Painful lump under sentinel node incision scar

mimikitty
mimikitty Member Posts: 30 Member
in Breast Cancer #1
Hi Everyone,

I had a lumpectomy and one lymph node removed on 5/10. A few days after surgery, a painful lump began to form under the sentinel lymph node incision under my arm. When I raise my arm up, you can see the lump. It hurts when I do yoga. I think my surgeon didn't notice it when she examined me on follow-up. I called her office and the nurse told me to put a hot compress on it 4 times per day and they will see if they can squeeze me in on Tuesday to drain it. Last night, I started to worry the hot compress would cause lymphedema, so I'm not sure if I should continue doing this.

I'm worried the fluid in the lump will dry up before I go in and it will be too late. Did anyone else experience that lump and if so, does it go away on it's own - or how did you handle?

Thanks.

Comments

  • eihtak
    eihtak Member Posts: 1,473 Member
    #2
    Lump
    Hi, I had a double mastectomy on March 21 with just 2 nodes removed. About 2wks later also had a lump/fluid in my armpit at the site of the scar. My doc did aspirate (drain) it when I went in and said it was perfectly normal and would most likely come back a time or two. I ended up having it drained every friday for 3 weeks (so 3 times it came back). The last time was very minor. I always felt better in between if I stretched that arm straight out or up over my head and held it there for several minutes. I don't know if yours is the same, but that is my guess. I no longer have it now. Please let us know how things turn out. As always, all in my prayers.
  • SIROD
    SIROD Member Posts: 2,194 Member
    #3
    Hot Compress
    I don't believe a hot compress would cause lymphedema. I would try it before seeing your doctor and it might help relieve the pain you are feeling.

    Good luck.

    Doris
  • aisling8
    aisling8 Member Posts: 1,627 Member
    #4
    SIROD said:

    Hot Compress
    I don't believe a hot compress would cause lymphedema. I would try it before seeing your doctor and it might help relieve the pain you are feeling.

    Good luck.

    Doris

    I'm no doctor
    and all our experiences are different, BUT I, too, had a lump under my arm near the sentinel node incision. It was a seroma, filled with fluid they had to drain a few times. It then became blood filled so then it was a hematoma. The surgeon put me on antibiotics and it all went away. When it got really filled, it was sort of uncomfortable, but draining it made it feel better. At one point the doctor bound my chest and underarm, rolls and rolls of Ace bandage.

    Hopefully you'll be told yours is normal and will go away, too.

    xoxo
    Victoria
  • DianeBC
    DianeBC Member Posts: 3,881 Member
    #5
    SIROD said:

    Hot Compress
    I don't believe a hot compress would cause lymphedema. I would try it before seeing your doctor and it might help relieve the pain you are feeling.

    Good luck.

    Doris

    I never had this and wish
    I never had this and wish you good luck next week. Let us know what your doctor says.

    Hugs, Diane
  • Bryanna22
    Bryanna22 Member Posts: 8
    #6
    Hello
    Hello Mimi, sorry to hear that you have to go through this. I too had lymphnodes removal and experienced the fluid build up under my arm after surgery. I was told by the doctor that it was lymph fluids that is unable to drain quickly enough. I began exercise my arm and after a while it became smaller. I am three months post the procedure and can no longer feel anything. I hope it will be the same for you. Good luck.
  • New Flower
    New Flower Member Posts: 4,294
    #7
    Bryanna22 said:

    Hello
    Hello Mimi, sorry to hear that you have to go through this. I too had lymphnodes removal and experienced the fluid build up under my arm after surgery. I was told by the doctor that it was lymph fluids that is unable to drain quickly enough. I began exercise my arm and after a while it became smaller. I am three months post the procedure and can no longer feel anything. I hope it will be the same for you. Good luck.

    Stop doing yoga
    Please stop doing down dog until you take care of your lump.
  • mimikitty
    mimikitty Member Posts: 30 Member
    #8
    New Flower said:

    Stop doing yoga
    Please stop doing down dog until you take care of your lump.

    Hi New Flower,
    Why? I thought doing yoga would be good for it.
  • New Flower
    New Flower Member Posts: 4,294
    #9
    mimikitty said:

    Hi New Flower,
    Why? I thought doing yoga would be good for it.

    When you do down dog
    When you are going down dog your fluid are going to your arm since you already a build up you are accelerating your conditions. Wait until your lump is drained and healed them ask your doc
    Higs
  • mimikitty
    mimikitty Member Posts: 30 Member
    #10
    New Flower said:

    When you do down dog
    When you are going down dog your fluid are going to your arm since you already a build up you are accelerating your conditions. Wait until your lump is drained and healed them ask your doc
    Higs

    I see. I was doing all
    I see. I was doing all kinds of inversions these past few days. I'll stick to tai chi then until I visit the doc. Thanks for the advice. Really scared of lymphedema and I don't want to risk the lymph nodes.
  • Seutrvt13
    Seutrvt13 Member Posts: 2
    #11
    Melanoma in Transit

    Hi! I had the same symptoms, same spot, painful and it was growing slowly. At first I thought it was a seroma, then it go so painful I addressed it with a surgical consult while I was in the hospital (for another reason). Surgery was performed, Dr. described findings and how careful he really was once he was into the subcutaneous pocket. It was a ~3/4 in encapsulated mass which was dark in color and was blocking a lymph channel. Histopathology concurred with DX of Melanoma in Transit. Basically, some of the cells from the original Melanoma broke off and lodged in a lymph channel where it sat for ~7 years before it was triggered to grow. I hope you have gotten yours checked out and wish you the best. Just wanted to share, hope things are going well for everyone!

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