Radiation after lumpectomy

@arpie. Fabulous news.  I’m hearing and feeling your excitement.  Congratulations. Keep going and keeping a positive attitude really helps.

oooops ... the really good news was that I had clear margins on the tumours & also on the 3 nodes!!   Tho I WILL need radiation for 4 weeks .... just waiting for the radiologist from Port Macquarie to make contact re my initial appointment!  

WOOHOO.There is only a slight possibility of needing Temoxifen afterwards ... but probably not ... will be discussed with the team on Fri. If I DO take it and it makes me ill, can stop taking it

No cuts on the boob ‘as such’ that i can see - dressing taken off today. It is a little tender again now tho!!   I thought it would look like Noughts and Crosses!.... 

He cut all around the nipple then did the tumour removal from under the skin and underarm node removal from under the boob skin and flesh (causing the current pain, so not ‘cording’) and Then Brought the remaining tissue together and stitched it up to fill in/hide the hole.  Then tidied up the skin around the nipple and stitched it all around again.  The stitching around the nipple is a little puckered but will settle with time.  All dissolving stitches.

been advised to use Kelocote cream on the nipple area to facilitate healing

He reckons the sore sore armpit will settle down in a little while ... it is not debilitating at all, just a tad sore

I can do anything I feel up to trying, but if it hurts, Stop!  :). WOOHOO

@Sister ..... I've just printed off the exercises here & are comfy with them: 
https://www.cancercouncil.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Breast-exercises-poster_A4_final.pdf
and will start doing them!!  Thank you.

@Sister - Thanks for that - I've never heard it mentioned before this thread.   I messaged my breast care nurse during the week asking if the continual pain in the under armpit was normal but she didn't get back to me, so assumed it was just normal.   I am day 10 post op.  I see the surgeon on Monday for results - so will ask him then.   Will also check the cancer Council for exercises.  Thank you.

@arpie I'm surprised that you weren't given any exercises as I was told to do them almost immediately after surgery.  There's a Week 1 set and then Week 2 onwards set.  Have you a breast care nurse contact?  Or call your surgeon.  Have a look on the Cancer Council website as they have the exercises on there.  You may need to see a specialist physio if it's really bad but your surgeon would advise regarding that.  

@sandramj  @Sister. Thank you for that .... I have not heard of cording and don’t see the Occ Therapist til Feb 8, as all my stuff happened very quickly, so not given any exercises/stretching yet. I Saw my GP (accidentally at the shops today .. as she is having a break from the Practise with a young child)  and she also suggested using antiseptic wipes for the underarm. We must have chatted for 20+ mins!  I was so pleased to see her - as last time I saw her was when she advised me that I had cancer, on Jan 5. She found my tumours very early and was complimented on by both the surgeon and radiologists as having ‘good hands’ for finding them so small!!  

Ah well, it is in the lap of the gods now ....  thank you all for your wonderful support. :wink: It is terrific having you in my corner. 

@viking1& @arpie it was my underarm and rub and dude ribs that hurt. And it was diagnosed by surgeons physio as lymphodrma & cording (or auxiliary web syndrome. I was doing stretching etc but now elevating arm for 20/60 twice a day and massaging breast, rub, underarm & side ribs twice a day and has improved. Still peeved I’m wearing a compression sleeve probably for life. But on the other hand grateful rumour & nodes removed with clear margins and radiation done & dusted. Yep feel tired, life’s changed forever and I spoke the cording lymphodrma are minor compared to what some other people have had to endure. Pat on the back for each one of us on here as we are being proactive and talking about our cancer and giving support to one another that otherwise would be impossible. Onward & upward. Hugs to all.

@arpie It could be cording. I've got ongoing pain since surgery and that's what I've been told it is, even though I've been doing the stretches.

@viking1   Many thanks for that .... will check it out! What a blessing if I don't have to use deodorant on the one side!!  
The node pain settles down overnight but then comes back with a vengeance as soon as I get up & become even slightly active (not yet doing my fishing or kayaking tho! :neutral:  )
Comparing armpitss - I guess there is a BIT of swelling there ..... but the boob is fine now - just the armpit/underarm is so sore!  grrrr    Will see what the surgeon says on Monday.