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Breast Cancer (Expert Forum)
breast changes after axillary biopsy
Questions posted in the Breast Cancer Forum are answered by medical professionals from The Cleveland Clinic. Topics include Breast Biopsy, Chemotherapy, Hormone Therapy, Lumps, Lumpectomy, Lymph node dissection, Lymphedema, Mammograms, Mastectomy, Radiation Therapy, Reconstruction, Self Breast Exam, and Surgery.
breast changes after axillary biopsy
by jnn, Nov 21, 2003 12:00AM
I have fibrocystic changes in my left breast. It is larger than the right and tender. Over a year ago I had a irregular finding on my mammogram. every six months my diagnostic mammogram has shown no changes in the calcifications. in june I found thickening in my left arm pit. There was swelling of my lymph nodes. after a month the surgeon decided to remove two lymph nodes and checked one for cancer and one for infection. cancer was, thank god, negative. the other nodes was reactive but no infection. since then I have had pain in my left arm. no I have pain in my left shoulder blade and in my left breast. i recently noticed a small amount of skin around my aerola that was thicker and orange peel looking with a slightly lighter skin tone. i suspected lymphadema because of the warm pain in arm and left trunk of my body, but have been told by two doctors that there was no way to get lymphadema with only two nodes removed, but whatever this is it's painful and difficult to wear a bra due to constriction. is the nipple unrelated? i have just ignored it because i was so happy with the negative biopsy, now i am afraid they missed something and this is not the end of my problem after all
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-RN,MSN-JS, Nov 21, 2003 12:00AM
Dear jnn, If you have noticed something new it is best to have it evaluated. It is difficult to say if the nipple change is related or not, without more evaluation. Without the details of the surgery it is difficult to say that any of this swelling or pain is related to that procedure.
It wasn't clear from your posting but was the area of calcifications seen on the mammogram ever biopsied?
It wasn't clear from your posting but was the area of calcifications seen on the mammogram ever biopsied?
i am also confused about lymphadema. my research tells me that it is possible with only two nodes removed, but the doctors all tell me no. is there a mild form of lymphadema, or is that a dead end. i do have days that are more uncomfortable then others and water and elevation with no constriction on the area seem to help, unless that's a placebo effect
jnn