armpit lump after mastectomy

lylyjenny

Hi,

Just now, it's the first time I dare to touch my armpit area after my mastectomy surgery on Apr. 25th. And I feel a big lump in the armpit area. So scared now T_T

Anyone has some idea on this? Thanks! 

Colt45

Could be A LOT of things that aren't scary. Reactive nodes that are clear... a benign cyst (my wife had the latter).



Get it checked out, but do not worry.



God bless you.

lylyjenny

Thanks, Colt45! You're a great husband.

a-childs-prayer

My surgeon wasn't worried.  Post-op stuff.  My oncologist requested an ultra-sound.  The lump was a fatty desposit.  My armpit has been very swollen and that lump wasn't there before the surgery.  Sooooooo I understand your concern.

wirdgirl118

My PT said it could be lymph tissue trying to get past the surgical area and flow in the direction it is used to going ... I gently massage it toward my body and my heart, I had surgery four months ago.

ahdjdbcjdjdbkf

I have the exact same thing - a lump on my surgery side in my armpit. I had a PET scan and it was 100% clear. It was just some backed-up lymph as I do have lymphedema. When I massage the lump to push the lymph down my side away from the arm it clears up.

mummommama

SAME thing happened to my poor armpit! there is still some roping but much less pain. yoga has helped.

lylyjenny

I went to see my BS and he said I had sort of soroma. Actually now the lump seemed to go away. Two weeks ago I also had cording problem (axillary webbing syndrome). When I tried to stretch my arm, it really hurt. But now, that pain also has gone.

I do stretch and message every day since I found the lump and it does help with the saroma and cording problem.

lylyjenny

Thanks a lot for helping you calm down

I went to see my BS yesterday and he said I had sort of soroma (fluid thing accumulate in the axillary area). Actually now the lump seemed to go away. Two weeks ago I also had cording problem (axillary webbing syndrome). When I tried to stretch my arm, it really hurt. But now, that pain also has gone.

I do stretch and message every day since I found the lump and it does help with the saroma and cording problem.

mummommama

I have the same thing. Surgery April 24th! And that buggar hurts! Does yours (or anyone else's) hurt?

I love the suggestions for massage. Will try that next. Yoga, stretching has been really helpful because there is also some cording (? I don't know what it's called but it looks like a cord under the skin in the armpit that runs vertically from around the lymph incision site to my upper arm).

Getting range of motion back and protecting that arm/hand from scratches and bacteria seem uber important now.

Take good care! And remember to rest!

ahdjdbcjdjdbkf

I had an appointment with my Radiation Oncologist this week. She looked at it and said it is fine. She said it is OK to really "get in there and work it" to push the lymph down the side of my trunk and loosen up the tissue in the area so it doesn't end up getting adhesions.

tillthen

yes very scary to see , after 5 years my skin under the arm stills bothers me to see , my doctor says that can happen . I tried to tape it , added a pad to area to compress and hold in place so bra strap doesn't irritate

moretreesgirl

I have the same thing.

A BIG LUMP in left armpit after double mastectomy.

I don't worry about it.

What's more annoying is that I have HOT FLASHES since 2 days after surgery.

It must be related. I have never had a hot flash before in my life.

This was something I wasn't warned about.

It keeps me from sleeping through the night and is very restless.

I wake up 3 x a night.

Have refused chemo.

All the pics were negative.

I really am not gonna do chemo "just in case there is a cancer cell in my big toe" or something.

I think my immune system can get that.

The chemo doc wanted to do that. Of course. That's her job,

I am not gonna get sick and die from chemo as I have seen women around me do.

The chemo, the total breakdown of the body, and leukemia caused by chemo and radiation, did them in.

Became physical basket cases.

So I m not doing it.

So what if I die earlier? I am not gonna live in misery. Worse die from a "preventative" treatment.