—pain in m y breast and shoulder and arm
—pain in m y breast and shoulder and arm —I had a lumpectomy and all my lymph nodes on my left side removed and I think that was the last time I had a good nights sleep, now it hurts when I lay on my left side, my arm and shoulder are stiff and ache and are numb under my arm and at the backs down to my elbow (I do exercise but would welcome any new ideas) and the shooting pains in my breast frighten me witless (I would like to apologise to the sweet man in Meadowhall who thought I was having a heart attack when I suddenly grabbed at my chest) I am due my next check up in May which will be a year since dx and have every intention of mentioning this but I just wondred if this is common or should I worry also one more thing could there still be fluid at the side of my breast from where the drains were? Hope someone can help.
Thanks Luana
Hi Luana It will be a year in April since my diagnosis. I too had lumpectomy and full axillary clearance and I have discomfort daily. I do my exercises daily but nothing seems to help. I have constant acheing and tightness in my arm, shoulder and neck region. Discomfort under the arm also and also in my left breast (because of radiotherapy). I luckily manage to sleep well and to be honest, that’s when I feel the discomfort less - once I move, I’m aware of it again. I can say that I had pain after surgery for 3-4 months - now I would call it discomfort which is far better, but a b-----y nuisance nevertheless. I was told by the oncologist that I may have to get used to it. Great!!
Sophiebubbles
—I think —that pains in the affected breast are quite common. I get them and I also have swelling which I have been told is lymphoedema though my arm is unaffected. ( Does ache a bit from time to time) I have been shown how to do MLD or manual lymphatic massage. It helps a bit even if it is a bit of a palaver! My bc nurse put me in touch with the lymphoedema nurse. Perhaps yours would?
Best wishes
kitty
— breast pain —Hi sophie and kitty
thank you for your replies, you have been great at putting my mind at ease x
— Hi Luana — It is two and half years since I was diagnosed. I STILL get terrible shooting pains in my chest and the shoulder pain you mention, developed into frozen shoulder with me a few times over the last couple of years. It seems pretty common.
Joy xxx
pain in arm My treatment finished 2 years ago and recently I have been having pain in my arm and breast area where I had my op, I had a choice how many nodes to have removed and I said the lot, which I don’t regret. This is the worst the discomfort that it has ever been and I am wondering if it is due to the weather being that bit warmer. I know it sounds strange but the discomfort is less when I’m that bit cooler. You could say that it would happen quite regular if that was the case, its just a theory of why it is happening. Again it could be because I had been using that arm a bit more because I have been doing a bit more in the garden. I don’t know about that but I have my 6 monthly check-up on the 4th of April and I am going to ask about it. I do think that its pretty common though if there is total node removal.
Hazel
me too I posted a query about a month ago. I have been having pain in my shoulders since I finished my treatment (chemotherapy in Nov 05 and radiotherapy Jan 24th). My doctor says this is frozen shoulder. I have trouble getting dressed as I can’t raise my arms above my head or up my back. Oh to be able to scratch my own back again! My arms are also very weak now and sleeping on either side is also painful. Sorry, this is starting to sound like a catalogue of woe. Anyway, I will also be asking when I go for my check-up late April. If I learn anything in the meantime I’ll pass it on
otter xxxxx