Lumpectomies and years out from BC

I'm five years out now almost, I get twinge's of pain now and then but nothing significant.

I hope your's clears up soon)

Tricia x

I am one year out from lumpectomy and Sentinel node removal and have chronic pain.  I am going to a pain management clinic, at times I can't lift my arm and the pain radiates to my back and down my arm.  I did have Accelerated Partial Breast Irradiation which is the possible cause of the severe pain, it started during the 5 day radiation treatment.

I am so tired of being in pain but hate to complain as there is no evidence of disease which is a very good thing.

IMHO - I think is pain from the nerves being cut and healing with scar tissue. I agree the mammogram now really hurt when they are pulling on the scar tissue.  Truly sadistic procedure to endure now.

Jo, so glad your biopsy turned out good! I am still a little sore, achy, tender (three years out), and occasionally I still get little 'zaps', which my doctor says comes from the nerves growing back; he says that takes years and years, but eventually will go away (or I'll be too old to notice one way or the other maybe). I don't think I would be happy with no boob at all, and when I read all the reconstruction thread stuff .......there is no question in my mind that the lumpectomy was the right thing for me!!

I'm three years out.  I know I made the right decision for me to have the lumpectomy.  My breast is still tender to touch at times, and the 6 month exams and yearly mammos can be pretty painful.  My doc also said it is most likely nerve damage .. and permanent.  The feeling did return to my armpit, which was numb for about 1 1/2 years.  I have full feeling in my breast, which I am grateful for.

I'm glad I had the option for lumpectomy as I really didn't want a mastectomy and recon.  I was lucky that my affected breast was bigger than the other one.  After the lumpectomy, they're both the same size now. 

I don't second guess my decision.  I'm damn fortunate I had the choice.

Bren

I'm just shy of 4 years out, and I still get the occasional "twinge" here and there, or it's a dull aching pain, but never really lasts very long. My BS said that it is the nerves healing, and it could take years to heal. I also find that mamo's on my right side hurt a little bit more than on the left, but nothing that an ibuprofin or two can help with.

JO-5 and All..... these are INSIDE my body and are under my surgery area , instead of using sutchers doctors are using these surgical clips, mine are titanium in all types of surgeries....I only was made aware of these at my 6 mo mammo when the tech asked my if I knew that I had a few of these in my surgery area up near my underarm at sentinel node?.......My doctor says these are used all the time and are not the cause, of course I think different!....I asked for copies of my mammo/us on film and was able to take a photo with my camera and crop that area to post this....I wonder how many of you have these and do not know...Next time you have a mammo, ask your tech esp., your ultrasound tech for these may not show up in breast mammo but possibly be in nodes area, and then ask for copies on film, as you can see they show up very detailed, esp., ask about the nodes area, this is where mine are, the film shows these in very top sn area not in breast..I could have even more, see the one even higher to the left, that is where film ends....It would take more surgery to get them out and my doc does not recommend this, says it may cause more problems and for me to give this another 6 months to heal....I guess I need to research if some of us might be allergic to them and see if that might be causing my slow-heal..Mind you I have no swelling and scars are completely healed looking from outside my skin, just under skin irritation and soreness throughout left side.....

I have those tiny clips in both breasts from both biopsies and my lumpectomy.  I doubt thats what you're feeling, I think its nerve damage from the srugery.

BinVa, mine were used as sutchers, they are not markers, mine are 1mm x 5mm each...

Member_of_the_club....You are lucky yours caused you no se's...I believe these are the cause of my irritation since I have been describing since surgery that it feels like a have a sandspur under my skin and is irritated when my arm lays against that area.. There are many people if you search internet who believe these to be a concern, and some are even allergic, see below.

ruthbru, I'm with you, I have always been allergic to everything even all types tape, and I can only wear gold otherwise my ears/fingers turn black....I found this info about titanium clips on sciencedirect.com ....see below.....

I think may get an allergy check for this!!!!.

I've got about 15 in my right breast - both from the lumpectomy which was very large - across the entire breast from side to side and went above and around top of nipple - then had to have a re-excision of the entire area two weeks later to get two clean margins.  Just looking at these clips in there on my mammos turns my stomach!  No wonder I still have pain!

Linda

It will be my 4th cancerversary at the end of this month (yay!). I still have pain and my breast is oh so sensitive. I still have a slight numbness under my arm. I had a lumpectomy. My Dr's tell me it is nothing to worry about...it is a normal happening. Breast exams and mammo's hurt like hell!

I do have a surgical clip at the lump site.

hugs and prayers to all

I had a lumpectomy and rads in early 2002 and I do have a marker.  I sometimes have pain in the breast to this day, but breast pain was something I also experienced before I ever had the surgery.

somany -

The cramp-like pain you have is more than likely pectoral spasms, which I also have.  I've been doing pretty well with it in the past year, but sometimes it really acts up to the point where if I even laugh I get the spasms.  Tightening you stomach muscles and bearing down helps to make the spasm go away - why, I don't know. 

I also had clips from 2002 (1st lumpectomy) to Oct 2006 (bilateral mastectomy) and they did not cause me any problems at all.  I learned of the clips in early 2006 and was totally shocked!

The surgeon told me that the Radiologists request that clips be inserted to make it easier and more precise for them during the radiation process.

I am almost two years since surgeries. I only really get twinges.

BinVA: When mammograms have you tried putting a pad on the plastic plates that smoosh your boobs. That is such a big help. Your facility should have them.