Why is incision hurting now?

bedo

I had a lumpectomy and SNB and had incisions at my nipple and then at about 1-3 o'clock in my left breast in August.  Just this past week the incision by my armpit has been hurting and when I feel it, it feels swollen and there is 1 pea sized lump at the end.  I have no lymph edema and was told that only one lymph node was taken and it was negative  Does anyone know what might be going on?  Thank you.

bedo

I had a lumpectomy and SNB and had incisions at my nipple and then at about 1-3 o'clock in my left breast in August.  Just this past week the incision by my armpit has been hurting and when I feel it, it feels swollen and there is 1 pea sized lump at the end.  I have no lymph edema and was told that only one lymph node was taken and it was negative  Does anyone know what might be going on?  Thank you.

Binney4

Bedo, I assume you'll be checking this out with your surgeon or onc to get help with whatever might be going on. They're the only ones who can make the call.

Is the pea-sized lump new, or has it been there since surgery? Sometimes the end of the incision is less than smooth because of the way the stitching goes together.

New swelling in that area can be lymphedema, which can happen on the breast, chest, back or side. When it's not in the arm it's called "truncal lymphedema." Here's information about it:
http://www.stepup-speakout.org/breast_chest_trunckal_lymphedema.htm

Do let us know what you discover. Hoping it's an easy answer and a quick "fix."

Gentle hugs,
Binney

Kay_G

I don't know Bedo, but I would definitely ask the doc. I had mx in August and have recently had pain, I think because my nerves were severed and had no feeling and now they are reconnecting and causing some pain. I am not sure if that could happen with lumpectomy too or not. Hope it's an easy answer and quick fix as well.

Laurie08

Bedo- I agree check with the Dr.  Not sure about the lump, I had pain and a burninf sensation in my scar line in just one breast months after my surgery and I had started a thread and came to believe it was nerve regeneration- but no lump......  Sorry I can't help more.

Timbuktu

I had my mastectomy in July.  About 2 weeks ago I noticed a lump in my scar.  It's hard and about 4 cm long.  I've had 3 drs look at it.  One said it was left over breast tissue.  The other said it was scar tissue.  the surgeon who did the operation explained that it is fat necrosis.  But there is no way to know for certain without a biopsy.  So get to the dr pronto, and hopefully you'll gain some peace of mind. 

I was told that the scar tissue takes about 5 months to form and if you are like me you haven't been touching yourself much in that spot.  But it's important to check it out ASAP.

bedo

Thanks guys, I have an appt with the surgeon next week and also my first post surgery mammo.  It seems like its not getting worse or better so I'm hoping it's scar tissue and nerve regeneration like you said and the knot thiing is just the way it was sutured.and not truncal lymphedema. 

Thanks Binney I checked that site out and it's hard to tell. It's not like I've been exercising or anything :O