Hi all
I had a lumpectomy and sentinal node biopsy (clear) at the same time. over the last couple of months i have been getting pains in the scar area, around the back and in other areas of my breast. Has anyone else experienced this? I am due my final chemo on Monday and have mentioned it to the oncologist twice who have examined me and said it was probably just scar tissue and healing.
Hi Katy,
It does take a while for scar tissue to settle down and there are all sorts of factors which might influence your experience. I had a WLE and a full axillary clearance with revisionary surgery to clear margins. I have had more problems with the lymph node removal scar than with the breast scar. The breast scar settled very quickly but my cancer was near to the surface of the breast. Perhaps your pain is being caused by the surgeons having to go deeper into your breast? It is worth mentioning it to the medics again.
Good luck,
AlexG
I had a small tumour removed (8mm) and SNB and then rads in June - July last year and from time to time I still get pain in my breast. It’s a bit like a stabbing pain sometimes and then sometimes pain under my breast in the top of my ribs. My surgeon said the stabbing pain is from the surgery and is the nerve endings which have been cut trying to heal, and some people get it off and on for years! The rib pain is apparently caused from the rads and between the pain coming and going there can be months with nothing and then it suddenly returns. I suppose it’s a small price to pay but it’s still blooming uncomfortable!
I still get pains in my affected breast nearly 3 years after lumpectomy. Apparently it’s normal.
Best wishes everyone.
Anthi x
I still ache a lot 3 years down the line from surgery to remove the lump, then surgery to remove my lymph nodes. I have a dull ache in my breast a lot of the time - on the worst days I resort to something supportive like a sports bra. My cancer was quite deep in the breast as it was hidden under a fibroid and was not picked up by the mammo or other tests, hence the 2 surgeries being done a month apart.
I am nearly 6 months from op and still get the aches, twinges and stabbing pains. Apparently this is quite normal and can go on for 5 years. Remember that the breast tissue and nerves have all been disturbed.
Hi
as a lady who only had a WLS & SNB last week my scars are still healing. The breast scar is doing very well but the underarm scar is quite sore and uncomfortable. I have a bit of swelling down my back but have put that down to having to sitting around a lot following post-op nausea. Can anyone tell me how long it took before they could wear a bra at all? Its the underarm scar thats stopping me - its quite low and sits under the bra.
MaggieM
Maggie
Would it be possible to find a different style of bra, which doesn’t cover the scar. Either that, or put something soft between the two? I was told to wear a bra night and day for a while. I took it off at night after a few days, though, as I found it more uncomfortable with it. However, I slept on my back (well, tried to, anyway) and put an extra pillow down my side to rest my arm on, which helped a lot.
Hope things improve soon.
Love Ann x
Ann
thanks for that - I wasn’t advised to wear a bra so haven’t been. I also have found that lying on my back and having a small pillow under my arm has helped a lot. At night I am wearing pyjamas which have a stretchy camisole top. It helps keeps my breasts from moving around too much but is fairly soft on the underarm scar. I have bought a couple of sports bras to try but they still cover the it.
Maggie
I went to Tesco and bought their cotton Value bras - 2 for about £1.50! the cups were just triangles of cotton but the straps and band were really soft and they gave me just the support I needed post-op.
X
When I had my lymph nodes taken out I was advised to take bras into hospital that were really old and comfy. I just wore some old basic white cotton ones I had. I live in a soft water area, so thankfully white cotton doesn’t go grey in the wash! I would have been mortified showing the surgeon a grotty old bra.
Isnt it great that we have this forum to check things like this on? I too have been getting pain after a WLE and was sondering what it was and it makes sense about the nerves healing. Unfortunately I am going back in tomorrow for them to get clear margins.
Biker babe - everything crossed for you that you get those clear margins this time xxxx
Hi Biker Babe
Hope your op goes well and you get clear margins. Sometimes, my pains make my toes curl. Like Chrub and Scooter I bought a couple of non-wired cotton bras from Sainsburys! They are really comfy and stretchy. Cropped tops I have also found comfy. My scars are healing nicely, unfortunately I have to go back in to remove my remaining lymph nodes when chemo is finished, so have to go through the healing process all over again.
x
Back home after the surgery yesterday, thanks for answering Jayney and LM.
Its actually much sorere this time after the surgery, he said he had to cut through, or into, the muscle this time. I have just been wearing the sports bras that they recommended for the first 6 weeks. Path results on 20th.
It now looks like 1 boob is bigger than the other. Oh heck!
Hi all,
Biker Babe,
I had to go back in last tuesday for them to get clear margins. I too found it much more painful, but the scar is healing well and looks just as neat, but it is 2cm longer! I get my results tomorrow so feeling a bit nervious. Good luck with yours. Are you having chemo after?
And yes, my poor boob is def much smaller than the other, and all the swelling hasn’t gone yet!
By the way, I cant seem to be able to get on with any bras at the moment, so I have bought some stretch crop tops from Primark, (also good if you have odd sized boobs!) 2 for about £4, but you do need to buy bigger sizes than you would normaly.
Love Rose X
We dont have a Primark andywhere near us so I will have to struggle on with the sports bras. The bruising is spectacular and I had to go to the chemist yesterday to get something for the rash between by boobs. It didnt help so I am now using witch hazel. I think it was the dressing the surgeon put on as it covered the whole breast and I am allergic to elastoplast and it looks like the same with their large dressings now too.
No Rose, I’m having radiotherapy starting in Jan. When do you start your chemo? Where are you having it? I’m going up to Glasgow for the rads which means I have to travel up on a Mon morning and come home on a Fri afternoon.
x
Biker babe,
hope you’re healing well now. I really hope my SNB is clear and I dont need a node clearance. The pain now in that scar is awful!
I’ve ordered some pyjama tops from M&S which are control tops for D-G cups. Theyre soft and supportive at night time
Never seen them Knitnut, might be an idea for me too.
Had to go to Dr’s today as the scar has got really itchy and inflamed. Turns out I am allergic to the dressing they put on the wound. No luck!!
Is it the size of your wound that is the pain or just having it? Mine was fading quite nicely until they decided to open it up again, now its all (the whole breast) bruised and all different colours.
Hi all,
Biker Babe, I feel so sorry for you having a rash where the dressing was. I am also allergic to elastoplast. My husband laughs when they ask if you are allergic to anything, and I say ‘sticky plaster.’ He thinks it is a minor thing, but the thought of having a burning, swollen skin rash on top of everything else certainly makes it something to speak up about. Did you tell them before the opp? I dont know what they used on me, but it seems to suit me. Having said that, I did develop a rash on my arm where I think they used some tape to hold a tube during the opp which became inflamed.
I got the results from the second lot of surgery of Friday, and the margins were clear. So next step for me is to see Dr on the 24th when he will tell me when I start chemo. I am lucky that the Hospital in my home town, Hereford, is able to offer chemo. And when I start the rads, I will have to go to Cheltmen, which isn’t too far and can be travelled to and from in one day. You poor thing having to travel so far and having to stay all week away from home.
Love Rose X