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Sue_w1's avatar
Sue_w1
Member
4 years ago

Lumps in armpit after surgery

Hi Everyone, this is my first post and I need to ask if anyone else has experienced small hard lumps appearing in the armpit after their mastectomy and lymph node removal? (I had 22 lymph nodes removed) I also have what seems like a tight hard mass of muscle on the front of my chest right next to the armpit and going under the arm - I'm wondering if this is muscle that has been moved when some of the chest wall was removed?
thanks for any ideas in advance

  • Saw the physio (who specialises in lymphoedema) and it turns out the lumps in armpit were a mixture of inflamed sebaceous glands and the bulge on the top of chest next to armpit was inflammation and fluid. Its a lot better now and I now know how to massage it and help the drainage. Hope you are doing well Ally, Hugs 
  • Hi again @Sue_w...I had chemo first from October 2016 until March 2017...and Herceptin which continued for almost a year. I had the bilateral mastectomy in April 2017 and as I mentioned, no radiotherapy. Pathology report from the removed breasts and nodes showed a 100% pathological response to the chemo, with no live cancer cells found, only the 'empty tumour beds'. Still NED (No evidence of disease).  Big hug...Ally.
  • Thanks @AllyJay , Im going to call my breast care nurse today rather than just wait until my doctors visit. I have a little soft hump near my sternum. Glad to know I'm not the only one with the muscle lump near the armpit, though I had no prior conditions to contribute to anything. How long ago was your surgery Ally? Where are you on this long road?
    Cheers
    Susan
  • Hi there @Sue_w...I had a bilateral mastectomy with node clearance on the left and sentinel node on the right. Because I was unable to have radiotherapy, due to another medical condition, the surgeon too it right down as far as she could. I was left with a large concave area between my sternum and armpit on the left, but with a hard raised area over the sternum, my little camel hump, I call it. I also had the muscle that goes from the chest to the upper inner aspect of the shoulder go very stiff and shortened, causing limited shoulder movement. The doctors and physios are unsure if this was caused by surgical irritation to the area, or the after effects of a large haematoma which I had for months on that side, or if it's from the same medical condition that prevented me from having the radiotherapy....systemic scleroderma. Either way, I would get it checked sooner rather than later, as it will just worry you. Ally.
  • Thanks @Sue_w,
    I did look at info on cording and while I can feel the 'line' where the lymph nodes have been removed, that's not what's worrying me, its a mass on the very side of my chest, right next to my armpit. It feels like firm muscle and is very tight, makes me feel like I'm constantly wearing a top with armholes that are too small. Doc did take some of the muscle/lining from the chest wall so it might just be where things have been rearranged and need time to settle into place.(hope the pic makes more sense as I'm struggling to describe it properly). 
    I also have some small lumps under the armpit, my surgery was almost three week ago and I think they're forming because of irritation to the arm pit but can't find any reference to anything similar on here so I'm not sure. 
    I am going to see my Doc next week and the Lymphoedema clinic so I can ask them then, just thought I'd see if anyone here had similar experiences.
  • Hi @Dory65, I'm seeing my Doctor in a week and I'm going to ask her about an allied health care plan (for 5 subsidised visits) to see a local physio that specialises in lymphatic drainage, massage and healing after BC surgery. I also go to the lymphoedema clinic at our local hospital next week too. I'm taking my list of questions with me.
    Hope you're going well,
    Cheers
    Susan

  • Hi @Sue_w, I think that you should see a physiotherapist who specialises in lymphatic/oncology conditions. There might be someone in your area who can make a recommendation of a good one. Good luck. xxx