Skin Changes in the Treatment Field
Normal changes post radiation:
- Hyper pigmentation in the treated area
- Small broken blood vessels called telangiectasia can appear (even years later)
- Thickened skin with increased density of the breast tissue for patients with lumpectomy
- Adherence of skin to the underlying fascia for patients with mastectomy
- Defined thickening around the scar can be present initially and gradually subsides over time as surgical changes resolve
- Some patients may have persistent seromas
- Axillary cording may develop and be observed as a thick visible cord stretching from the anterior axilla to the upper arm or even distally beyond the elbow
Abnormal changes:
- New lumps in the breast tissue, scar, axilla or neck nodes
- New erythema
- New pain
- New nipple retraction or dimpling
Recommendations:
- Please refer the patient for imaging and to a surgeon for assessment / biopsy
- If unsure about thickening of skin, please refer to the surgeon