Questions about prof MX after bc MX/nodes/lymphedema

tessu

I had right mastectomy without reconstruction, plus 9 axillary nodes removed, late August '15. The scar is "glued" tight to my chest wall and hurts when I stretch to exercise. Within a couple weeks post-op I developed hand/arm/chest wall lymphedema on the operated side, which has quieted down some since last chemo, but still requires compression. Because of my bc's aggressive path, I desperately want the other breast removed before it develops anything that would require digging out lymphnodes on that side too (thus risking lymphedema there.) I had begged the surgeon to do BMX the first time, but she absolutely refused, so I am stuck with needing a second surgery.

Questions:

Is surgery possible during Herceptin/AI treatment?

Is surgery even possible --- because of lymphedema my right arm cannot be used for ivs or blood pressure --- can they use the left side (with mostly blown/scarred down veins from chemo) while they remove the breast on that side?

How huge is the risk of lymphedema spreading to that side with just breast removal, no node digging?

Could I ever sleep on my left side again, after the scar heals?

My right-side mastectomy scar is "glued down tight" to my chest wall and hurts when I try to stretch to exercise. Should I ask the surgeon to "unglue" it, or would that worsen the lymphedema on my right side?

Sorry for so many weird questions...

BlueHeron

hi Tessu,

I'm sorry you are having so many problems post-op! My understanding is that Mx without lymph node removal has very little lymphedema risk, if any. But I will let others weigh in on that too.

I'm just 2 months post-Mx so a little different than you, but my scar mobility and pain has been greatly reduced by seeing a lymphedema-certified OT (both PTs and OTs can do this). My scar is bound, but the scar work she's doing is definitely helping. It might be worth a try. I would definitely find a PT or OT that specializes in mastectomy patients though.

Jacklin

Hi tessu, while I haven't had my BMX yet, I asked the question about lymphedema risk on the prophylactic side and my breast surgeon indicated that it won't happen, only on the side where the cancer currently is. I can't help you with your questions, sorry.

Take care,

Jackilin

SummerAngel

If you have the left breast removed prophylactically and don't need lymph nodes removed, you can have an IV on that arm. If that arm is too "abused" from chemo, etc, you may prefer an IV in your foot. I had to have nodes removed from both sides, so I had IVs in my feet for both my BMX and reconstruction surgeries. (I also had BP taken on my leg each time.) It was a bummer for me because I have great hand and arm veins, but it was definitely do-able and I haven't had any issues with them.

I agree that you may want to try physical therapy for the scar tissue, too.

rainnyc

Sorry you're going through this. I had a bmx and ended up with LE on the non-bc side. The side with BC is fine. In answer to one of your questions, I had surgery while on Herceptin; I think that's very common. You also might like to know that while my veins on the "good" arm were shot after weekly chemo, six months later, they're fine. So they can heal over time.

My experience is that the BS had no clue about LE. The MO and the RO were on top of it and sent me to a LE therapist, who was enormously helpful.

tessu

What osition do I need to sleep in after left MX? Since I developed lymphedma on the right, I've been sleeping on my left side. I understand that I can't do that immediately after a left-sided mastectomy --- but can I go back to that later? I snore horribly when I sleep on my back, can't sleep on my stomach, and now with LE can't sleep on my right side anymore..