Forum Discussion

Tinanahotbread's avatar
12 years ago

The waiting game

Hey ladies. Well I had my lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy last Thursday and get the results on Friday to see what the next step is. Expecting the worse, but hoping for,the best at this stage. I do have one question though. So far I've been taking panadine forte for the pain and its been all good. The pain has mostly been in my chest area and the breast care nurse said this was probably due to the fact that on the ultrasound the tumour appeared to be touching the pec muscle so she thinks they would have had to go deep. Just today I have been getting quite bad pain in my upper arm underneath. How have other ladies gone with the pain and have you had the same type of pain start up 5 days post op. any help would be great. Thanks Tanya

10 Replies

  • Sorry to hear your results,but at least now you can get on with what has to be done!I had a mastectomy 4 weeks ago,and I have just had my first chemo.Seriously,don't worry too much about the mastectomy.I was terrified,and all the ladies on here told me that it was very doable.They were exactly right.It wasn't even that painful .Just concentrate on getting all your stuff ready for hospital,and before you know it,you will be on here reassuring someone else just diagnosed!:) Robynxox
  • Sorry to hear your results,but at least now you can get on with what has to be done!I had a mastectomy 4 weeks ago,and I have just had my first chemo.Seriously,don't worry too much about the mastectomy.I was terrified,and all the ladies on here told me that it was very doable.They were exactly right.It wasn't even that painful .Just concentrate on getting all your stuff ready for hospital,and before you know it,you will be on here reassuring someone else just diagnosed!:) Robynxox
  • Hi Tanya So sorry you have to have a mastectomy. I will be thinking of you as you take the next step on this totally unfair and unfortunate road. The good thing is that you have a treatment plan in place. Sending hugs, Jeanine xxx
  • Sorry that you did not get better news today. It's a bummer that you need more surgery! I had a mastectomy back in May and found the recovery not too bad. It is somehow easier when you know what treatment is needed. I had 18 weeks of Chemo and found it actually seemed to go quite quickly once you get into the 'routine' of it. You will find lots of helpful tips about coping with Chemo from the ladies here. Wishing you all the best for surgery and Chemo. Look after yourself and let others help. Deanne xx
  • So saw the doc today to get my results. They removed an 8cm lump from my right breast but unfortunately no clearance so it's a masectomy for me and further node removal as 2 of the 3 nodes had positive cells. Chemo will follow the masectomy. Oh we'll at least I know now what's next so ready to face it head on and beat this thing. Thanks everyone for your responses.
  • So saw the doc today to get my results. They removed an 8cm lump from my right breast but unfortunately no clearance so it's a masectomy for me and further node removal as 2 of the 3 nodes had positive cells. Chemo will follow the masectomy. Oh we'll at least I know now what's next so ready to face it head on and beat this thing. Thanks everyone for your responses.
  • hi there, best wishes for today

    had a lumpetemy and the lymph node site was more tender at the time and even now is tender with some arm tenderness too; i was given exercises to do but i took panadeine forte afterwards for about a week; trick is to take it before pain

    im glad they no longer just take out lymph nodes on masse as i think i only had a couple removed so imagine pain and recovery worse then 

  • Hi Tanya I think your pain is quite normal - everybody has a different pain response. I was on very strong pain relief for months after my bilateral mastectomies with reconstruction. If you consider what the surgeon has had to do - particularly when removing lymph nodes, pain is to be expected. Keep on with your panadeine forte until you start to feel better and don't worry about it. Sending hugs, Xxx Jeanine
  • If you are concerned you should check with the breast care nurse or your surgeon. However, during surgery they often damage nerves and so pain and other sensations can come and go as the nerves sometimes begin to repair themselves. It might just be that. Good luck for Friday. I hope your results are as good as possible. Take care. Deanne xx