mastectomy survivors only please
klayr06-27-2003, 12:40 AMHello, fellow survivors! I have a question for you. I assume that most of you, when you had your surgery, had the lymph nodes removed for testing. For those of you who did, this question is for you. I had my surgery in Nov. '01. I had 14 nodes removed. Recently (almost 2 years later) I have terrible aching in my armpit. My plastic surgeon said there could be pain for up to two years, but it should start to improve and lessen over the course of that time. He and the breast surgeon said that they have never seen a recurrence in a reconstructed breast, and they are both chief of their specialties at the hospital. I trust them completely, but Dr. Love's Breast Book does mention that it is possible to have a recurrence. How far down the arm do they have to go to get to these nodes; or how high up near the shoulder? Does anyone know? Could it be simple scar tissue? The reason I ask is because I found a lump that they termed fat necrosis, but it is extremely painful, even to the touch. I'm going to have it removed in July. Do any of you think I have anything to worry about? I don't usually have a problem with hypochrondianism, but this sounds all too familiar. I found my own tumors originally and the lymph nodes were very tender. I'm interested in hearing from my sisters in suffering. Thanks in advance! -- KlayrBinky7106-27-2003, 08:36 AMI had a mastectomy w/ lymph node dissection in December 2000 and I still have a lot of pain. My scar tissue is painful too. Some of the pain is probably nerve damage too. I have times where it itches but I cannot scratch it because I can't tell just exactly where it is and I cannot tell how hard I'm scratching it. It comes and goes. It's like the nerves are trying to work again and sends a shooting pain in the mastectomy, lymph node dissection site.
Just the other day I found a "lump" that is very painful. It's probably scar tissue again. I see my onc Monday so I can wait. I'd had a chest CT not long ago and it came back clean, so I'm not worried that it's cancer.
I know they say 2 years but how do they really know? Each person is going to react in their own way. As far as recurrance in a reconstructed breast, even the docs cannot say with 100% certainty that no recurrance is going to happen in a reconstructed breast, each person is different. I don't say that to undermine the docs but just because they haven't seen it doesn't mean that it doesn't happen.
Sorry if I didn't help, but hopefully I did a little http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gifklayr06-27-2003, 03:03 PMThanks for your response. I feel like crap all the time now. My treatments are done, but I don't have a day when I don't feel like a whole bottle of pain killers would be about my best friend. I'm not suicidal or anything, but I can hardly stand it anymore. The only thing that bothers me about this underarm pain is that I only recently got it. I had full range of motion. I never babied myself, and so I didn't have any tight scar tissue to battle. From my underarm all the way down the side of my breast, where the lump is, is on fire. Maybe it is just nerve damage. Anyway, thanks for posting. I hope your appointment goes well. Let me know.Kalie06-30-2003, 03:28 PMHi klayr,
I had 5 nodes removed when I had my mastectomy last summer. Like you, I had reconstruction. I did experience shooting pains in my armpit and phantom itching, but I have not experience pain as you describe it. It never hurts to get a second opinion, but I remember my surgeon telling me that I might experience pain for up to 2 years as well.
Should you worry? I don't think worrying solves anything, but you do owe it to yourself to get it checked out. The peace of mind you'll gain will be well worth the time spent on an office visit!klayr07-01-2003, 03:08 PMKalie,
Thanks for the response. Like I said, I'm having it removed in July, and they're going to biopsy it. I guess I'm not really worried about it, but lately it seems as if I just can't feel good no matter what I eat, how much I sleep, or how long I exercise. The ache feels like my glands are swollen and I feel like I've got an ongoing, never-ending case of the flu. I feel the ache in my shoulder and neck on the same side. I wonder if it's something else, and I'm just paranoid about everything. It's funny, because I never was before! I wasn't ever worried this was coming back. Maybe this is my Achilles heel!
Just the other day I found a "lump" that is very painful. It's probably scar tissue again. I see my onc Monday so I can wait. I'd had a chest CT not long ago and it came back clean, so I'm not worried that it's cancer.
I know they say 2 years but how do they really know? Each person is going to react in their own way. As far as recurrance in a reconstructed breast, even the docs cannot say with 100% certainty that no recurrance is going to happen in a reconstructed breast, each person is different. I don't say that to undermine the docs but just because they haven't seen it doesn't mean that it doesn't happen.
Sorry if I didn't help, but hopefully I did a little http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gifklayr06-27-2003, 03:03 PMThanks for your response. I feel like crap all the time now. My treatments are done, but I don't have a day when I don't feel like a whole bottle of pain killers would be about my best friend. I'm not suicidal or anything, but I can hardly stand it anymore. The only thing that bothers me about this underarm pain is that I only recently got it. I had full range of motion. I never babied myself, and so I didn't have any tight scar tissue to battle. From my underarm all the way down the side of my breast, where the lump is, is on fire. Maybe it is just nerve damage. Anyway, thanks for posting. I hope your appointment goes well. Let me know.Kalie06-30-2003, 03:28 PMHi klayr,
I had 5 nodes removed when I had my mastectomy last summer. Like you, I had reconstruction. I did experience shooting pains in my armpit and phantom itching, but I have not experience pain as you describe it. It never hurts to get a second opinion, but I remember my surgeon telling me that I might experience pain for up to 2 years as well.
Should you worry? I don't think worrying solves anything, but you do owe it to yourself to get it checked out. The peace of mind you'll gain will be well worth the time spent on an office visit!klayr07-01-2003, 03:08 PMKalie,
Thanks for the response. Like I said, I'm having it removed in July, and they're going to biopsy it. I guess I'm not really worried about it, but lately it seems as if I just can't feel good no matter what I eat, how much I sleep, or how long I exercise. The ache feels like my glands are swollen and I feel like I've got an ongoing, never-ending case of the flu. I feel the ache in my shoulder and neck on the same side. I wonder if it's something else, and I'm just paranoid about everything. It's funny, because I never was before! I wasn't ever worried this was coming back. Maybe this is my Achilles heel!