Lump in armpit after Axillary Node Clearance

[Mrs Kettlebell]

Just by way of an update, I saw the surgeon today and he confirmed my new ‘lump’ is in fact scar tissue. This is the result of healing axilla and breast tissue where these were separated during surgery.  Phew! 

[Mrs Kettlebell]

Hi Jayne

Thanks d much for your response. This stuff is all new and its difficult to what to expect isn’t it?  It sounds as though you had a horrid time with an infection. I hope you’ve healed now. 

I have a seroma too which is gradually getting smaller, but a new pea size hard lump has appeared in between the seroma/cording and the reconstructed breast. It might have been there since surgery - just hidden by the swelling - and it’s very early days (just over two weeks since the ANC). Even so I was rather hoping my days of finding lumps and bumps were behind me, but am guessing this might be par for the course at this stage of treatment! 

Hope your radiotherapy goes smoothly xx 

[Jayne4369]

Hi

i had node clearance for recurrence in December.

I too have a lump but mines on my scar line. I e been informed that it’s seroma and will very slowly absorb. I ended up in hospital on iv antibiotics due to it becoming infected, delaying my radiotherapy. I have now started my radiotherapy on Tuesday past and the lump remains.

hopefully it will absorb soon.

[Mrs Kettlebell]

Thanks Jaybro.

Your explanation about the vacuum left post ANC makes a lot of sense and I suspect it is something to do with this, or cording - was curious if anyone else had anything similar.

Laughed out loud reading your prodding and poking comment!  I was really good whilst the dressings were on, but now they’re off and I’ve moved onto the next stages of post surgery exercise, I find myself ‘helping’ some of the stretches!  If I think what’s been flung at us during treatment, I’m amazed at our body’s ability to repair and heal, even if it can be frustrating at times! xx

[Jaybro]

Hi Mrs Kettlebell

This is very early days for you so I’m struck dumb with admiration that you are prodding and poking. Maybe you’re just gently massaging that seroma away? My oncology physio explained the basic physiology of a full axillary clearance. Once the lymph nodes have been removed, there’s a vacuum into which anything nearby tends to collapse so it’s possible that this is what you are feeling, something displaced. It can be the beginning of cording (which is fairly easily dealt with and held at bay for most people). This is NOT a diagnosis, by the way, just an alternative suggestion to scar tissue, which it may well be. I’ve recently had a biopsy and the tissue behind it is rock solid - hopefully only until the wound is healed. 

All the best xx

[Mrs Kettlebell]

Hello! 

After 4 months of Chemo, I had a SMX with a temporary implant in January where two sentinel nodes were removed, both of which tested positive. This was followed by an Axillary node clearance in February.  All the nodes removed during the ANC were clear of cancer. 

The ANC dressing came off a day or two ago leaving a seroma which is very gradually reducing. Now the dressings have been removed and swelling is subsiding, I’ve found a new small hard lump in my armpit I’ll speak to my breast surgeon on Monday, but wondered if anyone else had anything similar post surgery? Could it be scar tissue?