swelling/pain adjacent to lumpectomy & sentinel node incisions

GenX

Hi team! This is a great community, but you already knew that.

I'm fresh off my lumpectomy/sentinel node "biopsy" (not sure why the euphemism, since they remove them) yesterday. I won't dive into too much detail about the experience (unless someone wants me to--feel free to ask, happy to share) but it was a very, very long day. My surgery was outpatient and I had hideous post-operative nerve searing, sawing, shooting nipple pain but that finally abated late last night. Now that the nerve pain has subsided, my incision sites feel pretty good, not too sore.

The only small concern I have currently is pain & swelling located below the sentinel node incision and lateral to my breast. It doesn't seem like it quite meets the description of a seroma but if it gets worse, I'll have it looked at. Without this painful spot (about 3"x3") I would be pretty spry already. In spite of being fit and in good health, I always seem to have less common complications...unless those of you who have had lumpectomy/sentinel node removal tell me this type of swelling adjacent to the incisions is common

I'm going to say this here and will add it to other posts: if you are having nodes removed in your armpit, the axilla pilla is a lifesaver. I may have read about it on here or just found it on Amazon (I ordered direct from the company who makes them, Masthead Pink), and I'm so glad I did and ordered it in time for my surgery. Other smaller pillows could do the same thing, I'm sure...so definitely get one to support your arm away from your incision before your surgery.

Let's keep fighting this s--t! Rock on, sisters!

Beaverntx

My surgeon's comment about swelling around the incision likened it to a bunch of little carpenters in there busily at work and at the one year post surgery visit when I asked about continued tenderness in the area her comment was that that tissue had been through a lot! So keep an eye on it, especially if it keeps increasing in size and gets red call your surgeon.

rbreny

My stats are exactly like yours. I had my surgery last Nov. and still get twinges. For 2-3 weeks after surgery I had a seroma at the lymph node site. My surgeon and MO said it would go away and it did. Try not to worry since it all sounds very normal.

moth

I had something like what you describe. It wasn't quite a full blown seroma but wasn't quite normal either. My surgeon told me it's fine just so long as it's not red, weepy, warm, or super painful. My surgeon gave me his email so I emailed him a photo of it and he reassured me it was fine and I didn't have to go in. The slnb scar took longer to heal and was just messier than the lumpectomy overall - again, I was told that was pretty normal.

I hope you're doing your prescribed stretches and arm exercises! That really ensures everything heals up nicely and you don't lose range of motion in your shoulder.

AliceBastable

Are you still wearing the hospital bra? I had to wear mine 48 hours post-surgery. Then I switched to a front-zip Danskin sports bra with rigid inserts, and inside that I used a folded or rolled soft cotton sock to keep pressure on the incisions. I also iced several times a day. Wore that kind of bra 24/7 for three weeks post-surgery. No swelling.

moth

AliceBastable - I didn't get a hospital bra & my surgeon did not require me to wear anything. I think it depends on how big your breasts are and where the surgery is and the surgeon's preference. It's definitely not universally prescribed.

DogMomRunner

GenX - I got a seroma at the axillary incision. I had 8 nodes removed. My surgery was April 19th, the seroma pooped up about a week later and is just now going down. My BS drained it once but it just filled up again. My lymphadema therapist told me (as long as it's not painful) to massage it gently to help coax the fluid to reason into the surrounding tissue.

I also did not get a hospital bra nor did my BS prescribe one. My tumor was at the twelve position and that incision was right above the nipple in the aerola

GenX

I guess I'm surprised that the incisions are lightly painful but the swollen area (which is not red, not throbbing) is more painful & definitely cramping my style in a way the incisions aren't.

I wasn't given or prescribed a bra. I was wearing a medium support, very comfy bralette type thing but it seemed to cause the swelling to pool within the bra area around my side, under my armpit, and I'm more comfy for now with it off. After my biopsy, I absolutely had to wear a bra for like 5 days straight. I'll try a bra again later today.

Moth, good info, thanks. I can't fathom taking the frickin tegaderm & gauze off today around the node incision b/c like you said, it's just kinda messy & awkward. I did arm exercises yesterday and almost felt like they led directly to an increase in the swelling. I will do more today, lightly.

Thanks for your input, all.