Hi
Over the past 2 weeks I had slight pain in left boob just above area I had WLE to remove DCIS.
My rads completed in March & everything settled really nicely & quite quickly. Thought I’d been lucky.
Anyway on Friday evening I noticed a swelling in my underarm (not painful & soft; no lumps I could feel). This stayed for Saturday & following a party in the evening (lots of bopping to Status Quo; not a pretty sight a friends 50th & all of us a certain age) it seemed to have gone Sunday morning only to come back by the evening. Went again this morning; but since I’d advised others on this site to go to your GP with any concerns I followed this & saw him this morning.
He has said due to rads; he gave me a good prod & poke; no lumps and reassured me this is quite normal; in fact on occasion whole arm can swell. Has anyone had any swelling following rads. I didn’t have any surgery to underarm, & this surprised & concerned me over the weekend?
Due to see Onc in August for clinic appointment; so if it gets worse I’ll probably call BCN.
Take care
Lynne
Regards
Lynne
I am starting rads soon so i wondered the same question and asked under a post somewhere on here i had two replies so it doesnt appear to be very common that lymphodeama happens post rad. The radiotherapist told me its a 10%risk.
Hi Lynne and Hatty,
I am 4months post rads and have very similar symptoms, Lynne. My breast is more swollen now and have the feelings underarm as you described. My BCN assures me this is very common. I did have nodes removed from underarm but I think it really just depends what we have been doing - or not doing that brings this on.
If I relax too long in the evening with my book it flares and if I do too much arm work at the gym it can also flare.
Hope this helps.
Tina
x
Sorry girls, meant to say that even if you haven’t had underarm surgery the lymph system will still have been disturbed during breast surgery.
Thanks for the comments. I do go to a “Curves” session 3 or 4 times a week.
I need to keep this up to help control my type 2 diabetes; as exercise is very good for it. Didn’t realise it may effect the lymph system as well.
It first swelled last weekend when I didn’t hit the gym, but has completly gone during the week as I’ve been to the gym. I did ease off on the 2 machines which exercise the arms. If it swells again at the weekend it could be the gym is helping.
Possible the gym work may be enough to stop it swelling if I don’t overdo it.
If it swells again this weekend I’ll call my BCN for advise; I’ve read there may be some specific arm exercises which may help.
Have a great weekend
Lynne