Pain where lymph nodes were removed????

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NicoleJasien
NicoleJasien Member Posts: 50
edited June 2014 in Not Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastases but Concerned

I keep having sharp pains where my lymph nodes were removed.  I keep telling myself it is just nerves but it's been going on for a few weeks now.  I had 12 positive lymph nodes.  I am all finished with treatment and NED but this is worring me a bit.  I still have expanders in.  Anyone had anything similar to this?

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  • MameMe
    MameMe Member Posts: 425
    edited February 2013

    I had just two nodes removed in my first BC treatment, and it was just like what you describe, only less severe. I could feel the irritation down along the side of my chest, and it was pretty strong for the first couple months. talk with your surgeon or Onc, they might be able to help. best wishes, hang in there.

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  • sbelizabeth
    sbelizabeth Member Posts: 2,889
    edited February 2013

    Nicole, I had a complete axillary dissection and for months afterward, I had burning and stabbing pain in my armpit and down my arm.  I was totally convinced that there was a boatload of cancer there and either the chemo was making it mad, or it was growing big time.

    Neither was true, of course.  The surgery itself damages some nerves in there and they are zingy while they're growing back.  Trust me.  There's no cancer there.  It's just your body putting itself back together.

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  • wishiwere
    wishiwere Member Posts: 3,793
    edited March 2013

    Only had 4 nodes removed back in 07, and still have tenderness and pain at times regarding under the arm and around the back of it.  Stretching will help alleviate some of it, but not all...

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  • feelingfeline
    feelingfeline Member Posts: 5,664
    edited March 2013

    Hi Nicole,

    I'm a year post surgery and I get lots of sharp stabby pains that side. I so agree with sbelizabeth that it really feels like you must have cancer going on there. In fact I think it makes it very difficult to forget about the cancer. These pains still get me rattled sometimes. I have googled it and what I found was women from 1 to 12 years out posting that they experienced this. So in as much as anything about life after cancer dx  is normal, it does appear to be pretty normal.

    I'm seeing my onco next month and do intend to ask him.

    XXX

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  • maltomlin
    maltomlin Member Posts: 343
    edited April 2013

    Hi

    I had 24 nodes removed, nearly 5 years ago and it took a long time for that area to calm down. It hurt, was uncomfortable etc etc and I felt that it would be like permanently. It wasn't. Gradually (don't ask how long it took) it did get better, but until then I was stressing out over every little ache, pain & lump. I even had a lump appear overnight after about 2 years. It freaked me out, at the time, but it was a cyst under the scar tissue.

    I'm nearly 5 years out now and doing great, but still have problems with that arm and shoulder. It's nothing, in the grand scheme of things.Just aches a bit sometimes, but it's much better than the alternative.

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  • Lily55
    Lily55 Member Posts: 3,534
    edited April 2013

    Yes mine is pretty bad some days............but it is nerve damage and scar tissue stretching or not being able to stretch.....

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  • feelingfeline
    feelingfeline Member Posts: 5,664
    edited April 2013

    Thanks for that maltomlin, it's very helpful to hear.

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  • feelingfeline
    feelingfeline Member Posts: 5,664
    edited May 2014

    Should have come back here much sooner to post. All tests for suspected recurrence neg and it seems stabby pains under arm quite common and caused by hormone mess post BC treatment and ongoing tamoxifen.

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