Hello, I had a lumpectomy and node removal last Wednesday. I haven't exactly been sitting still but I haven't lifted or done anything awful but I have got a lot of pain down the back of my armpit and top of my arm. Is this normal? Is it nerve damage or how they hold your arm during the op? It doesn't seem to be getting any less. Thanks for your help Ali x

Its the node removal, I had the same for a few weeks and its a lot more uncomfortable than the area where my breast used to be...!!!

Yes  it is quite normal .  I had much more pain from the node removal than the lumpectomy.  Just keep taking the painkillers and do your excercises religiously.  Massage the top of of your arm in an upwards direction gently.  It will get better.

 

Best wishes.

Yes totally normal to get pain from node removal. All I can stress is exercise exercise exercise. Massage plenty of moisturiser in upward motion on your arm every day & massage the bio oil in to the scar as well. This seems to always help me with the pain. It is unfortunate that this has caused me the most pain - no pain at all from mastectomy area at all ! Weird !! Be careful though for the first 12 weeks post op not to carry anything heavy ( I stressed this to hubby as hoover, iron etc etc )

Hope you get back to yourself soon - seems daunting now but you will defo notice an improvement every day & when you look back on a week will be very proud of how far you have come.. Its one day at a time for us all... Take care ...

Patricia xxx

I had a lumpectomy two weeks ago and I don't know if they did the sentinel lobe biopsy or not - will find out on Monday. My breast is still purple, hard and swollen. District nurse says not infected - is this normal? I stopped taking pain killers but had to start again yesterday. Thanks carol

Hi Eider I had my lumpectomy 3 weeks ago. My breast has been really hard since the op too. I have noticed there are 'pockets' of soft tissue forming gradually now... This seems to have happened over the last few days. My lump was 'unusually high' according to the surgeon and they cut around my nipple and under my arm..... Quite how they managed to get to the lump from there, I have no idea, but the 'hardness' seems to radiate from the incisions to where the lump was taken. I assume that it's still trauma from the op. I did mention the hardness to my BCN about a week after surgery and was given the impression that it was completely normal. To be fair, it's amazing how quickly it's all healed etc.... I think I'm just impatient