Chest Pain During Breast Radiation: Normal or Concerning?

Make sure you let your radiology team know

I did. They dismissed it, like every other symptom I’ve told them about (throat hurting, esophagus feels numb). Literally every tech, nurse, dr. I’ve told keeps saying “that’s not us”. My breast nurse navigator told me it was totally them! I just wish I could stop radiation now.

I had some sharp pains at about that point of radiation and had been told before I started that it may happen. Rest, hydrate and whatever OTC pain meds they recommend to you

Stay very hydrated during radiation, also make sure you keep your skin moist my team told me to use aquaphor 3 times a day but just not before radiation. The boost is shorter time then full breast, you are almost done. I was told I could get a sore throat as radiation is coming close to your windpipe and esophagus. I stayed active even when fatigue set in to keep everything moving.

Radiation hurt my lungs but I didn't know it for about a month. I got shortness of breath, chest pain, and ended up with radiation pneumonitis and scarring. I use two inhalers and it has helped. Sorry you are dealing with this. Tell your oncologist, they may want to do ekg and or chest xray. I've had multiple CT scans, xrays, lung biopsies, bronchoscopy and PET. I am all good though, just part of treatment for the ugly cancer. Prayers you do well.

Thank you Louise, your response has been very helpful and validating. I’ve told my med. oncologist and I’m keeping an eye on it as I recover from radiation. I’m so sorry you had to go through all that with your lungs! Will your lungs get better with time, or are you living with inhalers for the rest of time?

Fe H - I experienced same on radiation and was choking on food, hoarse, and felt like my esophagus was narrowing. I told the tech and radiologist, and he said that was normal for some about 1/2 way thru treatments. Radiologist prescribed me a Rx liquid that the pharmacist mixed up with 3 things in it : Benadryl, Lidocaine, and one other ingredient I’ve forgotten. Ask your radiologist to give you something. I took this before eating and it really helped. Only took about 1 week. What I’ve found is NO ONE In healthcare wants to take responsibility for anything or cares about anything that’s not under their focus or microscope. If they radiate your heart, lung, thyroid, they don’t seem too worried about it because “they’re just focusing on the cancer spot.”

Fe H. Yes, I will be on inhalers the rest of my life. I have fibrosis which is scarring. Also chronic inflammation which caused some nodules so a CT every 6 months. Cancer is always in the back of our mind. It's a horrible disease.

The mixture is called magic mouthwash. It's benadryl. Lidocaine and mylanta or Maalox. Sometimes, during radiation, if my throat felt irritated I would take mylanta.

Louise H -yes you’re right on the Mylanta. Thank you, I couldn’t remember the 3rd ingredient.

I got radiation pneumonitis about 30 days after radiation was done. It was l Kinda like bronchitis, my doctor had told me it can happen so I was aware and called her after it didn't get better in a week. Chest CT confirmed. I just took steroids for a few weeks and no problems since. I went ahead a got a pneumonia vaccine a few weeks later to help prevent catching anything.

Sharp chest pain during radiation can be concerning and definitely warrants a conversation with your radiation oncology team right away. While some discomfort can occur during treatment, pain that affects breathing and movement should be evaluated promptly to determine the cause and explore options for relief. Many others in this community have navigated similar experiences during their radiation journey, so please feel free to share how your appointment goes.