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Outfield
Outfield Member Posts: 1,109
edited June 2014 in Stage III Breast Cancer

I'm almost 17 months out from my BMx, just past a year from finishing chemo, almost a year from having finished radiation.  I'm not doing reconstruction - many reasons, but mainly I couldn't live the with fear of anything that would make it hard for me to feel another lump on my skinny old chest.  I still cannot believe I was diagnosed at stage III.

I'vel got burning phantom pain where the girls used to be, and a feeling like I'm leaning onto my armpit onto the edge of a barrel on the side with the ALND.  At this point, I don't expect it to just go away.  It's not that it's such a severe pain, but it's a constant nasty reminder of the cancer.  What helps is rubbing my chest, but that's for sure not something I can do at work.  

Do any of you have any suggestions? 

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  • mrsnjband
    mrsnjband Member Posts: 1,409
    edited November 2011

    You could be having symptoms of lymphedema.  That  kind of pain is how I first noticed a problem.  You get those kinds of pains right after surgery & occasionally afterwards.  Since you had ALND this puts you at higher risk for LE. I would recommend finding a LE therapist.  You might also try icepacks.  Tha seems to help me with my LE pains. Hope this helps. NJ

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  • crystalphm
    crystalphm Member Posts: 1,138
    edited November 2011

    I am glad you posted, I have the same feelings...18 months for my one side now. I rub it like you do, but it always comes back. I have seen a lymphedema specialist, and she diagnosed me with mild lymphedema and is teaching me manual lymphatic drainage and I do have to say the area is less congested. Less full feeling. I have only been doing this for a week now.

    My pain burns too, I go to the mirror expecting to see a wild red rash or even bleeding...but everything is clear and wonderful, not even a hint of pink. I also still have trouble laying on the side that had the lymph node dissection.

    I have to tell you i loved your line about not getting reconstruction, I feel the same way, I am not having anything stuffed into my chest, I want no places where I have to check for lumps!

    d

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  • Outfield
    Outfield Member Posts: 1,109
    edited November 2011

    I do have lymphedema.  My first symptom of that was also pain, but it was different.  I developed it in my chest wall below my incision first, then later in my arm.  The first thing I felt was a pain that felt like a pulled muscle, but in my skin.  That pain has gone away completely with treatment of the lymphedema.  

    The burning pain is, if you can imagine, in my breasts that are gone.  I do miss them, but not so much that I am not 100% sure I wouldn't make the same decision again.  I just didn't expect them to still be with me this way.

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