Lymphadema 2 3/4 years after mastectomy

Options
babs6287
babs6287 Member Posts: 2,021
edited May 2015 in Lymphedema

I can't believe I just developed lymphadema. I had my mastectomy August 2012. What could have caused it now? Could it be because I went on Letrazole and Ibrance about 2 months ago? As I tell everyone BC is the gift that keeps on giving! Any info on this would help

Thanks all my sisters!!!

Babs

· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • Straitlover
    Straitlover Member Posts: 124
    edited May 2015

    They say it can come on up to 20 years after lymph node surgery. Sorry you're going thru this. Make sure you see a good LE specialist!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • fifthyear
    fifthyear Member Posts: 225
    edited May 2015

    Babs, my friend developed lymphadema over night 18 years from the time she had her surgery. We was NED all those years from BC and still is. She was doing pottery works with her arms, using them in circular motion for a couple hours. The next morning, there it was. One can never predict how our body respond/react to normal life activities, especially with cancer. Sorry you got this, take care of yourself.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Kicks
    Kicks Member Posts: 4,131
    edited May 2015

    LE can develope at any time after ANY surgery, especially when nodes are removed but not necessary for LE to present, or traumatic injury. Not just after breast surgery. (I have a friend who deals with a lot more LE issues in her leg after minor/non-invasive knee surgery than I deal with after a UMX with 19 pos. nodes removed.)

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • crystalphm
    crystalphm Member Posts: 1,138
    edited May 2015

    I was 4 1/2 years out and got it. In my case, I had a wasp sting. What surprises me is my LE hurts, I always thought it just meant swelling, but even when I can't see swelling, it can ache.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • babs6287
    babs6287 Member Posts: 2,021
    edited May 2015

    Thanks for your responses. Sometimes I think things only happen to me!!! I'm going to MSKCC for treatment. Does anyone else have any experience at MSKCC for LE?

    Babs

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • amygil81
    amygil81 Member Posts: 165
    edited May 2015

    I got my LE about a year and a half after my mastectomy. I first noticed it getting off a plane coming back from Club Med, my first real vacation since losing my breast. I was getting off the plane with my crutches, and the left one (my mastectomy side) seemed to be pushing into my arm a bit. Of course, it was my arm that had swollen, to the point where I noticed it. And so I was officially diagnosed with LE, which I have to this day. If I have to fly, which I try not to do nowadays, I wear full bandages on my affected arm. Yep, the gift that keeps on giving [sigh].

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories