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Has anyone had breast lymphedema which then spread to the arm?
Breast Cancer | Last Active: Dec 25, 2023 | Replies (39)Comment receiving replies
@leolion811 I have been thinking of you just about nonstop, as I am post-surgery& chemo TNBC status also. (Almost two years out from the end of chemo.) I saw your post in the lymphedema discussion thread because I've been dealing with that. I'm sending you every best wish along with being terribly curious as to what indicated the TN has returned. I have been dealing with a deep pain in my left arm which is becoming more constant than episodic; I had up until lately considered it to be related to the chest lymphedema I had under the mastectony scar. (The left side was my "tumor side.") The doc said I had "pre-clinical" lymphedema in my left arm, so I've been wearing a sleeve every day. But that deep ache is getting worse. I am worried about metastatic bone involvement but I'm not due to see my oncologist until February. What was the flag that indicated your TN has returned?
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Thank you for your kind words. Sorry you are dealing with all of this. Can you call another member of your team to see if you can get in sooner? I have 5 doctors in my team. Keep calling til one of them can see you before February.🙏🏼🙏🏼
As for me, I felt a tiny little bump on the outside of my skin this summer. Had my bilateral mammogram/ultrasound- they saw something - had biopsy and I told the radiologist who did the biopsy to look at the little bump. She wasn’t concerned- thought it was a pimple ( it was on my dissection scar)My biopsy was negative. )?end of August). If I touched it or if my bra rubbed against it- it hurt. It didn’t go away or get bigger (stayed the same)
Saw my medical oncologist- she wasn’t concerned as well. Then in the middle of November, I saw my radiologist oncologist and PA- they weren’t concerned BUT the next day they called me that they had discussed about the tiny bump and wanted me to see my breast surgeon. Saw her and her PA and at first they weren’t concerned at first but they wanted to do a punch biopsy and they did
(Johns Hopkins) - took 13 days for the results 😡 and it came back positive for cancer 😭 the entire team were shocked including me!!
Sent me for another mammogram/ultrasound last week. They didn’t see anything. The radiologist explained that they don’t pick up anything on the outside of the skin. Recommended the dreaded Breast MRI and Petscan.
Had the MRI on Tuesday and Petscan today. Results are —— that tiny bump is in armpit( they believe it could be a lymph node) but I had all the lymph nodes removed during my right auxiliary dissection. My medical oncologist gave me the news this afternoon ( very impressed the results came back less then 3 hours! Anyway, I have a 4:00 video appointment tomorrow with my breast surgeon. I am very happy that there isn’t anymore cancer in my body ( just the 9mm spot)
Whew 😥 that was a lot to write. I am glad I did for you & for others to read. So if something doesn’t feel right, call your team!!
Best wishes and keep me posted 🙏🏼🙏🏼