Truncal LE on contralateral side?

Anonymous

Truncal LE on contralateral side?

Sue2690

I'm 5 years out (yay!) from dx and in January noticed significant swelling above my collar bone on my left side (cancer was on the right). Had mammo and ultrasound and nothing noted, and doc couldn't feel any lymph nodes. Last week I noticed swelling in my armpit and beside my breast - again only on the left side. Doc doesn't feel anything unusual there, but it's very puffy. I"m going for another ultrasound hopefully this week.

Could this be lymphedema? Doc says it's on the wrong side so seems to be discounting it.

I did have DIEP reconstruction (right side) and a lift on the left side about 3 years ago.

Thanks for any insight you can provide.

MinusTwo

Sue - sounds like you had surgery on both sides (recon & lift) so yes, it could be LE. It has to do with the lymph pathways being disturbed, not cancer. It would be good if you could go see a trained lymphadema therapist for diagnosis. Most docs don't know much about it - particularly truncal or breast. This is a good site to review with lots of info.

http://www.stepup-speakout.org/

ChiSandy

The danger of bilateral truncal LE is what’s keeping me from seeking bilateral breast reductions. My feet blister at the slightest provocation and I formed large seromas at both the SNB site (which seroma exploded when the incision burst from the weight of a too-large breast) and the tumor cavity (slowly resorbing). I fear that I would at least become a seroma factory and might even end up with bilateral truncal AND arm LE.

Sue2690

Not what I wanted to hear, but thanks!

My ultrasound is tomorrow. If it doesn't show anything I'll follow up about the LE.

Grrr.