Until recently, axillary lymph node surgery, the removal of the lymph nodes in the arms, was routinely performed in women with breast cancer. Because breast cancer can sometimes spread to the lymph nodes, the conventional wisdom postulated that it was safer to remove the lymph nodes of women who have breast cancer instead of risking the future development of cancer in the lymph nodes. Axillary lymph node surgery does not often cause severe complications. However, the complications that do result often lower the quality of life, leading doctors to re-evaluate routine axillary lymph node surgery after breast cancer treatment, according to a study published in the December 2002 issue of the journal Cancer.
Numbness
Axillary lymph node surgery causes arm numbness in up to 35 percent of patients, according to a study published in the October 1998 issue of the journal Cancer. The nerve that runs along the back of the arm is sometimes damaged, cut or stretched during axillary lymph node surgery. This causes numbness, frequently in the armpit or along the back of the arm, says BreastCancer.org. The numbness may be temporary or may persist up to five years or longer after the surgery.
Pain and Tingling
The second most common complication of axillary lymph node surgery is pain, which occurs in roughly 30 percent of patients undergoing the procedure, the study said in the 1998 issue of Cancer. These symptoms may also be caused by damage to nerves in the arm resulting from the surgery. Pain symptoms may disappear soon after the surgery, or they may last five years or more after the procedure.
Swelling and Infection
Swelling, also called lymphedema, is another possible complication of axillary lymph node surgery. It occurs in approximately 15 percent of surgeries, according to the article in the October 1998 issue. Additionally, inflammation of the arm veins, especially those passing through the armpit, occurs in roughly eight percent of patients. In rare cases, a blood clot may form in an inflamed vein, requiring additional medical attention. Infection of the incision site also occurs in approximately 8 percent of surgeries and often responds well to treatment if noticed early, reports BreastCancer.org.
Stiffness and Reduced Mobility
Up to 8 percent of patients undergoing axillary lymph node surgery may experience stiffness, weakness or reduced mobility in the operated arm, reports the article in the 1998 issue of Cancer. Doctors often recommend exercise and physical therapy after surgery to improve arm mobility and strength.
Winged Scapula
An extremely rare complication of axillary lymph node surgery is a condition known as winged scapula, which results in the shoulder blade sticking out of the shoulder when the arm is held out straight. This condition is caused by damage to the motor nerves that hold the shoulder blade in place, says BreastCancer.org.
References
- "Cancer"; "Sequelae of Axillary Lymph Node Dissection in Older Women With Stage 1 and 2 Breast Carcinoma; Jeanne S. Mandelblatt et al, December 2002
- "Cancer"; "Complications of Axillary Lymph Node Dissection for Carcinoma of the Breast"; Marc A. Warmuth et al, October 1998
- BreatCancer.org: Lymph Node Dissection: What to Expect
- Fox Chase Cancer Center: Lymph-Node Surgery for Breast Cancer
