I had surgery to remove all my nodes on 30th May 2013 and arm was bad with nerves and pulling for a couple of months, but the last 2 chemos have really got into the underarm and arm and slightly round back and the whole area feels like just after surgery again. At least I am assuming it is the chemo. I have finished my 4 high doses and will be going on to Taxel LD on 23rd Sept for twelve weeks. I am worried about my arm and wondering has anyone else had similar issues and when will arm come good again. I am also worried about the effect Taxel will have on me in general. My oncologist says you should feel ok with it but just watch for toes and fingers numbness. Please can anyone help and give me some advice on how long these symptoms will go and and when the nerves and pulling will stop.

Thanks Carolynvj, I have had 4 high doses of Duxorubicin and Cyclophosphamide over 12 weeks and now will be having Taxol LD (its says on my form) not sure if that is the full name of it. I am concerned about my arm as it was coming along great then reverted back after 3rd dose of chemo, so I have assumed it was the chemo. Physio seems to think the same. Nothing seems to help, panadol, or panadeine and as it is so tight in morns now (with no nerve issues until start to use) I am not sure what to do. Seeing physio again on the 19th Sept. I should hopefully be finished around Feb too, with 12 weeks of Taxol then radiation 5-6 weeks. Everyone thought my cancer would be hormone receptive but turns out very little eostrogen and no progesterone so it is Triple Negative so Herceptin won't have any effect on mine. I hope all goes well with you and hope someone can give us a few clues. Marlz

Hi Ladies I am also having issues after 2 of 3 Docetaxel chemos with my arm pit area. I had 8 nodes removed and have been getting lymphatic massage since op to reduce fluid under arm. This was going well until the last few days. I have had an increase in the fluid and am also experiencing more nerve pain under arm and in mastectomy area. It is effecting my ability to sleep on my side again. With one more chemo to go, I will be checking what the oncologist has to say about this. I know that the side effects of Docetaxel can include nerve pain and fluid retention. I will let you know what I find out from the oncologist when I see her on the 19th Sept. I am hoping that these effects will be temporary or that there is some medication to reduce the effects. With radiation to start after Chemo I do not want lymphadema issues. Deanne

Hi Martz, I seem to remember my mastectomy scar always became super sensitive after chemo, and each course produced this. It also would get better after a few days. Is it possible that you have some lymphodema forming which could be pressing on nerves? Good luck with everything. Love Chris xx

Hi Chris , thanks for replying , I had slight swelling in hand but thats it and have been seeing physiotherapist and she seems to think it is the chemo upsetting things, too. Lymphodema massage and compression bandages haven't seem to help much with pain. Am interested as to what your oncologist says re Taxel LD as I have to start that on the 23rd Sept for 12 weeks. Cheers Marlz

Axila clearance of all nodes | BCNA Online Network

14 Replies

Marlz
Member
12 years ago
Thanks Deanne, I understand about looking at life positively and doing things you like to do and looking after yourself, all of which I thought I was doing before BC. Just at this stage finding things a bit hard as I can't play tennis ( as trivial as it sounds, or go to the gym) which I am sure would lift my mood no end, and I am finding I just can't get cancer out of my mind at the moment,its with me 24/7 but that's how I guess it will be forever. Thank you for the words of encouragement! Happy you are doing well. You take care too. Marlz XXX
Deanne
Member
12 years ago
I too have about a 20% chance of recurrence. I choose to use this as motivation to live as good a life as I can. Rather than dwelling on the chance of it coming back, I look after myself by eating well and exercising. The exercising helps to lift my mood too! I try to notice the good things around me each day, to spend more time with people I love and doing things that I enjoy. I cannot do anything more to prevent a recurrence. I've completed the treatment, I'm on tamoxifen and I just live the best life I can. You are almost finished the worst part of treatment. I finished radiotherapy 2 weeks ago and it is no where near as hard as Chemo. So look forward to a break from treatment over Christmas knowing that the worst will be behind you. Take care. Deanne xxx
Marlz
Member
12 years ago
Thanks Deanne, Starting asking questions today as only have 3 chemo left. I have been on the wrong track, I am ER positive +2 and PR negative but will be having Hormone Treatment( after radiation starting on 6th Jan). I was also told I have a 20% chance of the cancer coming back, but will be less Lethal and probably in the breast if does. I am not sure how to react to all that, I was hoping my chances of it coming back would be better than that. Feeling pretty down. I am hoping that the chemo is causing nerve pain in arm and under armpit at back. Thank you for replying. Cheers Marlz
Marlz
Member
12 years ago
Deanne , Glad to hear your arm is improving. Thank you so much for the info as massage is not making any difference with my arm. I am interested as to how you go with further treatment, good luck mate! Marlz
Marlz
Member
12 years ago
Deanne , Glad to hear your arm is improving. Thank you so much for the info as massage is not making any difference with my arm. I am interested as to how you go with further treatment, good luck mate! Marlz
Deanne
Member
12 years ago
I did not mean to get you worried. Docetaxel is not the same as Taxel and the dosage would be quite different as I have Docetaxel only every 3 weeks for 3 cycles. I think the side effects of your chemo will be much less from what I have read of other people's experience. I was reassured that any effects should ease when Chemo ends and that lymphatic massage will help in my case with the fluid build up. After the massage today my arm is much more comfortable and the nerve pain much improved. I am seeing my oncologist on the 19th and will see what she says about the fluid but I am confident that I can get relief through massage until the chemo works it's way out of the system. Hopefully the change to Taxel will mean an improvement not worsening of the arm issue for you. We are all different with side effects and your Chemo is quite different from mine. Good luck with the rest of your treatment. I hope you can get to the bottom of your arm problem. Deanne
Marlz
Member
12 years ago
Hi Deanne, You are worrrying me as I haven't had any Docetaxel (Taxel LD once a week for 12 weeks). I start on the taxel LD on 23th Sept for 12 weeks once a week, is it the same as Docetaxel and have you had 11 doses already? Have only had a tiny bit o swelling in hand and little fluid retention near underarm at back, but nerves and underarm pulling which starts after chemo. If its the same as I am going to start on 23rd Sept will have to get the hubby back onto the massage or I think I will lose the plot for 3 weeks. Thanks for your reply, hope all goes well for you.
Julia44
Member
12 years ago
Hi,

I had my clearance in May 2011 and still can not raise me arm higher than if you can imagine-a "Heil Hitler" type salute level. I have been to physio countless times but it is not fixing it. No one seems to be really able to explain it. I did have 3 operations in 6 weeks then so I have just put it down to that.

Julia
Chris
Member
12 years ago
Hi Martz, I only had the Taxotere and cyclophosphamide. No Taxel LD.
Marlz
Member
12 years ago
Hi Chris , thanks for replying , I had slight swelling in hand but thats it and have been seeing physiotherapist and she seems to think it is the chemo upsetting things, too. Lymphodema massage and compression bandages haven't seem to help much with pain.

Am interested as to what your oncologist says re Taxel LD as I have to start that on the 23rd Sept for 12 weeks. Cheers Marlz