Mastectomy - Blood pressure/blood draws which arm?

butterflylvr
butterflylvr Member Posts: 944
in Breast Cancer #1
Hello beautiful Pink sisters,

This has always confused me because I've seen different answers multiple times. I understand that if you had a mastectomy, your blood work/blood pressure checks should be administered on your opposite side of the body. Now with a double mastectomy which side is it done? I know at my cancer clinic here in Green Bay they do all my work on my right side (tumor was in left breast).

I find it amazing how certain parts of the country attack their approach on treatment options differently. I'm curious what they do in your neck of the woods.

Hugs,
Lorrie

Comments

  • teresa41
    teresa41 Member Posts: 471
    #2
    depends on wich side nodes were taken from
    it depends on wich side the lymph nodes were taken from .i had a double masectomy they took all my lymph nodes from the left side so they only have my right side for blood draw and blood pressure.



    teresa
  • Gabe N Abby Mom
    Gabe N Abby Mom Member Posts: 2,413
    #3
    I had a bilateral, 14 lymph
    I had a bilateral, 14 lymph nodes removed on left side, lymphedema on left side. I do BP on my legs, and blood draws/needles on my feet.
  • lynn1950
    lynn1950 Member Posts: 2,570
    #4
    I can tell you the way we do
    I can tell you the way we do it in Idaho. Since I only had lymph nodes removed on my left side, all BPs and labs are done on my right. xoxoxoxo Lynn
  • mamolady
    mamolady Member Posts: 796 Member
    #5
    BP
    Lorrie,
    They do the BP on the lower left leg. I am nervous about the arm since I had lymph nodes out on both sides. I think the lymph nodes is the thing not the mastectomy. I have had blood work on the left arm (more LN out on right) and that was not a problem. My PT said the pressure was the worst trigger since they uses sterile needles and gloves and such.

    Cindy
  • Angie2U
    Angie2U Member Posts: 2,991
    #6
    Gabe N Abby Mom said:

    I had a bilateral, 14 lymph
    I had a bilateral, 14 lymph nodes removed on left side, lymphedema on left side. I do BP on my legs, and blood draws/needles on my feet.

    I get my blood pressure
    I get my blood pressure taken on the side where I didn't have bc or any lymph nodes taken out. I had a lumpectomy though.
  • Angie2U
    Angie2U Member Posts: 2,991
    #7
    Gabe N Abby Mom said:

    I had a bilateral, 14 lymph
    I had a bilateral, 14 lymph nodes removed on left side, lymphedema on left side. I do BP on my legs, and blood draws/needles on my feet.

    I get my blood pressure
    I get my blood pressure taken on the side where I didn't have bc or any lymph nodes taken out. I had a lumpectomy though.
  • cinnamonsmile
    cinnamonsmile Member Posts: 1,187 Member
    #8
    From what I understand it is
    From what I understand it is not the mastectomy itself that necessitates needle and bp restrictions but the removal of lymph nodes. I had a bilateral mastectomy with sentinel nodes taken on both sides, which although puts me at risk for lymphedema, I consider myself at minimal risk. My physical therapist, however, raised holy heck with me to not let anyone do it. I did have actual axillary nodes taken out on the right, can't remember how many. Anyway, I had stopped letting them take bp's on either arm after the severe PMPS neuropathy I had. BPS would cause me to hurt for days!! I have gotten flack from one nurse so far. I now wear a medic alert bracelet that says no needles, no bp's in either arm.
    I will be getting my ovaries removed this fall, which should have been done last April (due to a surg techs incompetence, it was cancelled the day before which I raised holy h e double toothpicks about). I do not want to wake up with my arm pain back, so I will be writing in marker on my own arms that no needles, no bps on both arms. I suppose I could have them do it before I go under when I am actually awake to see it.
  • cinnamonsmile
    cinnamonsmile Member Posts: 1,187 Member
    #9
    Btw,a big wave from Mosinee,
    Btw,a big wave from Mosinee, WI...just south of Wausau where I go for treatments!!
  • VickiSam
    VickiSam Member Posts: 9,079 Member
    #10
    mamolady said:

    BP
    Lorrie,
    They do the BP on the lower left leg. I am nervous about the arm since I had lymph nodes out on both sides. I think the lymph nodes is the thing not the mastectomy. I have had blood work on the left arm (more LN out on right) and that was not a problem. My PT said the pressure was the worst trigger since they uses sterile needles and gloves and such.

    Cindy

    Yes, such a confusing issue .. depending on
    your Oncologist and Plastic Surgeon. Bilateral Princess here, as well .. Blood pressure must 'ALWAYS' .. always been taken on ankle. Frustrating as it take several nurses or PA to get a reading .. Blood pressure on ankle has never been successful first time out

    Blood draws can be taken on opposite arm (of lymph nodes removal).

    *Please note: ankle blood pressure results are 10% to 12% higher -- than results taken on arms.



    Vicki Sam
  • cahjah75
    cahjah75 Member Posts: 2,631
    #11
    Lorrie
    it is all about the nodes. I had bilateral mastectomy and no lymph node involvement so I can have blood draw from either side as well as bp. Ask your dr and see what he says.
    {{hugs}} Char
  • jnl
    jnl Member Posts: 3,869 Member
    #12
    cahjah75 said:

    Lorrie
    it is all about the nodes. I had bilateral mastectomy and no lymph node involvement so I can have blood draw from either side as well as bp. Ask your dr and see what he says.
    {{hugs}} Char

    I have to use the side where
    I have to use the side where I didn't have my lumpectomy and sentinal node taken out.


    Leeza
  • butterflylvr
    butterflylvr Member Posts: 944
    #13
    jnl said:

    I have to use the side where
    I have to use the side where I didn't have my lumpectomy and sentinal node taken out.


    Leeza

    Thanks everyone, it is
    Thanks everyone, it is starting to make a lot more sense now. For my bi-lateral mastectomy I just had sentinel nodes removed. So I suppose they could have used either arm for my checks, but because my tumor was left side they told me always right. I do have to chuckle though, when I had my mastectomy surgery, the pre-op nurse put my IV into my left leg just above my ankle. Since I was having a bi-lateral mastectomy followed up with immediate reconstruction there were two doctors in the OR with me often times working tangentially putting me back together. When I woke up in post op, my IV was in my right arm. Silly doctors...

    Oh and Cinnamonsmile... We are almost neighbors for goodness sake. I think I can see you waving. LOL

    Hugs,
    Lorrie
  • cinnamonsmile
    cinnamonsmile Member Posts: 1,187 Member
    #14
    butterflylvr said:

    Thanks everyone, it is
    Thanks everyone, it is starting to make a lot more sense now. For my bi-lateral mastectomy I just had sentinel nodes removed. So I suppose they could have used either arm for my checks, but because my tumor was left side they told me always right. I do have to chuckle though, when I had my mastectomy surgery, the pre-op nurse put my IV into my left leg just above my ankle. Since I was having a bi-lateral mastectomy followed up with immediate reconstruction there were two doctors in the OR with me often times working tangentially putting me back together. When I woke up in post op, my IV was in my right arm. Silly doctors...

    Oh and Cinnamonsmile... We are almost neighbors for goodness sake. I think I can see you waving. LOL

    Hugs,
    Lorrie

    Thanks for the smile Lorrie,
    Thanks for the smile Lorrie, I am a little down today. You put the first smile on my face today!! I will wave again lol.
  • renee616
    renee616 Member Posts: 181
    #15
    cinnamonsmile said:

    Thanks for the smile Lorrie,
    Thanks for the smile Lorrie, I am a little down today. You put the first smile on my face today!! I will wave again lol.

    Hi Lorrie
    I just found this
    Hi Lorrie
    I just found this info out myself the other day when I went for lab work & BP. I had surgery on my right side recently & the mastectomy on left, so I asked how they would do the lab work. Dr said If lymph nodes were removed, thats the only reason not to do it on that side. that it was fine to do it if only surgery was done.
    Have a Great weekend!
    Renee
  • skipper54
    skipper54 Member Posts: 936 Member
    #16
    renee616 said:

    Hi Lorrie
    I just found this
    Hi Lorrie
    I just found this info out myself the other day when I went for lab work & BP. I had surgery on my right side recently & the mastectomy on left, so I asked how they would do the lab work. Dr said If lymph nodes were removed, thats the only reason not to do it on that side. that it was fine to do it if only surgery was done.
    Have a Great weekend!
    Renee

    Just asked my surgeon yesterday
    and he said no needles or IVs in right arm (right side mastectomy with 9 lymph nodes removed) but that there was no evidence to support a problem with BP in that arm. I'm still going to go for the other arm though since I have that option.
  • Rague
    Rague Member Posts: 3,653 Member
    #17
    Gabe N Abby Mom said:

    I had a bilateral, 14 lymph
    I had a bilateral, 14 lymph nodes removed on left side, lymphedema on left side. I do BP on my legs, and blood draws/needles on my feet.

    Question
    Don't blood draws hurt in foot? Hands do so I would think feet would be even worse. I only had a unilateral mast so not a problem for my great veins in left arm (no I'm not being sarcastic they really are 'great' - I get told that I don't have women's veins but mens. LOL) so draws are not a problem for me - also still have my port so it's always an option if needed. If foot draws hurt as much as I think they might, have you asked about using EMLA cream to make it more bearable?

    Susan

Discussion Boards