this pain is temporary and goes away after you heal from the surgery. Some symptoms to be aware of include: Unexpected weight loss and a loss of appetite. You may also develop extra fluid in your breast that may cause sharp, stabbing sensations. Arm pain after breast surgery can be due to lymphedema. I had a lumpectomy October 31, 2011 and a revision to the surgery in mid-December. Some people experience burning or shooting pain in their chest wall that may not go away over time. Abnormal cells are inside the milk ducts and. infections like mastitis or a breast abscess. Chest tightness after a mastectomy is normal. will have had a diagnosis of invasive breast cancer in their lifetime. For the last few days the pain in my breast is awful, but is also radiating down my right side through my ribs, they feel really bruised. Typical warning signs of breast cancer include: a lump with a different appearance or. Long-term side effects can include: Breast changes: The breasts may shrink or become more dense after radiation. 1136/eb-2013-101418. If you have neuropathic pain, you may feel a shooting or burning. A lumpectomy, also known as a partial mastectomy, is a surgical breast cancer treatment option that aims to preserve healthy breast tissue. They took muscle from the area -- lump was on the right at 5 o'clock -- very unusual area. How long does the pain of the lymph node incision site take to improve/resolve? Pain is making me depressed. Off and on I get pain in the scar area from the lumpectomy. I have only slight pain here—perhaps because I assiduously did exercises from Thriving After Breast Cancer by Sherry Lebed Davis. It could well be for you and me that it is the nerve endings regenerating themselves. In one study, just over 40% of participants reported symptoms of neuropathy 2 years after taxane-based chemotherapy to treat breast cancer. dermatitis, pain, skin infection, and radiation-induced esophagitis. Here I am, 9 weeks out from lumpectomy (7 weeks out from follow-up surgery to place drains) and I still get shots of pain in the breast. I've had problems with that because the ridge pushes on nerves which can cause numbness. It can take a few months for everything to settle down after having two lumpectomies. It is common for tiredness to last for months after treatment is over. 10 years later - 2018, I have some stinging pain over the scar. Generally healthy but suffer from GIRD (have had several esophageal dialations) and the occasional hernia. The stinging and shooting pains from my lumpectomy went on for months. These can include: sharp, shooting or burning pain. Lumpectomy is a surgery to remove cancerous breast tissue along with a rim of normal tissue surrounding it called a surgical margin. If scar tissue forms around a stitch from surgery it’s called a suture granuloma and also feels like a lump. As with all operations, bleeding and infection at the surgery site are possible. 3% in 2011. The pain is cording and also a stabbing pain in my armpit. My lumpectomy was March 2 and I have the same hard lumps under my scar. I did chemo, rads and had a mastectomy a year ago with diep reconstruction. For 1 or 2 days after the surgery, you will probably feel tired and have some pain. Sometimes, after trauma to the breast or a procedure like breast surgery or radiation therapy, serous fluid can collect in one area of the breast. Lumpectomy (lum-PEK-tuh-me) is surgery to remove cancer or other abnormal tissue from your breast. A number of treatment options are available for treating rib pain that continues after breast cancer surgery. Summary. Lymph nodes in the armpit (axilla) may also be removed. Of course, I will not be needing those now since I have had a double mastectomy. Phantom breast syndrome refers to sensations women may "feel" in their breast after a mastectomy or other breast surgery for breast cancer. Arm morbidity is very common in women undergoing treatments for breast cancer. I was told to massage the hard area and it is eventually softening. I was told to expect pain, lumps in the breast, restricted movement in arm, etc. I had a right breast lumpectomy with radiation treatments almost 20 years ago. Here are some solutions to help you find the. You might also have an itchy sensation or numbness as your body heals. A fibroadenoma is a common type of benign or noncancerous lump that can develop in the breast. It is tender to touch and if I try to bend down or tip on my side I get a strong burning pressure and it. It may occur: Once the lumpectomy site of your breast "wakes up" after the shock of surgery,it recovers some of it's senses and you can experience discomfort. I actually jump at times causing my husband to look at me strangely!! Another shared their story of long-lasting pain after breast reconstruction surgery. 30 views 0 replies Started 34 minutes ago by Jax007. Hi all. Dr. sharp shooting pains, hardness in breast Hi, I have just completed 6 weeks of rads, post lumpectomy. tightness. The two types of breast cancer most likely to recur are inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) and triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). numbness or pins and needles. numbness. The lump and some of the normal breast tissue around it is. This is known as cyclic breast pain. Was not to painful , I got thru it. The past 2 weeks have been very painful. The skin in my armpit felt like it was burning for several weeks. , and was signed off work for 2 weeks. Sensations like these are normal. Tenderness should go away in about 2 or 3. If you have any symptoms, tell your health. If the area gets very swollen and you have a lot of pain, call the breast nurse between 9 a. And as has been said here internal healing goes on for up to 18 months after an op. Severe or ongoing headaches. DCIS does not cause symptoms and 80% of the time is found only by mammography. This can include not only pain, but non-painful sensations such as itching, heaviness, and more. lack of proper support from a poorly fitting bra or. Adhesions are caused by fibrosis and can cause inflammation and pain. It can take six months to two years for all of the healing changes to completely resolve. Hi had anyone suffered any new pain several months after lumpectomy? i recovered well but last week it so started to have significant stabbing pains in same breast. I am nearly 6 months from op and still get the aches, twinges and stabbing pains. Ice application is usually recommended for 10 minutes an hour. I am wondering if anyone else who is 6 months or more post-surgery feels sharp shooting pain in the breast or underarm area. They only warn about the burns and the redness and then use words such as discomfort when the reality is that the tissues are damaged and the pain will persist for some time. A common cause is the limited range of motion that most of us experience immediately after surgery. Was swollen and lumpy and hurt to touch the area. No matter what, please see your Onc!Studies show 20% to 30% of women develop post-mastectomy pain syndrome (PMPS) after surgery, and the nerve pain — in the chest wall, armpit or arm — doesn’t go away over time, according to. May 13, 2023. Breast-conserving surgery is sometimes called lumpectomy, quadrantectomy, partial mastectomy, or segmental mastectomy depending on how much tissue is removed. Almost a year ago I had a lumpectomy in my right breast followed by radiotherapy and I now take tamoxifen. New breast pain 20 years post lumpectomy. Patients generally do not have significant pain after a lumpectomy, but the breast can be swollen, bruised or tender for a few days to a week or two after surgery depending on a patient’s breast size and size of the tumor removed. Persistent pain is a postoperative complication estimated to affect between 20% and 50% of mastectomy patients with considerable negative influence on quality of life. Treating them as soon as possible is important. While the pain associated with breast surgery resolves in the majority of patients, chronic pain, defined as pain lasting greater than 3–6 months after surgery, affects a significant minority of patients, with an estimated incidence of 20–30%. We offer a support group at our Evelyn H. Patient age: 45. trixie1313 | @trixie1313 | Jan 3, 2021. For some types of breast cancer, a mastectomy happens after chemotherapy, such as for: Stage 3 breast cancer, also called locally advanced breast cancer. 0). This bra has adjustable straps – great! – in a soft and smooth satin. 5 years (SD, ± 7. I’ve had a lumpectomy and lymph nodes removal 14 months ago because of a triple negative breast cancer at 31. Sensations or Pain After Breast Cancer Surgery. Nerve pain 17 years after breast implants. I have difficulty squeezing a lemon, grating food, or the hand over hand action. Mine is, especially around the areola which is where the tumor was removed from. While sharp stabbing pain in the chest after breast reconstruction is not always a cause for immediate concern, there are instances when it may be a medical emergency. They were…. Radiation therapy usually follows lumpectomy to eliminate any microscopic cancer cells in the remaining breast tissue. You are likely to experience this sensation in either one or both breasts. For the last few days the pain in my breast is awful, but is also radiating down my right side through my ribs, they feel really bruised. Cysts are pockets filled with fluid, pus, air, or other substances. Pain in your bones, for example in the back, hips or ribs, that doesn’t get better with pain relief and may be worse at night. Radial Scar. Damage to the ICBN can also happen during other surgeries and radiation therapy in the axillary area. I had a lumpectomy was stage 2, grade 3 er/pr+, 7+nodes and brca2+. Unfortunately, a common sequela of either procedure is persistent post-surgical pain, 11 defined as pain that persists for longer than 3 months. PAIN AFTER LUMPECTOMY. It is normal to have some pain after surgery. Only the tumor and a small area of normal tissue around it are removed. Tenderness should go away in about 2 or 3 days, and the. It also caused axial webbing for me about three times now. These symptoms are common, particularly after surgery to remove all the lymph nodes in the armpit. A review of available studies reported rates of lymphedema after the combined approach that ranged from 0 to 4% and rates of lymphedema after sentinel-node biopsy alone that ranged from 0 to 63%. Another shared, “I got something like Bactine, with lidocaine in it. This helped me for sure. is normal for the first 4 to 6 weeks after breast cancer surgery. I had a lumpectomy and lymph node biopsy 13 days ago as they had found cancer in my breast. You may find that bras with adjustable. April 2010 edited April 2010. 8%) with hypertension and 39 patients (10. A lumpectomy is the surgical removal of a small area of breast tissue that is cancerous or suspected of being cancerous. The surgeon makes a small cut on your breast. I had a lumpectomy for a 4cm tumor rated 4B. I have more pain in my armpit compared to my breast. In some people, it may cause some loss of movement in the arm and shoulder. What is PMPS? It’s normal after a mastectomy, especially with breast reconstruction, to be dealing with stiffness, swelling or a wound that drains fluid as the patient recovers, in addition to the mental toll the procedure may take. They have increased with the radiation treatments. Implants have been fine. In one study, just over 40% of participants reported symptoms of neuropathy 2 years after taxane-based chemotherapy to treat breast cancer. About Cindy Greb and the Breast Blog; Healing post-lumpectomy – 3 months laterBreast conserving surgery is treatment to remove an area of cancer from the breast. Am using ice packs for pain. itchiness. having shooting pain in l arm w/numb hand & shoulder pain. Lumpectomy recovery time is about a month. Recent studies indicate between 25-60% of women have some degree of pain or uncomfortable sensations in their breast even years after breast cancer operations. At first I had pain along my arm but now it has moved to my breast. I also had 2 Sentinel Lymph Nodes removed, in 2008, and that was clear. If this happens, talk to your treatment team. Tung says. Generally, when they have this syndrome, women will feel pain, numbness, and burning under the armpit and across the chest. Fading of scars (although they may always be noticeable) Loss of breast sensation after a mastectomy due to delicate nerves getting severed when the breast tissue is removed. I sprayed it on my fingers and then dabbed it on the spot. But yes, the weird sensations do show up at weird times. The stabbing pain your are feeling might be due to the nerves trying to repair themselves. The pain comes and goes. Alot of nerve damage was done and trying to repair. 3% in women who skipped radiation after lumpectomy and took endocrine blockers instead — the same rate expected with radiation use, which was impressive, Dr. Nipple discharge. Eric. Review: Reconstructive Surgery for Early-Stage Breast Cancer. About a week ago, my right breast starting hurting like a deep bruise with a slight burning sensation. Hi all. You may have swelling in your arm closest to the lumpectomy or where lymph nodes were removed. (the incision was made along the nipple). Then there is the phantom stabbing nipple pain and pain that I felt in the left breast before the cancer diagnose in the right breast. I did have terrible terrible pain after my lumpectomy. After the Procedure. This type of treatment is as effective as having all the breast tissue removed (mastectomy). It may: Make the breast smaller or larger. . , 1999) but not others (Carpenter et al. It's a common phenomenon in at least 25 percent of women. The collection of fluid (called seroma) is a normal body process to heal the area. This is not an uncommon problem. Importance Surgery after initial lumpectomy to obtain more widely clear margins is common and may lead to mastectomy. New; Breast cancer forum requires membership for participation - click to join. Appointments: You can expect to have a follow-up appointment with your breast cancer surgeon or oncologist (specialist who diagnoses and treats cancer) one to two weeks. Others will have a milder form of edema with the affected arm. Oil cysts in the breast commonly occur due to injury to the chest or medical procedures. This can occur for different. No bc in muscle and clear margins. I went to oncologist yesterday and told her. Treatment for breast pain after surgery depends on the type and severity of pain you're experiencing. Factors such as your skin’s moisture level and pH level (acidity) may also contribute to itchiness. I had no numbness near the incision after my lumpectomy, but the sentinel node biopsy and lymph node removal made me numb. My whole breast aches and the pain goes through to my back. loss of touch sensation. My pet scans are clear in my breast. There are no major systemic symptoms or laboratory findings; mild symptoms, if present, most. I was told to expect pain, lumps in the breast, restricted movement in arm, etc. Caring for myself after Breast Biopsy/Lumpectomy What are my general guidelines? 1. A chronic neuropathic pain that affects the axilla, medial arm, breast, and chest wall following breast cancer surgery Pain is not caused by an infection According to Caviggioli, Maione, Klinger et al. If you're a patient at MSK and you need to reach a provider after 5 p. For 1 or 2 days after the surgery, you will probably feel tired and have some pain. I had breast implants 17 years ago. Anyone else who had a lumpectomy, is your breast still very tender. Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women worldwide. In this case, changes in hormone levels are the cause of the pain. My cancer was quite deep in the breast as it was hidden under a fibroid and was not picked up by the mammo or other tests, hence the 2 surgeries being done a month apart. Phantom pain is pain that seems to come from an amputated limb, breast or other body part. Discussion. 2. There was no lymph node involvement. For the last few days the pain in my breast is awful, but is also radiating down my right side through my ribs, they feel really bruised. My cancer was quite deep in the breast as it was hidden under a fibroid and was not picked up by the mammo or other tests, hence the 2 surgeries being done a month apart. A lot of work was done in there -. For 1 or 2 days after the surgery, you will probably feel tired and have some pain. intense itching. Bloody or clear discharge from your nipple. 13338 views 148 replies Latest: 5 days ago by Doug E. It ended up being an intraductal papilloma, with a few abnormal features. Traumatic neuroma of the breast after cancer surgery is a very rare clinical entity with only a few cases having been reported to date. Try to repeat this exercise 3 to 5 times a day. Directional vacuum-assisted biopsy has become an irreplaceable tool in the management of suspicious mammographic lesions. Lumpectomy is surgical procedure to remove an abnormal “lump” or tumor from the breast. In special situations where the risk of recurrence is very low, your doctor may also discuss the option of avoiding radiation after a lumpectomy. Late toxicity was defined as adverse reactions occurring after three months. It feels like the skin is stretching. October 2012 #2. Your surgeon might also. They can also cause a loss of joint or tissue. BLOKES WITH BREAST CANCER. No bc in muscle and clear margins. Removing the entire lump is known as an excisional biopsy. Medical literature exists but doctors will downplay the chronic pain. Dressings. Just wondering if this is normal and if anyone else has notice the swollen and tenderness still especially since its been a year. The skin around the cut (incision) may feel firm, swollen, and tender, and be bruised. lilianahomes over 2 years ago. my surgeon told me that when I was healed enough, I was to have a baseline mammogram so there would be a record of what was scar tissue for future mammograms. Changes to the skin of your breast. Cover it with a towel. Some women say they have trouble taking a deep breath, comparing the sensation to wearing an “iron bra,” Dr. 5 years out post lumpectomy and radiation. 3 months later my breast still gets shooting pains & the nipple is hyper sensitive so I wear a comfort bra to keep my clothes from brushing up against it. This means that about 66% of the women had mild to severe pain 1 year after breast cancer surgery. I had chemo and radiation. There were 43 patients (11. It is considered "breast-conserving" surgery because only the malignant tumor and a surrounding margin of normal breast tissue are removed. Lumpectomy is a treatment option for early-stage breast cancer. Doctors may also refer to lumpectomy as an excisional biopsy or quadrantectomy. Therefore,. Patient presented with new pain on lumpectomy scar. The same study also showed that removal of just one breast carried a somewhat higher risk of overall mortality than lumpectomy—a finding that. Pain from surgery (breast, lymph node or reconstruction), radiation, rotator cuff tendonitis, nerve damage, cording, or other side effects of breast cancer treatment including lymphedema can lead to shoulder underuse, either consciously or subconsciously. I have had some painful spots since the 1st surgery, and then in general a larger tender spot under excision. Breast cancer 1996 (left breast & lymph node involvement). My lumpectomy healed faster than the wound from the node removal. I had a lumpectomy in 2008 for stage 1 breast cancer in my left breast. It is also known by other names: lumpectomy, partial mastectomy, segmental mastectomy or quadrantectomy. This is called post-mastectomy pain syndrome (PMPS) because it was first noticed in women who had mastectomies, but it can also happen after other types of breast-conserving surgery (such as a lumpectomy). Inflammatory breast cancer. Post-mastectomy pain syndrome (PMPS) is a recognised complication of breast surgery although little is known about the long-term outcome of this chronic pain condition. The condition is typically permanent. If you. Do check in with your doctor to be on the safe side, but those nerve regeneration areas from surgery can last for years. Collections of fluid or blood. lymph node removal. Some common causes of sharp pain in breast. 6% in breast cancer after lumpectomy and the locoregional recurrence from 32. Younger women and those given radiation therapy are also at higher risk of having long-term pain. The study was published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal . Taking care of this incision is imperative for both healing and avoiding infection . Do not push or pull with your arms. Post Breast Therapy Pain Syndrome (PBTPS) is a complex constellation of symptoms. Had lumpectomy about exactly same time. Medically Reviewed by Brunilda Nazario, MD on October 24, 2023. Discuss whether or not phantom breast sensations are frequent. “It’s just occasional sharp jabbing pain, like a knife. sudden, sharp, stabbing, or shock-like pain sensations. For example, wound infection is a possible complication after any surgery. The photos below show the breasts of some typical patients who underwent lumpectomy and radiation therapy for treatment at the Comprehensive Breast Program for their breast cancer. Upper arm and scapular numbness that results from nerve damage in the axillary region may be more uncomfortable than surgical pain. The old term, Post-Mastectomy (after breast. I had 25 nodes removed and 14 of them had cancer. The burning sensation is on the sternum and under the left breast. Almost a year ago I had a lumpectomy in my right breast followed by radiotherapy and I now take tamoxifen. Breast-conserving surgery (lumpectomy) removes the cancer and just enough tissue to get all the cancer. on your affected side, especially at your nipple. For the last few days the pain in my breast is awful, but is also radiating down my right side through my ribs, they feel really bruised. Had to have more revision surgeries (hisense). There can, however, be long-term. Lumpectomy is a surgical procedure to remove a tumor (benign or malignant). Side effects: Common side effects after a lumpectomy may include: Pain, tenderness, or swelling of the breast. I have been standing in the shower for about 10-15 minutes each morning and just letting the warmer than warm but not hot, water just pour over my breast, shoulder and area. I know there were 6 or more metal staples put in my left breast to secure blood vessels. ” In addition, pain medications prescribed after breast surgery may cause itching as a side effect. Redness of the skin of the breast that may appear as a rash, with dilated pores, and possibly skin thickening. 5 years after Mammogram Mammography tech's do not believe some women have intense pain during mammogaphy information of breast cancer Pain after mammogram Breast Pain After Mammogram burning and peeling skin on face after mammogram Pain after mammogram, It's been 8 days now and I'm wondering if. I’ve had pain in my left breast for at least 4 years now and still remember the night I felt a sharp stabbing pain in my chest. certain medications such as birth control or antidepressants. But it is agony when I lie down, sometimes I wear a bra at night to support my breast. For the last few days the pain in my breast is awful, but is also radiating down my right side through my ribs, they feel really bruised. The management of breast cancer is in constant evolution. With a skin-sparing partial mastectomy, surgeons use implants or tissue from. but chose to stop taking med. shooting or prickling pain. Cotton is regarded as ‘good’ as it tends to be durable as well as soft and breathable. Numbness that isn’t limited to the breast has many possible causes, including: abnormal levels of minerals such as calcium, potassium, or sodium. Hi. It's sometimes referred to as breast conservation surgery or a partial mastectomy. This is called a breast seroma. Things are good for me and I am blessed. Some swelling will be normal for about 1 month after surgery. Here I am, 9 weeks out from lumpectomy (7 weeks out from follow-up surgery to place drains) and I still get shots of pain in the breast. About a week ago, my right breast starting hurting like a deep bruise with a slight burning sensation. Chronic post-mastectomy pain (cPMP) is defined as “chronic pain in the anterior aspect of the thorax, axilla, and/or upper half of the arm beginning after mastectomy or quadrantectomy and persisting for more than three months after the surgery” [1-2]. Hi Renee, I also had Hi Renee, I also had lumpectomy w/ re-excision. I am now taking Anastrazole. Said to be 92% Combed Cotton, 8% Spandex. The blue dye was injected thru the IV, it was the 4 injections of the Radioactive Tracer that is injected around the breast area. Many patients with breast cancer are candidates for breast conservation therapy. ago. I have a concern that I need to see if someone has the same problem. • Lymphedema, or pain in the armpit. A 2019 study notes that once the surgeons have removed the breast, the muscles in the front of the chest can tighten. While phantom breast syndrome is. Called postmastectomy reconstruction syndrome. Mammogram reads normal and ultrasound was unremarkable. Caffeine: High levels of caffeine may be linked to breast pain, although more research is needed. Shooting pains like I was getting before it was removed but worse. This article will focus on ICBN damage after axillary lymph node surgery. An herbal oil helped relieve the sting better than anything I tried. November 2010 #2. Over the counter medication can help with the pain or your doctor can prescribe a stronger pain killer. If I do my exercis… Hi, I wondered if anyone has any advice for me. Doctors commonly use a lumpectomy to treat small, early-stage breast cancer tumors in females. “I had bilateral mastectomies a year ago, and I still have a lot of issues with rib pain,” they shared. 3. Background Rates of nipple-sparing mastectomies have increased over the past decade. As I described my pain, the doctor listened carefully. Scar tissue can cause its own side effects: nerve pain or numbness if scar tissue forms around nerves. Some people may experience pain in the chest area, armpit, or arm after lumpectomy surgery. The lidocaine shots made it worse imo. Usually, some surrounding healthy tissue and lymph nodes also are removed. Slowly let your elbows fall gently out to the side. What does ongoing pain feel like? The pain may be in your scar, breast, armpit, arm or shoulder. This procedure is also called lymph node dissection. Most hematomas resolve on their own, but larger ones may require medical attention. Constant pain in breast after lumpectomy. The literature related to this chronic pain after breast surgery suggests the magnitude of this problem may be as high as 50% of patients having mastectomy. Peripheral neve surgery may be an option for patients experiencing chronic post-mastectomy pain. The accurate interpretation of images of the postsurgical breast depends on the availability of high-quality pictures and pertinent medical and surgical breast history. Some people may experience pain in the chest area, armpit, or arm after lumpectomy surgery. I remember the doctor saying that I could shower the next day. 7% of the women said they had severe pain. Together we will beat cancer. The main symptom of lymphedema after breast cancer treatment is swelling of the arm on the side where lymph nodes have been removed. Symptoms of PMPS. I didn’t know exactly what to expect when I went into the procedure. . IBC: IBC is a. Breast-conserving surgery (BCS) removes the cancer while leaving as much normal breast as possible. Drains are usually required following a mastectomy or reconstructive breast surgery. I have moderate to severe pain in my lumpectomy site, my SBX site and in my arm pit. 7% of the women said they had severe pain. with lumpectomy and then re-excision). Dx w left breast cancer. Diagnosed with breast cancer Benign breast conditions. It may help to take pain relief in liquid form, particularly before eating, until the discomfort improves. Severe or ongoing headaches. 1. Sometimes skin is extra sensitive after radiation so I would apply the cream to a tiny place and wait a day to see if it irritates her skin.