Hi ladies
I had my mastectomy 1st Feb this year and full axillary clearance. I now have the famous"dogs ear " under that arm but I do still feel tender to touch around the rib area on that side just below the end of the scar. My BC nurse said this was normal to still feel this way but of course worry guts here would like to know if anyone else still have “tenderness”. I think its down to the clearance more than mastectomy…
anyone had similar???
Many Thanks
P xxxx
Hi paula43,Its 2 years in june since my mastectomy and lymph node removal,I had about 16 took they said so not full like yours,and I still have a dull ache in my back on level with my chest,I have had every scan going and ned so my onc yesterday said it must be from the op,so who knows how long the pain lasts,not that its painful,its just a niggle thats always there.x hope this helps a little x
Hi Paula
I had my mastectomy in November last year and full clearance (though they only took 11!). I am still tender around my back area, round to the scar line - and if I do anything strenuous (changing beds etc) I still get aches & pains around the scar line. My onc told me that this would carry on for some time yet.
margaret x
Thanks ladies…when I said full clearance well they took 13 lymph nodes 2 of which had cancer…
Its good ( meant in the nicest way) that this seems normal then.!!!
Yes mine is like a dull ache feeling from end of scar round to back and when I touch that area( not the front) it is bit tender to touch. I guess its still early day isn’t it!!!
Paula xx
Hi Ladies,
I had my mastectomy in March 07. Only recently have I realised that my right arm no longer feels weak. These things take a long time.
BUMP
Hi Paula
I had a mastectomy about 6 weks before you in mid December and lymph node sampling, no lymph node invovement but 3 weeks of rads due to a 1mm clearance between chest wall and the tumor margin.
Yes my ribs were REALLY sore which I put down to rads, and there is still an area under my arm along the side of my bra. Until recently I was still taking off my bra when arriving home from work.
What seems to have helped for me is massaging the area for a couple of minutes twice a day, but not too much because of the chance of lymphodema, I still put aqueous cream on morning and evening and rub all over the ribs reaching around my back as far as I can.
At one point, about two weeks ago it felt as though muscles and flesh were stuck to the ribs at the back and front so lots of stretching. I’ve been through the cording bit and the physio has sorted that and discharged me.
First of the 3 monthly checks yesterday and saw the onc. who also thought the sore bits were due to rads - oh well back to the cream, massage and stretch - I’ll have a wonderfully toned and soft upper body!
Just been cutting the lawn and thinking about what I had written, and didn’t want to worry you in case you hadn’t had rads. Searched an older thread where I had posted on 26th April
Also will be interested in what your onc says and will follow this thread. I finished rads 10 weeks ago and like … the ribs on that side are sore and very sore at times. Also have begun to take off bra when I am at home which helps.
I expect it is the side effects of rads but as I am due to see the onc next month I thought I would check it out then.
So my soreness seemed to be at its worse 10 weeks after rads which was also 16 weeks after the mastectomy, so that will give you a time frame - whatever was the cause it has certainly improved a lot.
My other theory, for what its worth, is perhaps there is a soreness because the nerves are growing in an area which was previously numb and therefore I can now ‘feel’ the effects of surgery.
Magsi