Chemotherapy, Recovery, and Breast Changes

You may develop mouth sores during chemotherapy treatment. This condition, called mucositis, is usually due to temporary damage to your immune system. These tender areas hurt and can get more irritated with eating and drinking. If mucous membranes get irritated, you may get a yeast infection.

Your doctor can recommend a medication to put directly on mouth sores. It usually contains some type of local anesthetic—like the ones dentists use to numb parts of your mouth during treatment. Do not use over-the-counter medications until you check first with your doctor. Those medications may interact with other drugs you're taking. If you notice signs of a yeast infection (white or red areas), your doctor can prescribe anti-yeast preparations. Read more on managing mucositis.

Certain chemotherapy drugs—Taxol (chemical name: paclitaxel) and Taxotere (chemical name: docetaxel)—can cause muscle and joint pain right after treatment. They can also cause nerve damage pain in the hands and feet after several cycles of chemotherapy. Read more on managing muscle pain and joint pain.

Recovery phase pain

After a breast cancer diagnosis, some women become inactive through the end of their treatment and recovery. As a result, they lose conditioning, gain weight, and develop aches and pains related to inactivity.

The best way to deal with this pain is to slowly get back to your regular levels of activity and regular exercise.

Other discomforts that arise during recovery may be due to aging, injury, or other medical conditions.

Pain from breast changes

Breast pain is usually due to non-cancerous breast changes rather than cancerous ones. Equal discomfort in both breasts is most often benign (not cancerous).

Even so, if you have ANY breast lump that persists—whether painful or not—have it checked out thoroughly by your doctor.