Hi Clare,

I think everyone who has had the lymph node clearance knows exactly what you mean. That operation was far worse than the mastectomy.  If it's any consolation to you, it does get better! Not quickly and not completely, but you are in the very early days post surgery and your body has been knocked about, so it takes time for everything to feel normal again.  I am three years down the line and my underarm on the surgery side doesn't hurt anymore but there and around the top of the arm, the skin feels numb. It's a strange feeling. You can feel an itch but scratching doesn't stop it. It also feels weird at first when spraying a deodorant on that side. I can see in the mirror what I'm doing but there is no sensation of the spray on the skin.. These are all minor things that no longer bother me.  You have started out on a journey that does get easier, the further down the road you go.

You do, eventually stop thinking constantly about cancer, too. Just hang in there.

All the best

Christine xx

Hi Christine, thanks very much for your reply I really appreciate it. This is all new to me and I'm so grateful that you replied. It is totally a strange feeling at the moment my arm just feels very tender and achy. I'm keeping up with the exercises tho as I'm hoping it will help xx

Hiya,

I know exactly what you mean. The way I saw it was the mastectomy was just lopping off a lump of flesh, whereas the lymph node clearance meant digging into your body and cutting out vital parts, so that was bound to take longer to get over.  
Keep doing the exercises, your physiotherapist is your best friend when you're recovering from this surgery.  Keep an eye out for anything different and new, tell your physio and she will have seen it before and know exactly what to do.  I got cording and thought I was going to have it forever, and it hurt.  My lovely physio massaged it away, painlessly, in one session!

I was 72 when I was going through what you're going through now and honestly until I see a post like yours that reminds me, I don't even think the things I thought were horrible at the time.  So if an old'un like me can get over it, there's every likelihood you wil be the same. I really hope so!

Christine xx

Aww thanks very much. I'm back up hospital on 4th October for a check up and I'm going to mention it then as I havent got a physiotherapist yet. I've got to take painkillers before I do the exercises as it is painful but I'm sure it will get easier as time goes on xxx

Hi there, 

I really hope you will start to feel better soon. I have just been diagnosed with stage 3 and have been told that I will be having a mastectomy and lymph nodes clearence after my chemo. Could I ask if the removal of part of the lung was to prevent it being stage 4? 
 

im so overwhelmed with all the information online, so I thought I'd come straight to forums. 
 

I really hope you start to feel well soon. ️

Hi im not really sure tbh. I was told I had breast cancer then had a scan to find out if the cancer had spread anywhere else. When the results came back they noticed a lump on the top of my lung which they said was cancer and I'd have to have a piece of my lung removed. I've got an appointment on 6th October now with my lung consultant to find out a bit more about the piece they took away as they couldn't do biopsy on it first as it was in an awkward place. 

Hope everything goes well for you xxx

Thats ok your welcome. I find this support group helps a lot xx