Itching/Tingling at Mastectomy Site

Options
mary625
mary625 Member Posts: 1,056
edited June 2014 in Stage III Breast Cancer

I have been plagued for the past 24 hours with itching and tingling at my mastectomy site, although I am 1 years 2 months since surgery.  It comes on repetitively at close intervals and feels like I need to scratch, but scratching doesn't help because it's deeper than the skin.  It's in the lower outer quadrant adjoining where my lymph nodes used to reside.  My cancer was in the upper outer quadrant, same (left) breast.  Has anyone had this so long after surgery?  Can nerves still be healing?  I don't feel any lumps or hardening there, but there's barely anything left except skin and ribs.  I'm about ready to climb the walls! 

· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • jennyboog
    jennyboog Member Posts: 1,322
    edited April 2013

    Oh yeah!  Happens to me often, some times is worse than others.  Drives me nuts too, so deep I can't get to it...3 yrs in July.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • anna4969
    anna4969 Member Posts: 86
    edited April 2013

    Hi Mary625

    Yes, Yes!!!  I am so happy to see your post as I am 2 1/2 years out and I still have that very same itching.  It is on the outer two quadrants for me.  I had 18 lymph nodes removed and I wonder if having the lymph nodes removed does have something to do with it.  I had a prophy on the left without removal of lymph nodes and I have yet to have any deep internal itching on that side So??  For me it happens about once every two weeks and lasts for a little less than a day.  I am ready to go crazy, because just like you, it is deep and itching does absolutely nothing to relieve it because that is only topical.  I am also completely numb there as well since the surgery.  I end up slapping my breast in that area hoping it will give me a little relief.  It does not really because it is so internal that nothing can reach it.  I, too, am thinking that this long out, could it still be nerves regenerating?  I wonder. I will be very interested in responses.  Thank you for asking this question. 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • karen1956
    karen1956 Member Posts: 6,503
    edited April 2013

    I don't know if this is the same thing....I'm 7 years out from bilat, but there are times (mostly evenings and night) that my "foobs" are so itchy, that I feel like I could claw my skin off....I have silicone implants so its not like I can feel what I am scratching, but I am itchy at times....also sometimes it feels like I'm wearing a bra that is very uncomfy...go figure!!!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Ihopeg
    Ihopeg Member Posts: 399
    edited April 2013

    Wow, I am over 6 years out and have had the itching for almost the whole time. It seems worse after I take off my foob for the night.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • burge
    burge Member Posts: 18
    edited May 2013

    I am almost 2 years out from my b/l mastectomy and I also get intense itching at the surgical sites.  I have found that benadyl cream helps the itch (it also is deep)  You may ask your doctor for neurontin for the pain/itch.  I haven't tried it yet but it is an option.  My plastic surgeon said that it can be expected .  Hope this helped.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Letlet
    Letlet Member Posts: 1,053
    edited May 2013

    It happens to me too which drives me crazy because I can't scratch it really. I will be almost 3 years out fr MX

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • mary625
    mary625 Member Posts: 1,056
    edited May 2013

    Saw my onc today, and he said it's most likely nerve regeneration which he sees a lot in the 2nd year. (P.S. In regard to recent studies, he said that if it were him he's take a baby aspirin every day and if my doctor thought I needed a cholesterol medicine ("statin") it looks very favorable from a study published this week.)

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories