I am having chemo first as i have no breast tumour criptic breast cancer. I am to have my lymph nodes removed in April as they are positive about 5. It looks like i may well have a full clinical and pathological response to the chemo and it has been a mild suggestion that the lymph nodes are not removed and a very strong for having them removed for control of local reccurence. I will have radiotherapy following that.
I cant make my mind up whether to have them removed or not and just reading all the posts here wondering if you ladies can help me.
I am scared that there will be so many problems with the lymphodeama and pain following the surgery that my quality of life will be diminished. I need this arm for my work as a dog breeder and horse breeder. I have loads of heavy work to do. I almost feel id be better with my arm amputated than have axillary node clearence as i could then have a false arm that may work better.
If there are any ladies that have had this surgery how are you 12 months down the road and what can you do with the arm now?
Hoping you can give me some hope.
Other than that im a very positive person and have no doubt that i will be fine and even better without the lymph cleareance.
Hi hatty,I had clearence 3 years ago and developed lymphoedema during rads but many,many women do not get lymphoedema.I wear my sleeve and I still do everything that I did before I have two jobs and one of them is a cleaning job and I still lift things as I did before and if my arm aches I just stop for a while or use the other arm.Its a hard decision for you to make and I can only say what I personaly would do.If it has been strongly suggested to have them removed then that is what I would go with ,or you could ask for a second opinion.
good luck melxx
Thank you its good to know your still doing the same old that is what is really important to me.
I had all mine removed a year ago next January, and I have normal movement with my arm. After the op, I found it painful to begin doing the physio exercises but after about 5-6 weeks, I had full movement and no pain. The back of my upper arm will always be numb, but I don’t notice it now. I would rather have them all removed and hopefully all the cancer removed too, than leaving them in me. I don’t suffer from lymphoedema - not yet anyway!
Hi Hatty
I had the same concerns as I have a heavy work business and even more because I am a farmer/smallholder and handle livestock, dogs, gates, lay hedges and use a chainsaw!
I had a full clearance 8 weeks ago and have full movement in my arm. I just kept going, whilst being careful for the first few weeks…I cannot not handle my sheep if they need it! I found the more excecise I got the better and solved the cording i got, and still get a bit by a bit of hefty work. Now I know its not everyone who can do this and i would not advocate hefty excercise if ur not used to it but for those of us who do it every day I think we bounce back better.
I am careful not to cut myself on vulnerable arm and wear gloves and take precautions but life must go on!
Lostinfrancethats fantastic thats just what i needed to hear. We also have sheep and do all that heavy manual stuff. Please do keep me posted as to how your doing.
Steph thats all very encouraging. You read so much about the bad stuff its good to hear that things can be normal.
Hatty - I’ve had similar concerns - though my first part of treatment was a mx and axillary clearance - last Friday. I do worry about lymphodema, of course - and both my work and my hobby have stress factors… I work in a kitchen (heavy pans/up and over dishwasher/boiling water etc etc etc), though I’m signed off at the moment, I also clean in the evenings… all this to earn money to be able to afford to show my dobermanns! It’s my left armpit that’s been done, and of course, it’s the left arm I run them with…
I’m just going to do the exercises, get strong, and get back to normal. If I end up in a compression sleeve, so be it - I need to be around for as long as possible for my OH and four children - so I had to have the op - but if I’m going to be living a good long life, then I’m darn sure I’ll be doing the things that I love most during it!!!
The only tough part so far, with the drain in place still, I’ve had to keep my distance from the dogs this week - hanging tubes and stupid dogs do not mix. I’m also stocking up the first aid box with antiseptic cream and sprays… for the inevitable scratches and scrapes that living with animals brings…
Sophie xx
Forgot to ask: What breed dogs/horses?
Welsh sec C ponies and Patterdale and patterjack terriers. I have a web site not sure if im allowed to put it up on here so if your interested pm and will send you a link. Thank you for being interested. I see from your profile pic your a dog lover to.
Hi…sorry to sneak into your convo but I have terrier cross whose dad was a patterdale. His mum was a staffie/jack russell…can you imgine how naughty he is!!! But totally adorable and loved to bits 
I had lymph node clearance last year and I now go to gym and lift weights. I have no lymphodema. I suspect the Hosp wouldn’t be happy with me if they knew!
Julia xx
sheanya i can just picture your delightful terrier they are such fun and i do love to chat about them lol…
Rancidtart that is really encouraging thank you.
I had aux clearance and rads to the underarm and have always continued as normal. I worked as an electrican’s mate throughout most of my chemo and was back as soon as my rads finished. I’ve always had to fetch and carry quite heavy things. 7yrs ago they used to tell you to take things easy with your arm but I didn’t have an option! It would ache occasionally after particulary heavy work and I’d rest it until it felt better,but I’ve never had any problems with it. I’m still numb under my arm but only notice when I’m washing. I’d go for all the treatment they can throw at you. Having an aux clearance hasn’t made any difference to my lifestyle. I’m not making light of lymphodeoma just saying it’s not inevitable!
Josie x
Thanks Josyemarie it is so encouraging to hear so many positive stories and congrats on your 7 years.
thought id revive this old post of mine as the time is coming not so very far away and im still frightened about this lymph node clearance. You read so many bad things on here about lymphodema so i would love to hear from anyone who only has positive things to say about it, ie if life is normal for them.
hatty, have pm’d you xx
Hi Hatty,
I had lymph node clearance five weeks ago, they removed 13 of them, only one was affected. I came home the following day with a drain in that came out 3 days later. Apart from seroma which needed to be drained three times i have had no problems to date . I have full movement in my arm and just numbness under my arm but you get used to it. I went back to work two weeks later and i am a post lady! I just adapted myself to not putting to much use on my affected arm to reduce risk of lymphodema, best wishes to you,
Sally
thank you sally from another Sallie.
triphazard thank you.
Im really finding the positive posts helpful its not like me to be so scared but i just love my outdoor life and handling not just my dogs but my big strong stallion. Thank you again.
Hi
I had a right mx and full axillary node clearance in Jan 2007. I have not had any real bother with my arm and have good movement. I have two labradors who are quite strong on their leads. I went on to have reconstruction in Dec 2010. When I woke up from the op my right arm was quite sore and stiff due to it being pinned up for 10 hours while the op took place. It has since returned to almost normal and again I have good movement after only 8 weeks.
Hope all goes well for you.
Carolyn x
Hi Hatty, I had my lump removed and full node clearance on Christmas Eve, so about 7 weeks ago now.
I came home on Christmas Day and had a drain in for 8 days. It didn’t cause me any problems - just a bit annoying!
My arm movement was very restricted at first but I did the exercises I was given in hospital and it improved quite quickly. Unfortunately I developed cording across my armpit and down my arm but I had physiotherapy and massaged it every day (using olive oil - brilliant stuff!) and now it’s virtually gone.
I got the BCC exercise DVD which I can’t recommend highly enough - it made a huge difference to my mobility so you really should send off for it - it’s at breastcancercare.org.uk/healthcare-professionals/publications/treatment-and-side-effects/*/changeTemplate/PublicationDisplay/publicationId/159/ and is free. It took a couple of weeks to arrive so I’d send for it now if I were you.
I then developed cellulitis in my side and breast after my first chemo (just had my second yesterday) and was in so much pain I couldn’t exercise properly for a few days. By the time I’d recovered I found my arm movement had gone way backwards, but with the BCC DVD I quickly got it back and now have almost normal movement.
The point I’m trying to make is that we do all vary in our recovery and the unexpected can happen, but the exercises are the most important thing you can do. You HAVE to do them several times a day (at least three) and keep on doing them. Don’t do anything more strenuous than you’re told though, as that can get in the way of the nerve healing process and can increase your chance of lymphoedema as you have to give your lymphatic system a chance to find new routes.
I found my progress was slower than some people on here because of my additional problems, but even I have got there eventually and so will you!!!
Good luck with the op,
Jane xxx