I was diagnosed on 31 October with TNBC. I had one surgery on the 23rd of November. My pathology result showed I require further surgery. I had another surgery done on December 16. I had 15 lymph nodes involved as well as margins. There is another enlarged lymph node above my rib cage. I have had biopsy done but waiting on the result. I had infection after first surgery in my breast as well as hematoma. I was hospitalised for 4 days. It has been 2 weeks since my second surgery. I am still very sore. My breast still feel swollen and very tender. I had drain put in at the time of second surgery which was removed after 4 days. I was told I will have bit of fluid built up and will go away itself. I don't have much flexibility in my arm and I am continuously on painkillers. I try to do the exercises but I find it very painful. I also have a tear in my shoulder on the same side. I suffer from hot flashes and night sweats. My chemotherapy will start next week. It will be given to me every two weeks. I am really worried how am I going to cope with it while coping with all the above. I am generally an optimist and a very calm person but for the chemotherapy I am feeling a bit anxious. Is anyone else going through or have been through all this. I feel like I need reassurance that I will be able to cope.

Hi there NJM, I just wanted to jump in to say hello/welcome you to the Online Network and to let you know that we are here to support you, so if you need any help working your way around the network or connecting with information and support services, please just let me know.

Hi @NJM,I am so sorry that you have been through so much already. I had a mastectomy and 8 nodes removed back in 2013. My drain did not work so I also had a huge build up of fluid which had to be drained every few days. My chemo started 3 weeks after my surgery. I still had a lot of soreness and fluid build up which continued to need draining by the surgeon even after chemo started.I found a wonderful local lymphoedema physiotherapist who started massaging the area at about the 4 week post surgery point. This helped to reduce the fluid and ease my pain. This also helped me to be able to do the exercises more effectively. Maybe you could ask your surgeon or breast care nurse if you have one, if there is a physio or someone they could recommend to help you with your shoulder and arm. It is important to do the exercises to regain proper movement and also so you are in less pain but it sounds as though you might need assistance with this due to your shoulder issue.In my experience you need to let your doctors know your concerns. Especially when you start chemo. Keep a record of any side effects and most of the time there is something they can do to reduce these. This network and the wonderful ladies on here will also be extremely helpful with practical advice about most things. I hope that your pain reduces soon, but I think a physio would be able to help with this. Take care and let us know how you go. Deanne xxx

Only really early after such a lot of surgery. I can remember felt just so miserable a few weeks after mine especially as nerves started to recover and it became really painful to touch. Regular pain relief is important. ..I took 8 hourly panadol osteo round the clock and in between I had slow release Tramadol...which lasted 12 hours each. I ended up needing lyrica for the nerve pain for a couple of weeks. Mine was a reconstruction also so I had added issues, but not as many nodes as you had removed. You will be a lot better in 2 weeks, you will see. As to chemo..everyone is worried about how they will cope. You will and they will give you medication to counter effect the side effects. You are stronger than you think.Your exercises are really important to do...just do them slowly, even just walking your fingers slowly up the wall will assist to stretch that armpit and get movement back. Even though it hurts if you don't stretch the area scar tissue will eventually form and completely reduce your arm stretch..it still forms with the exercises but hopefully without restricting movement. Good luck. Kath x

Hello NJM the soreness will take a long time to settle. Muscles, tissues, nerves et cetera have all been affected. You do need to let the Drs know your concerns so they can allay any of concerns. As Kath has said the exercises are vital. Walking the fingers up the wall does help. Goodness when I read your post your body has been through a lot already.Time for healing varies with us all. Listen to your body and be guided by your team. Ask f you can go have a lymphatic drainage massage with a specialist physio. It works a treat. Take care

Thinking of you NJM and sending hugs. As others have said you have already been through so much. I and at least one other on this site start chemotherapy this week. I am trying like you to stay positive. Walking is helping me as is reading heaps of positive quotes such as that said by Christopher Robin to Pooh - you are braver than you believe and stronger than you seem and smarter than you think.

Still sore | BCNA Online Network

18 Replies

Chorsell
Member
9 years ago
Oh NJM you are having a hard time, and you are not alone that you wonder how you will manage. All of us have felt that way at some stage but we are stronger than we think. Some times having a good cry helps clear the head so we can shake it of and focus on what we need to do.

you don't have to be a hero or do it on your own - ask for help, tell your doctors about pain and side effects as there are so many options to help manage all the things that come with treatment.

come back here often to vent or just write down how you are going ant there will always be someone who knows exactly how you fell cause they have felt like that too. It can be so reassuring knowing that you are not abnormal and that others truly understand how you feel.

Hope your treatment goes well and chemo beats the hell out of those pesky lymph nodes.

sending big (gentle) hugs xx

chris
primek
Member
9 years ago
Oh NJM I'm sorry on those results. But glad to here they've got a plan in place already for you. We are here for you when you need. Kath x
Afraser
Member
9 years ago
Sometimes it really feels like one step forward and two back. Strength to you, and remember what you know, you can treat !
melclarity
Member
9 years ago
Oh NJM, just wanted to send you my support!!! Can only imagine how overwhelming all this must be, but it sounds like you have an incredible team who are onto all of it!! You also sound very determined and I believe you absolutely can do it, just remember step at a time, day at a time. Melinda xo
iserbrown
Member
9 years ago
Hi NJM
Oh crumbs that is not what you were expecting. Goodness you are in a spin. The exercises will help.
Now that your results have identified problem areas your medical team will get to work.
On this site is the phone number for BCNA. They have great resources and counselling service.
Wishing you all the best with your treatment plan. Take care. Sending you a virtual hug from Christine xx
socoda
Member
9 years ago
NJM so sorry to hear about the node involvement but it's so good that the chemotherapy and radiation will take care of it and absolutely fantastic that you are not developing Lymphoedema. I like how you write that you are trying to stay positive and strong and that shows in the way you have worded your post. I think your doing an incredible job of dealing with this and know that we are here to cheer you on. Sending you a big hug. Xx Cath
NJM
Member
9 years ago
Well ED at hospital were wrong. I am not developing lymphedema. I went and saw lymphedema physio today. She has given me some exercises to do and showed me how to massage to move fluid built up to good arm. However the biopsy report for enlarged lymph node above my rib cage is not good. This enlarged lymph node is full of cancer cells and now another enlarged lymph node have been found. This lymph node is not operable. The plan is to treat it with chemotherapy and radiation. Hopefully this will take care of it. My cancer is now labelled as advanced breast cancer as it is out of my breast area and in lymph node in my chest. I am too scared to get any more tests done. Every time I have a test done it comes back with bad news. Trying to stay positive and strong. The support I get from all of you is awesome. Thank you.
melclarity
Member
9 years ago
Once they get on and sort out the problem it should start to ease, unfortunately with surgery it takes a very long time as the others have said, its mostly nerve pain that continues. I think once you are on your way with Chemo, you'll settle into whatever your routine is. We are all here, so sing out how we can help, especially managing your side effects. A bunch of wonderful ladies here with a wealth of experience!! Hugs Melinda xo
Afraser
Member
9 years ago
Lymphoedema is a bit of a pain but manageable. A good trained lymphoedema therapist is worth his/her weight in gold so worth making enquiries. You can get a referral for such therapy from your GP to help with costs. It's the loss of lymph nodes but I always felt that it was better to know sooner rather than later, as lymphoedema sometime bites up to 15 years later. Timely treatment is valuable and who knows what will be available in the future? I do my exercises, including weights at the gym, wear my sleeve, have no pain or discomfort and it doesn't have any real impact. Be good if you don't have it, but manageable if you do.
iserbrown
Member
9 years ago
Glad we can help that's what we are all here for. Please come back on and let us know how you are managing.
Take care