Lymphoedema or post surgery swelling?

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1

Hi. I had a lumpectomy 15 ago. After about 12 days I have a new area of swelling above the breast, towards the axilla. I had lymph node(s) removed from the same lumpectomy cut but I don’t know how many till I go to get my results in 6 days time. I think the swelling is in that area.

I spoke to a BCN and she enquired about how much I was doing and encouraged me to step down a bit from fast walking and drop back to week one exercises. I have been wearing a compression sports bra during the day.

I guess that my anxieties whilst waiting for results are now on the worry that I have lymphoedema in the breast, and can see that if I did it needs treatment quickly.

I’m interested in whether others have had new swelling a little while after surgery and whether I’m ok to wait until my results appointment

2

I’ll answer though not a BCN as you’ve asked for others experience. I’d say that IME, there was some swelling in that area, which is more like a general bulging out curvature of the area which is different from the lymphodema, I’ve had since, and likely post-op inflammation. I wasn’t surprised by this as the tumour area was in the 12’o’ clock position and as high up as you can get with breast tissue but, as the lymph node was taken from the same incision, they would of had to extend laterally towards the armpit from there to get to the lymph node (I had only 1 removed) and they also did a cavity shave in that area.
If the area is bulging quite a bit in a general curve, its more likely a seroma, which if large and uncomfortable, can be drained ( though they often re-form), or will just get reabsorbed by the body and go with time.
Lymphodema of the breast didn’t occur until after radiotherapy, so I suspect that is what caused it. This I’d describe more like a skin thickening with large pores - like an orange skin - and formed under the breast as the fluid collects low under gravity. It causes ridges and striations akin to stretch marks and improve somewhat with massage. You can tell breast odema if you ever take off a bra that has had seams in and compare to the other side, as there are clear indentations and ridges formed that last a long time after and again improve with massage. I only ever wear seamless bras when I can - or accept that I need to massage lots after.
Also IME, cording only occurred post radiotherapy a few times - gone after stretching and deep massage.
My advice is after radiotherapy do plenty of daily breast massage, especially underneath. I was never advised of this, but realised myself. There is an assumption its rare with one lymph node out, so it’s not mentioned in that case, I did have 19 sessions of radiotherapy though, which is quite a lot.

3

Thanks entropy, that’s a really helpful answer. I don’t have any strap marks or indents of clothes so that’s reassuring to me.

4

Hello gabrielle1

Thanks for your post. It’s understandable that you’re concerned about the swelling you’ve developed following your surgery.

As your operation was so recent, as @entropy says, the swelling you mention may be a build-up of fluid called a seroma, which is a common symptom after breast cancer surgery, rather than lymphoedema.

Lymphoedema is swelling caused by a build-up of lymph fluid in the surface tissues of the body. This can happen as a result of damage to the lymphatic system following surgery and/or radiotherapy to the breast or armpit (axilla).

As the area of swelling is new, do contact the breast care nurse to arrange an appointment to see her, as she is best placed to assess you.

We offer a range of free supportive services for anyone who has had a diagnosis of breast cancer which you may be interested in. They include face to face and online courses and events.

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