Mole removal on lymphedema risked arm

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LM070917
LM070917 Member Posts: 323
edited August 2016 in Lymphedema

I have a mole on my hand which needs to be removed but it's on my BC side which although I don't have lymphedema, I'm at a high risk due to previousax node clearance and I'm concerned it could cause it. Anyone know if you can do minor surgery on a hand/arm at risk of lymphedema?


Thanks

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  • Denise-G
    Denise-G Member Posts: 1,777
    edited August 2016

    I don't know, but will be interested to hear other's responses on this as I have Lymphedema.

    Sending my best - I know others will be responding soon!

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  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited August 2016

    I have bi-lat lymphedema, worse on the side with ALND than the SNB only arm. I also have had numerous cases of skin cancer. I recently had to have one removed from the arm with worse lymphedema. The cancer was just below the shoulder, my dermatologist is aware of the LE and let me try topical treatment first but there was residual cancer left so he had to remove it surgically. It did not cause a flare or any particular problem. Compounding this is also an allergy to topical antibiotics so I could not preventively treat for infection either

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  • coraleliz
    coraleliz Member Posts: 1,523
    edited August 2016

    I've had basal cell skin cancers removed from my arms. Both of my arms are at risk. My LE is in my chest. Usually they do a scraping/cauterizing technique. I don't use antibiotic ointments on these. My dermatologist believes they are being overused & contribute to resistant bacterial strains. This week I had a deeper version of basal cell skin cancer that required a deeper incision & 4 stitches. It's on my shoulder towards my back. Since I have not had issues with cellulitus, I'm OK without the antibiotic ointment. Keeping the healing wound from drying out facilitates healing, so I'm told just to use aquafor(sp) or vasaline.

    My dermatologist told me that I was too young(57) not to treat. I wonder how old I have to get before I can start ignoring these basal cell cancers. Lost count how many I've had removed over the years.

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  • ChiSandy
    ChiSandy Member Posts: 12,133
    edited August 2016

    Not getting a mole removed from my LE arm--but I do have a trigger thumb (stenosing tenosynovitis--thanks, letrozole) on my R hand. My R arm is my dominant one as well. I was nervous about getting a cortisone shot for it, but my nurse-navigator and my LE doc said it’d be fine--in fact, my LE doc says heaven forbid the shot didn’t work, the trigger-thumb release surgery was safe and I would not need to have a therapist standing by to wrap me. (Dozens of his patients have had it or carpal tunnel surgery on their LE side). Well, the steroid shot didn’t flare my LE, but it didn’t work either, so "heaven failed to forbid” and I will have the tendon-release surgery in 4 weeks. The surgeon explained that though it is an open procedure (the closed needle-release is fine for fingers but too risky for nerve damage with the thumb), there will be no tourniquet and I will get scrupulous infection control.

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  • doxie
    doxie Member Posts: 1,455
    edited August 2016

    Lottemarine,

    I have mild truncal and upper arm LE. I've had both a cortisone shot and trigger thumb release surgery on my LE side. This improved the LE because pain and inflammation disappeared. I get many cat scratches on my BC side and have avoided LE flares and infection from these.

    I did have LE flares after nipple reconstruction, mainly because my body reacts to the stitches. This also happened with the hand surgery stitches, but didn't cause LE. Next surgery I'll have to ask what is in the thread to that I may be reacting to.

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