Pain after lumpectomy and 19 lymph nodes out 18 months ago

Does anyone have the same problem? I’ve had chemo, lumpectomy and lymph nodes taken out then several weeks of radiotherapy. I still have sharp stabbing pains under my arm and in my breast is this normal? has anyone else had this? I would be grateful if someone knows if it is normal as I’m now getting paranoid in case it is something else.
Thanks
Mary

Hi Mary!

I am new to this site but just saw your question and yes sadly this is very normal. I had lumpectomy/chemo/radio - finished treatment at end of 2006 and am still getting pain - sometimes sharp, but am told this is perfectly NORMAL! Saw my Breast Cancer Nurse on 20.4.09 and she reassured me again and apparently the pains can last for years - it is as a result of the radiotherapy. I take 1000 mg Eve Primrose - might help you but do not worry it is normal. Sorry I can’t be more helpful ! Denise

Hi Mary

I am over 2 years past lumpectomy and still have jabbing pains in my breast. Not every day or even every week but every now and again - especially if I have been carrying stuff etc. When I have asked I am told its either rads damage/nerve damage/internal scarring and may never quite disappear.

Hope this helps

Love Laine

I finished my treatment end of Sept 07 and i still get pain in my arm and especially a terrible burning sensation, also my arm goes very heavy that sometimes i have to take a strong painkiller, i too have been told this might never go away as a result of rads etc.

Does anyone else get this burning and heaviness ?

I finished my treatment in 2006, I have stabbing pains and a burning sensation, and numbness, along with heaviness in my arm too. At first it was thought it may be lymphoedema, but now it has been suggested it is a nerve pain, caused by damage during surgery.

I did try amitryptiline for this, but it made me very groggy, so I went back to ordinary pain killers . I doubt this will ever improve now, some days it seems worse then others

My wife had LH mastectomy,and lymphnodes in late 06 and is still suffering from pain and discomfort. she has tried evening primrose
and it made her feel worse.

It would seem that the medical profesion is of the oppion that a person should be gratefull for what has been done so you should learn to live with the pain.

Is anyone taking steps to find a solution

stylus

Hi. I have the same problem. I asked about it at my hospital check up last week and was told it’s partly down to nerve damage during surgery and partly due to rads. I was given the impression that it is now unlikely to go away. My friend had a check up a couple of weeks ago and has a problem with fluid collecting under her arm. The onc told her that she couldn’t expect to have the surgery and treatment she’d had and expect things to be the same as they were pre-cancer. Maybe we just have to accept the way things are.

Jan xxx

Hi

Hope you don’t me sort of butting in as I’m another member of this club.

My last lot of surgery was 18 months ago and I had rads 4 and a half years ago. Still get stabbing pains in breast, tightness, prickling if I lift anything too heavy or overdo things. Still can’t turn my head properly and without pain. Plus muscle knots all over shoulder.

I have noticed a very slow improvement over the years - things aren’t as bad as they were (which was awful); however, I don’t think they’ll ever be right. There isn’t enough treatment of the healing variety available to us to stop these chronic conditions taking hold, I feel. As stylus says, we are expected to be grateful for what’s been done to us and to shut up about the pain.

BTW, a ‘heavy’ arm with a burning sensation can also be an early warning sign of incipient lymphoedema - do keep a good eye on the size and state of it, won’t you, maryj and marge?

X

S