Baseline Measurement for Lymphoedema

You may be interested to watch the webcast on Understanding lymphoedema following breast cancer treatment, available through this link - https://www.bcna.org.au/understanding-breast-cancer/resources/webcasts/
Those who registered to watch the webcast can just your email address in to view the webcast. If you  haven't registered, you will need to complete the Registration details then enter the email into the toolbar and away you go.
This is the first of two sessions. The next one will be available to watch live on May 26th - local times are noted on the registration page. 

There are some exercises you can do to encourage the lymphatic system to work properly.  But I have also heard that aqua helps a lot - do you have an Encore group in your area?

Hi @irb_03 thanks for your response.  That’s very interesting about your experience of treated breast being warmer for that length of time, and  I didn’t realise that the swelling in the breast from radiotherapy could last for so long.  I will check out the ALA site, thanks for that.  Good point about having a qualified therapist - yes, she is qualified thankfully . I think I need to work on learning to ask more questions while in the appointment.  I prepare for the things I know I want to understand better, but then new things that come up in the appointment often hit me by surprise, and only later do I think that I wish I had asked more questions to clarify those things.  Live and learn from experience I suppose. Thanks again.   

@Lynn65, my treated breast was warmer than the other for about 2 years after radiotherapy finished. If I  overheat, it's still warmer than the other, another year on. You can have some swelling in the breast for months after radiotherapy,  so it may settle over time. Have you checked out the Australian Lymphology Association website?  They have some information on the site. You can also check to see if the lymphoedema therapist that you saw has recognized qualifications. 
There are some options around to assist with breast oedema, but I  wouldnt recommend spending a lot at this point
Take care

Last week I saw the lymphodema specialist and after doing measurements using three different bits of kit, she said my arm was fine, but that I did have some fluid in the breast, and to wear a sports bra and come back in a year for comparison measurements unless anything changed.  She attributed it to aftereffects of radiotherapy - “you’re still cooking”. Radiotherapy finished 8 Feb.   I’m small breasted and haven’t been wearing any bra.  

Then this week I did interval training on the stationary bike (10 minutes totals on the bike), then the next day cycled slowly to the breast surgeon (about 4 kms) for my 4 month checkup.  He said all healing nicely, but that I had a bit of lymphodema in the breast.  He pointed out that my left breast was quite hot compared to my right breast.  And to my dismay, I could see that since last week my left breast had swollen up so that it was larger than my right breast, and I hadn’t really noticed the temperature difference before (although at night, if I’m going to get hot, it will be my upper left torso that needs the blanket off more than any other part.   At least at moments I’m finding that size differential bit mildly funny, since the surgeon had said my left breast would end up smaller after the lumpectomy. 

I have hit panic stations since the surgeon appointment — I don’t really know why.  Cancer meh.  Lymphodema/swelling OMG.  Maybe I need to reorder my priorities.  I’ve gone back to wearing the berlei bra 24x7 that I got at surgery time and doing lymphatic self massage (handout from first visit to Physio).  After 48 hours, some reduction in swelling, but I’m getting the feeling that this is going to be an ongoing issue.  

I’m wondering if doing any sort of aerobic activity at the gym, where one inevitably roasts in the humidity, is just asking for trouble.  And I am not sure how to balance the advice to do exercise to help the lymphatic system work better, but that same exercise making me swell up.  I’ve looked up the gym schedule to see if I can go to an aqua workout since I read that water exercise is better for lymphodema.   I’m supposed to be building on my fledging amount of aerobic activity so that I can improve my low blood pressure, but that doesn’t seem to be helping swelling.  

It seems like I get my head into a happier space, and then gosh darn it I seem to find something to deflate me.  I know it shouldn’t bug me but for some reason I can’t quite grasp onto it does. 

I was given baseline measurements prior to scheduled surgery because I’d asked lots of questions and I was keen for it . Physio told me she’s like to do it for everyone but simply didn’t have the time available in her clinic . I’d had two left sentinel nodes taken . I was a public patient in Perth . 
I’m still receiving physio treatment for the ongoing left leg lymphedema  which continues to be an issue . No noticeable fluids in the left arm . Yet . It’s been seven months and I watch it all like a hawk . 

No baseline.  I asked surgeon if a risk,  and was told only 5% chance of developing (9 nodes wee removed in the surgery in the end). Now seeing specialist physio due to cording (wish I knew about that before it happened!!), so have some measures to go on,  but pre-op would have been better.  
I get it that these are side effects of life saving surgery,  would not have changed the surgery at all,  but pre-op physio info would be welcome. 
Saying that,  at pay op check as soon as surgeon saw the coding, she sent me straight to lymphodoema practitioner physio. 

My breast care nurse did baseline measurements for me when she saw me for a pre op appointment. She spoke to me lots about the risks and signs etc 

Thanks @kmakm -   I’ll keep working to get myself out of the 5% bucket if that’s at all possible!