Just a few questions

Hello there, 

I too had a mastectomy and lymph node clearance 5 weeks ago now. I had a prevena dressing which staying in place for about 16 days and I recovered well. I am pleased to read you are too. 

I didn’t have any feeling under my arm and a lot of my arm for some time and I have done my exercises and some. The feeling has returned in the main for my arm, but I still can’t feel a lot of my underarm. I sponge washed daily as was unable to shower or bathe, and after the dressing was off I used roll on deodorant. As I don’t have any feeling there I haven’t shaved or removed the hair yet. I didn’t have any specific issues with smelling other than more feeling un clean and it is a challenge to clean areas when you can’t feel anything! 

I had a reconstruction at the same time, so I can’t help with your final question. Due to margins not being clear, I am having the skin and nipple removed tomorrow and the reconstruction being removed and re done in a different manner. I am sharing this as this will be 5 weeks from the previous op if this helps with your time frame thoughts. 

Good luck with the rest of your recovery.

Hi Hotmess80

That’s strange as I’ve had that too. It’s an unusual but unpleasant smell that’s difficult to describe & not one I’ve had before if I hadn’t used deodorant (not often!). I had a lumpectomy 2/2 & follow up surgery 19/2 to clear up infection & remove more cells that cancer had been found in. Flannel washed under arms daily & couldn’t use deodorant 6-8 weeks but still could notice smell. I had a port fitted in upper arm under my skin as need chemo &  wasn’t able to use deodorant very much again & the smell is back stronger. I was beginning to wonder if I could actually smell the cancer!! (Mad I know )

After my surgery I had a strange smell under my armpit, same side as surgery.  Fortunately it went after a couple of weeks.