Post lumpectomy swelling

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Ltam16
Ltam16 Member Posts: 34
edited September 2015 in Surgery - Before, During, and After

tomorrow will be 2 weeks since lumpectomy and sentinel lymph node biopsy. My breast seems to be more swollen and painful today...increased throughout the day. I'm calling dr tomorrow but just wondering if anyone experienced this. Under my upper arm and armpit have burning sensation off and on too ( no where near my incision

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  • ceanna
    ceanna Member Posts: 5,270
    edited September 2015

    Ltam, I hope you got some answers from your phone call today. Perhaps it is a seroma--an accumulation of fluid. I developed one over the lymph node biopsy site over a week after my LX. Just search this site for discussion of "seroma" and see if that matches what you're experiencing. My surgeon ended up draining it and it finally went away.

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  • mustlovepoodles
    mustlovepoodles Member Posts: 2,825
    edited September 2015

    I'm about 12 days post-op lumpectomy with sentinel node biopsy, and I also have some swelling in my arm pit. In fact, it's kinda chafing things up in there. I've had it checked and my surgeon says it's as she expected--in other words, don't worry about it--but it's still a PITA. I'm so ready for this experience to be over!

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  • Ltam16
    Ltam16 Member Posts: 34
    edited September 2015

    mustlovepoodles--thanks! that's exactly what my dr said...all to be expected. The burning comes out of nowhere. And the underarm chafing sensation! this too shall pass! I see you're having surgery today. Hope all goes well!

    Ceanna--thanks. Dr did not think it needed to be drained at this point. But I did a search and read all about it! I'm getting quite an education these days

    Looking forward to just getting back to normal (whatever that is) This whole cancer diagnosis seemed to come out of left field and it's been such a flurry of appointments and information mixed with anxious waiting periods. I still cannot believe this is happening! Now I just have to be patient and wait to heal (and wait for my oncotype score...)


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  • bjclaywell
    bjclaywell Member Posts: 49
    edited September 2015

    I'm 14 days past surgery, and my SNB incision still irritates me a lot. I've been told "all is healing up just fine." Sometimes it feels swollen, other times it chafes - and I don't know why. I find myself walking around and doing the "chicken" with that arm just to stop skin from touching skin.

    I have taken to placing a clean hand towel folded over twice under my arm at night so skin isn't against skin, and it helps the chafing sensation. Also, if I'm wearing a lose enough shirt, I will also put a clean, folded wash rag under my armpit and inside my bra to keep skin from touching skin. It has worked wonders on the chafing at least. I'm finding sleeping to be much more comfortable with the hand towel there (I live in Phoenix and sleep in cami's or tank tops). Also, they both help with sweat - I wasn't allowed to start deodorant again until today, and again, being in Phoenix, they help immensely.

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  • Ltam16
    Ltam16 Member Posts: 34
    edited September 2015

    Bjclaywell--small pillows are my new best friend. And I've been doing the "chicken" too!

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  • mustlovepoodles
    mustlovepoodles Member Posts: 2,825
    edited September 2015

    Doing the chicken, LOL. Me, too. I wear a 4"x4" guaze pad between my bra and the incision, which is just about in the underarm arm area. Darned inconvenient!

    Surgery went well yesterday. Recovery, so far, as been great. I have minimal swelling and bruising this time around. And i have only needed one Percocet and very little Tylenol. Yay!

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  • upstater15
    upstater15 Member Posts: 17
    edited September 2015

    What a relief to find this thread! I'm 9 days post lumpectomy, SNB, and have developed armpit swelling and that bizarre chafing sensation! I have a call scheduled with surgeon tomorrow anyway (pathology results expected, yikes), so was going to ask about it then, but in the meantime, it really helps to know that this is a common symptom and nothing to be worried about.

    Whew!

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  • mustlovepoodles
    mustlovepoodles Member Posts: 2,825
    edited September 2015

    BJ--that's a great suggestion, about the washcloths. I'm going to start do that at night.

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