Axillary LN Dissection - Scar&What to expect

daisydaisy

Dear ladies, please help me out. Mom is going to have lumpectomy plus axillary ln dissection (I suggest level I&II), since clinically on her first US one node was affected. Anyway, sentinel node biopsy is not available in Russia. I spent hours googling, but was unable to find a picture of the scar after such dissection. How big is it and where is it exactly? Mom develops keloid scars after any cut, so I want to take care of it in advance. Plus somebody told me the scar in the armpit looks really ugly, and there is like a hole left - but I am not sure about it. If anyone may share their experience, I would very much appreciate it. I have to stock silicone strips in advance to try to stop the scar right from the start.

And one more question - how painful this surgery is? What are you supposed to start doing right away - any exercise, massage, therapy? I will try to see a physiotherapist before the surgery, but any input will be very helpful. I do not want to miss anything critical right after. Mom is overweight, I am afraid that puts her at extra risk for lymphedema, we should try to prevent it.

Thanks a lot to all of you! Good luck and lots of health to everyone here!

RX34

if you're asking just about the axillary node dissection, my scar is no more than 1.5" long and is located about 3 finger widths below my arm pit. I had a bit of pain the night of my dissection that was managed with prescription pain meds. I only took 3 pills and then switched to Tylenol because the prescription stuff made me nauseous and it was enough to control the pain (which for me only lasted a couple days at most)

daisydaisy

Dear RX34, thanks for your feedback. I am glad you have such a small scar. Did they remove only 2 nodes? In our case they will remove much more, unfortunately.

knittingPT

I also had a lumpectomy with ANLD. My scar is about the wide of my arm and runs horizontally across my armpit. I had 12 (I think) nodes removed. There is a noticeable indention in the arm pit compared to the opposite side. I found this incision to be the most troublesome. It took me some time to get my range of motion back because they also remove some fatty tissue. So things were tight for quite a while after they pulled the edges together. I had quite a bit of swelling on the side of my trunk under the arm. We weren't sure if it was acute swelling from surgery or lymphedema at first. It worsened during radiation. Now the swelling has resolved and I'm back to full activities. I think the surgeon made me wait 2 weeks to do any real exercises but I was always allowed to move it within the comfortable range of motion. I did manual lymph drainage and kinesiotaping to help with the swelling and used vitamin E oil/scar massage on the scar itself. I would definitely recommend a visit with physio but, of course, I am biased!

downdog

Here is a 3D animation video of the procedure. Variations and preferences will exist in surgical technique, but this will give you an overall understanding. I am a big proponent of physiotherapy as well - before and after surgery. If some PTs are certified lymphedema specialists in Russia, I think it would be a worthwhile option to pursue for her. Best wishes to your mom and you.

ALND 3D animation

daisydaisy

knittingPT and downdog, thank you so much for your replies. downdog, this video is really great.

It's somewhat comforting to know that others have been through the same experience and are well now. Even though I'd prefer that noone ever experieces things we have to do.

Hugs and lots of health to everyone!