So here we are in April after 7 months since diagnosis of Claire’s TNBC and subsequent mastectomy and full clearance. Some of you may have read my previous posts around xmas when claires tumour had grown to 8cm during 1 cycle of FEC but remarkably after 3 cycles of Docetaxol, it completely disappeared which was an amazing result! " This is a wonder drug for you" said our onc so we are pleased!
But the post op wasnt without dramas! Claire developed an infection in the area on her back where the LD flap was taken which meant 4 more days back in hospital for antibiotics!
She still has discomfort and swelling around the underarm but the infection has gone as we now prepare for 3 more cycles of Tax and then 5 weeks of rads.
However as I type this my gorgeous wife is upstairs complaining of tightness in her recon area, nausea and generally feeling down today so macmillans good days, bad days is certainly true.
Have any of your heard of PMPS? (post mastectomy pain syndrome?)
i got post lumpectomy pain following surgery 4 years ago… still get pain and itching now under my scar… apparently 25% of women experience pain up to 1 year post surgery and 5% still experience pain 5 years post surgery… not sure if its the same stats for mastectomy as lumpectomy… but its a bit annoying but you do learn to live with it… for me the itch is more annoying that the pain.
would def speak to the BCN or surgeon for advice though.
Hello
I had mastectomy with ax clearance 13 years ago and had pain every now and then, for years afterwards. Like you Lulu, I found that itch worse than the pain, and much more frequent. I have a friend who had similar surgery 5 years after me and she had very similar experience.
I always understood the pain was caused by nerve damage in the area.
hope things go well for you and Claire during next phase of treatment
monica
I have just started getting the itch after a lumpectomy in Nov 09 - I was getting a bit panicky as the first sign of the original lump was an itch - but feel a bit happier knowing this is common.