Biopsy cause Lymphodema?

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B123
B123 Member Posts: 730
edited June 2014 in Lymphedema

I had a biopsy on the R breast, lateral side near the underarm, painful.  It was about 2 weeks ago and my breast, the area of biopsy and underarm all the way down my arm is in pain and numb. Can a biopsy cause this or should I be worried??  They told me my nodes were clear with the MRI but 2 were swollen from the biopsy. 

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  • Binney4
    Binney4 Member Posts: 8,609
    edited August 2011

    B, I glanced at your profile page and see you are a PT, and that you're planning bilateral mastectomies. Because of the nature of your work I'd sure suggest a pre-surgery visit with a well-qualified lymphedema therapist. Here's how to find one near you:
    http://www.stepup-speakout.org/Finding_a_Qualified_Lymphedema_Therapist.htm

    S/he will be able to assess your current problem, but even more importantly take baseline arm measurements for future reference, give you personalized lymphedema risk reduction tips, and fit you for compression sleeves and gloves or gauntlets (fingerless gloves) to use prophelactically throughout cancer treatment and for exercise and air travel. 

    In answer to your direct question, though, any surgery/trauma to the chest/breast creates a lymphedema risk, even without cancer -- though the risk is less without node removal. So, again, well worth a visit to a well-trained lymphedema therapist just for peace of mind.

    Wishing you smooth sailing through your surgery and onward,
    Binney

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