I was diagnosed with breast cancer in my right breast on the 03/08/. I had surgery on 14th August for grade 2 invasive ductal carcinoma which showed ER3+ and HER2 negative.
The surgeon has taken three lympth nodes and we are awaiting results from those, which could take up to three weeks.
I’ve been doing all my exercises and apart from the usual feeling of being tired after surgery and lack of appatite, I’ve not been to bad. I did have a dreadful headache for two days, but the district nurse and doctor thought it could be the stress and deydration, the headache has now gone and I feel more like my old self apart for the expected pain of course.
This morning I woke up and had a feeling of numbness at the top of my right arm and the arm feels a little bit heavier than normal, I did wonder if this is due to the exercises, although I seem to have pretty good movement according to the nurse, better than expecteded.
But this feeling is concerning me and I wonder if anyone else has had the same experiece after breast surgery. I worry about lymphoedema and wonder if this could be a sign of it.
Hope someone can let me know if they had the same problem or what the best action is to take.
Is this a sighn of lymphoedema?
I don’t think any of us could advise you on the medical aspects of this. Have you been assigned a Breast Care Nurse? The best thing to do would be to ring them tomorrow morning and discuss your concerns with them. You could also phone your GP.
All I can tell you is what has applied to me. My tumour was on the left side and was removed by WLE in late April. In my case, all 26 lymph nodes were removed from the axilla. Since then, I have experienced some numbness in my left upper arm and around my armpit which has been attributed by nurses and my GP to the surgery and some inevitable damage to nerves.
Since surgery I have been doing the exercises as advised, whilst being careful not to overstress my left arm. Radiotherapy meant that my left upper arm became fairly stiff on account of the position I had to assume on the couch, but the pain and stiffness have eased off now since rads finished 4 weeks ago. I still have some numbness but have got used to it. I still do the exercises.
Lymphoedema is usually characterised by swelling and build up of fluid. There is a very helpful Breast Cancer Care booklet: ‘Reducing the risk of lymphoedema,’ which explains the symptoms and advises on precautions.
Have a chat with a medical professional tomorrow morning. If you can’t get hold of your BCN or GP, Breast Cancer Care offer telephone advice from qualified nurses from 9.00am to 4.00pm on 0808 800 6000.
Hi. I had my op on 20th August and my results today. I also had that heavy feeling in my arm, but the BC nurse tells me it is because when they take the lymph nodes there is a chance they catch some of the nerves too. Mine is numb right down to my elbow!
I am new to the Forum and was interested iin your comment regarding heaviness in your arm. I get a lot of pain in my shoulder and my arm is swollen so I guess I am getting lymphodemia… This is following a mascetomy and the removal of 11 lymph nodes in early September. I am about to start chemo and feeling rather nervous about this. Best wishes.