Removing Lymph Nodes

Hi there

Sorry I’m new to this website and forum malarky so please bear with me. In short my mum has been diagnosed with breast cancer and has her op next week to remove the lump.

They have said they will take a couple of nodes to be on safe side, however she does have the option to have them all removed. We’re unsure of side affects etc so not sure what to do.

Also has anyone had plastic surgery to re-shape the breast - at the moment its slightly distorted so could worsen after surgery. Again unsure if its wise to have surgery to make look better.

Can anyone offer me any advice?

Thanks so much
Heather
xxx

Hi Heather

I had a lump and 7 lymph nodes removed in January. My lump was actually on the out edge of my breast and fairly high up and it was fairly small at 16mm so even with the extra tissues taken as ‘margins’ I did not have any significant distortion to the breast and as such no cosmetic surgery to correct it.

The main thing to watch out for after lymph node removal is lymphodema - once they have removed some or all of the lymph nodes the channels which drain the lymph fluids are compromised. There are certain things that you should not do with the ‘at risk’ arm such as injections, blood tests, blood pressure etc must not be done using that arm, also she should not lift anything too heavy. She should be given advice on prevention of lymphodema by her surgeon or breast care nurse.

I’m not sure if the risk is higher if all nodes are removed (node clearnace) as opposed to just some of them (node sampling), but I’m sure someone more knowledgeable will be along soon to confirm if this is the case. If not check out the information section on the site, most topics are covered there. Alternatively you can speak to the helpline who I’m sure will be able to give you some advice.

Hope all goes well for your mother’s surgery. Please let us know how she is getting on.

Hi Heather

As Lilacblushes has suggested, you are welcome to call our helpline for further information and advice on 0808 800 6000 Monday to Friday 9am-5pm and Sat 9am-2pm. Our helpline team include specialist nurses who can discuss your Mum’s options with you and can offer a ‘listening ear’ to either of you at any point.

Best wishes
Lucy

Hi Heather

My Mum was diagnosed in June. only 7 weeks ago. She had the lump removed and 3 sentinal (main) nodes.

When they take the lump they will analyse it down to cell level, so it can take a while, then give you a pathology report - tells you everything you need to know. Size, grade (how slow and quick it grows), and if this main node is affected. If it is they may take all of them from the armpit on the side with the lump. They also tell you if the tumour is hormone positive - its good if it is.

We have had a very long journey in the past few weeks. They took my Mums lump and it was 14 mm in size and grade 1 - slow growing - however it was in one of her nodes. The week after she had all the nodes removed.

Today we finally got news. None of the other 30 nodes were affected and she doesnt need chemo. However we were expecting her to go through chemo and radio, everything going.

Its been a traumatic time, we have tried to carry on as normal, had ups and downs. Its been awful to see Mum go through 2 operations, but she has bounced back really quick each time.

I have found a great deal of support on these forums. These people have been a tower of strength, amazingly brave.

You may be feeling bewildered and frightened, but you will come to terms with it, and that will help you to deal with whats happening. I dont want to give you false hope but I think the tumour must be quite small like my Mums, and thats why she is not having a mastectomy. Thats a good sign. Also I found it very reassuring that our breast cancer care nurse has looked after 300 ladies in the last 3 years and only lost 2 - 1 lady had heart problems, nothing to do with breast cancer, and the other knew she had a lump for 2 years and then it was too late.

Its amazing what they do these days, even compared with 10 years ago.

Back to your questions. If they are talking about taking 1 or 2 it may be the sentinal nodes. This is good because is saves your Mum losing part of her immune system . If the sentinal nodes are clear then they say that this means the rest will be too. BUT if one of them is affected like my Mums was they can still take them all. On the bad side she would have to have an extra operation to removed them all if needs be, like my MUm did. On the good side if they are not affected they will just take them usually when they take the lump out, and then no more operations should be needed.

My Mum was driving 3 days after having the lump and the 3 nodes removed,. However 2 weeks later she was in hopsital again having them all taken out and this time its been very sore as they have been doing the surgery in her armpit. The sentinal nodes on my Mum were just next to the breast - near the ribcage, so the first operation was much easier.

About reconstructive surgery my MUm was not offered this, as they said it will heal up and be OK. Shes not bothered anyway, she just says she is happy its been taking away.

Sorry to ramble Heather, but I hope I have answered your questions. I felt raw and its been difficult - today we are feeling like we won the lottery though,. I did a lot of research. If you want to talk more feel free to contact me again by private message. Keep me posted, I hope your Mums OK.

Suzy xx

Hi All

Thanks so much for your responses. I’m finding these forums really useful, its nice to ask questions to people who are going thru or have gone thru this awful thing!

Heather
xx

Hi
had all my lymph nodes removed there are things that you restricted do, eg like lift heavy shopping, and carrying heavy things One thing i will say i have no feeling in the back of the arm i had them removed from (feels like when you have an injection at the dentist you can something but not anything if you know what i mean) Apart what has been mentioned previous like taking care of infection and having no blood taken from this arm, and no blood pressure You just have to be careful with the hand and arm x

I was very lucky in that I had the feeling back in my arm and armpit 3 months after my op. I believe it depends on the positioning of the lymph nodes and how many nerves they have to cut. I’m nearly 2 years post surgery and would say I have full mobility on that side. I find lots of yoga stretches helps and very rarely have take any pain relief now.

I had axillary clearance and all 22 nodes were clear! It was the most painful of a dozen operations I’ve had in my long life and the aftereffects were awful. The pain on the underside of the arm was as though I had jumped over a rough wall and badly grazed the underside of the arm; there’s also numbness and of course the risk of lymphoedema. If no lymph nodes are palpable or visible on ultrasound it is certainly worth asking about sentinel node biopsy to see if clerarance can be avoided. Not all surgeons are trained in SNBs and there are arbitrary cutoff points according to the size of the tumour.

I am new on this website, only found it yesterday.

I live in Oslo, Norway, and I am therefore not familiar with the British bc treatment regime.

I was diagnosed in May 2005 and had two ops, chemo, rads and I am now on AI treatment. I had 12 nodes removed.

My arm startet to swell a few months back and I feel quite helpless. If anyone could inform me how lymphoedema is treated in the UK, I would be very grateful.

I am so glad that I found this site, as I hardly know anybody with bc.

Thank you so much!

Regards from maia in Oslo

Hi maiaosio

Have you seen this leaflet on lymphoedema? breastcancercare.org.uk/docs/bcc_lymph06_0.pdf
It gives you some good weblinks at the end.

All the best

Angela

Thank you, Angela, I will have a look at it right now.

I am sure I will find it useful.

All the best to you as well,

Maia

Hi Maia

Sorry I can’t answer your question sure there is someone on here can help.

Welcome to the club that no one wants to be a member of

xEleanor

Hi Maia

There is also a thread on here breastcancercare.org.uk/bcc-forum/58/ about lymphoedema where you will find others who may be able to help you.

Angela

Hi I am new to this site I was diagnosed 4 weeks ago and underwent a mastectomy and node clearance about 30 where taken was told that 4 of those had cancer cells in and have to have Chemo and Radiotherapy. nothing showed on the ultrasound. I am resting at home as I am 11 days post op, my dressing and drain where removed yesterday I had 3. My arm is still painful and under my arm is swollen. I feel that maybe they could of avoided taking so many out I had 5 lumps in my breast. I sometimes think did they really have to do this… I am feeling really down as I am home alone now and have to face the treatments and its really scary. I am trying to be brave and put on a brave face to my family. I don’t want them to see my getting upset I am finding it all really hard to take in and wonder if i shoulld be asking more questions or asking the right questions. Is there anyone who is feeling the same???

Thank you
Jude

Hi Jude
Sorry to hear you have joined us, but you will find much to cheer you up here!!

Angela