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DiscussionDeciding whether to have diagnostic sentinel lymph node removal
Breast Cancer | Last Active: Apr 29, 2020 | Replies (13)Comment receiving replies
Replies to "Thank you for the information about the lymphedema. I cannot believe the doctors and healthcare people..."
@sandyjr @cindylib
I came across the following article on lymphedema risk in breast cancer which may be of interest to you:
https://www.medpagetoday.com/hematologyoncology/breastcancer/82339
It's a tough road. There are doctors who listen and who will treat you concerns with respect and there are those who aren't good at that. I am on my third oncologist now too and he is great. I was told I was worrying about nothing when I brought up lymphadema prior to my surgery. They were pretty certain I was early stage cancer (which I was) and that few lymph nodes would be removed and tested (which was true)...but the surgeon dug around a great deal to get that one lymph node and it caused lots of damage. If not for that, I may not have gotten the lymphadema and the subsequent cellulitis and sepsis a few months ago (that's not something you ever want to experience). I think the thing that bothers me most is that I wanted information and the lymphadema classes prior to surgery to know what I could expect and I was denied that information. Following surgery I was told over and over I didn't have lymphadema and I had to secure and pay for my treatment for a year before they would believe me it was happening. After the cellulitis and sepsis (some four years post surgery) they act like I should have known all about how bad my lymphadema was.....hmmmmmm. I was unlucky and most people I know with lymphadema had multiple nodes removed and tested. Cancer - the gift that just keeps giving.... Hugs and remember.....I was probably the outlier in my situation.