Swollen underarm and node

susielen

Hi,

I am 14 years out from a stage 1 IDC. Treated with lumpectomy, radiation, and tamoxifen. I had not been worrying much anymore about a recurrence. I went last week for screening mammo and they refused to do it because left underarm was swollen and they said I needed diagnostic mammogram and ultrasound. Went to PC to get the order and she found a “palpable node”. I can feel it, too, and it’s hard. I was hoping I was just getting an infection but it’s five days later and I’m not sick, but the swollen area is worse. I have diagnostic mammogram next week. I’m not panicked but I am concerned. Has anyone else has the lymph area under their arm swell up for no reason?

Thanks,

Karen

maggie15

Hi @susielen, I'm sorry that you have to deal with a lymph node scare. I ended up with a swollen axillary lymph node for seemingly no reason about six months after treatment ended. My RO thought it might due to physical trauma when I was accidentally pushed into a door. I had a bruise on the outside of my shoulder but nowhere else. He said to give it about 6 weeks and if it was still swollen he would biopsy. He also said that sometimes people get swollen nodes from a low grade virus that causes no other symptoms as well as covid shots. Mine went down in about a month.

I'm glad you have a mammogram and ultrasound scheduled. Hopefully your issue is due to something strange like mine was.

bcincolorado

I am hoping you can you can get it. Can you get in faster by reaching out to your MO? Mine is the one who orders my screening now after my cancer and know I have spots they are watching now. Mine orders the 3D mamo on my non cancer side all the time and an ultrasound each year. Where I go they read it since I already had cancer once and kind of give me an idea before I leave before the report the report is written. Best wishes for non -recurrence. Know that fear is always there.

kaynotrealname

I knew someone whose lymph node swelled up a few years after treatment for breast cancer. They biopsied it and it wasn't cancer. They weren't sure what it was but thought it might be allergies. At any rate, 15 years out and she's doing well.