I had a right mastectomy and full lymph node removal 20 years ago. Lymph nodes clear. I had left mastectomy and lymph nodes removed. Cancer in lymph nodes now having letrozole,bisphosphonate treatment
and abemaciclib. Unfortunately after having nothing in my right arm for 20 years it’s being very difficult to get a cannula in for treatment. This has resulted in me having a very painful arm for weeks after, followed by pins and needles. Is there anything I can do please to ease the pain.xx
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Dear audreyg, I’m sorry to hear that you’re suffering from arm pain. I also developed a very similar problem after my treatment and was desperate to find something other than pain killers to ease it.
Eventually I took advice from someone suffering post treatment pain after Leukemia
and I bought a heat pad. It’s a smaller version of an electric blanket and I’m able to wrap it around my arm from my fingers to my armpit. I use before bed for approx 10 mins and very occasionally if I have a flare up in the day. It eases the pain quickly and I honestly say it works so well for me.
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Hi Angie thanks for that. Do you have a link for the arm wrap please. I have the wheat bags which you heat in the microwave but I don’t think you mean these. Thanks.xx
Hi audreyg
Thank you for posting. It is understandable that you have questions about how to make cannulation more comfortable in your right arm following lymph node removal 20 years ago, especially as you have also had lymph nodes removed on your left side.
Many people avoid cannulation on the side that they had lymph node surgery to reduce the risk of developing lymphoedema. However, there’s no strong evidence that having injections, taking blood, taking a blood pressure reading or having intravenous fluids in your ‘at risk’ arm will cause lymphoedema. Therefore if it is easier to cannulate your left arm in the future, then this may be preferable in your situation.
It may be helpful to talk to your treatment team about your concerns and to ask about ways to manage the pain and to make the procedure more comfortable in the future. Pain relief may help and using a heat pad as @AngieMR suggests may be helpful, so do ask your treatment team about these.
If you’d like to know more about lymphoedema you may also find it helpful to watch our YouTube videos on managing lymphoedema and reducing your risk or to look at the Lymphoedema Support Network for more information.
We offer a range of free supportive services for anyone who has had a diagnosis of breast cancer which you may be interested in. They include face to face and online courses and events.
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