Feeling arm funny before surgery...

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Eigna
Eigna Member Posts: 438
edited September 2019 in Just Diagnosed

So my lumpectomy is scheduled for October. As I wait for my surgery date, I must say that I am nervous about the surgery and everything that will come after. Now there’s something that is bothering and I did shared it with every doctor I saw but even though they tell me it’s nothing related to the breast cancer I am still worried. It’s been a couple of months I feel my arm (same side as the breast cancer) funny. When I move it in certain directions I feel kinda like a pull. My arm is not swollen but I do feel it sometimes a bit heavy depending of the position of the arm. Doctors have confirmed that several times that it’s not related to breast cancer. But I still feel weird as my brain wonders if cancer cells have traveled to my lymph nodes. I know I am paranoid but I just want to see if anyone feels the same. Note that my ultrasound of my arm pit and the clinical exam are clean:No evidence of swollen lymph nodes what so ever.

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  • gb2115
    gb2115 Member Posts: 1,894
    edited September 2019

    You could still have positive nodes even if clear on imaging (that happened to me), but if it's an amount that small would you be likely to feel it? I don't know.

    Is it possible that because you are aware of the cancer and everything going on that you are holding your arm differently? I notice my arm tightens up a lot due to stress making my shoulder tight. Of course I think I have nerve damage from radiation. But, my arm will feel heavy and tight but if my husband works out the knots near my shoulder it gets better.

    Just a thought. In any event, you are about to get those nodes checked. And if positive, you'll deal with it. For me they radiated the nodes.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited September 2019

    When we feel our lives are threatened (as you are), we are hyper-aware of everything because right now everything looks like a threat. That's normal! My guess is that is what is going on with you, nothing else. Trust your docs, and no, you can't see or feel cancer in lymph nodes unless they are swollen and actually invading a muscle, and that should have been obvious on an US scan. Hang in there.

    Claire in AZ


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