Breast Lymphodeama, Who has heard of it?

I have cut and pasted Kathys info, as I do with all the smart info on here, so I can access it again quickly.  Thanks again !

10 out of 10, excellent advice and I too was surprised at how much I didnt know until I heard a Lymphoedema expert.  So last night left my compression bandage on until bed time, did the advised breathing exercises and have learnt how to massage toxins out  correctly.  I am amazed at how much we have to rely on ready the info handed to us.  My physio hasnt explained anything at all when I go, as lovely as she is!  I now after, months, know how to prevent, or manage my arm fully !  You have explained it perfectly Kathy!  Good luck all Bel

Fanx heaps Leonie. I have a referral to physio for Wed afternoon but I don't have a huge amount of faith in her because she told me I didn't have lymph in my arm and didn't do any measurements etc. but we can only give it another try.

I have read that there are garments that you can wear but think I would feel like I was in a straight jacket. Mind you might be good to pull all the rolls into one place. Bit like in the olden days when they got strapped in to their garments.

Lots of love, Mich xoxo

Thanks so much guys. This has been a real eye opener for me as like I said I had never ever heard of it.

I have had arm lymph but was never informed I may have problems elsewhere.......

I will be following it up and getting correct advice and attention to deal with it and hopefully be able to see someone up this neck of the woods (away from the big smoke) who is trained in this area. If not a trip to and fro to Perth again.

Thanks again to everyone. I am glad I opened up that can of worms.

Lots of love always, one of the pink sisters xoxo

Sorry to hear about your ongoing breast worry.We never seem to be free to forget about BC. I don't have a left breast anymore but I do get a puffy area above the scar and towards the underarm-hard to explain exactly where. Sometimes the bra strap constricts it and sometimes it puffs up if I lie on my left side for too long at night.When I had the lumpectomy and radiation(2003) it took literally years for my breast to settle down.I had alot of discomfort and couldn't lie on that side in bed at all.I just put it down to the radiation - it never felt normal/comfortable after it. This probably doesn't help you much but I would say radiation does alot of damage to lymph and blood vessels in your breast and it's possible to get lymphoedema there. It sounds like you've had every test possible on it Mich so all you can do is keep an eye on it.As for Mr doubt,well he's like that unwanted house guest that keeps turning up.If you work out how to get rid of him,let me know!!

                                          Tonya xx

English spelling = lymphoedema.

American spelling = lymphedema.

I had some issues with swelling/ discomfort after surgery in 1998. I find if I do too much at once in certain weathers, I can " feel " and see some swelling, so I pace myself etc. As a friend of mine who has lymphoedema says.. She is " up and down. " She has learnt techniques to help etc. Learning techniques, adjusting to new ways of doing things, looking after skin care  and not rushing about too much, can all help.

 Information  on how to do manual lymphatic drainage was  not adequate in 1998, for me personally, and I think helping clients to understand how the Anatomy and Physiology works is very helpful. The skin is the largest organ in the body and lymph drainage is 70% just under the skin and 30% in deeper channels, as in abdomen.( I think I remember reading this recently. )

The  right arm, some parts of the chest and maybe some (R) back shoulder blade area..drains into the RIGHT clavicular duct area.

The left side of the body, left arm, both legs and abdomen drain in  the LEFT clavicle duct area.. in the neck. ..... VERY INTERESTING, and worth knowing if you have any surgery or radiation on the breast area. ( PLEASE CHECK for accurate anatomy and physiology )

 Things have improved since 1998, but perhaps not uniformally in all areas of Australia. Just this weekend, ( March 16th and 17th, 2013 ) I attended the  BC Conference in Launceston and listened to Professor Neil Piller from Adelaide.

 I now do daily massage and more so if exercising, plus " cool down" exercises to help keep lymph channels open and draining, so lymph does not " pool " in one spot.

I have had some scanning laser, which I feel helped lymph drainage to settle down. I listen to my body and do not overdo things, carry anything heavy over a distance, nor do too much repetitive movements. This took some time to adjust to " slowing down" and not trying to do everything in one day." Do it Tomorrow " is one mantra I have now.. LOL.

 I do slow, full, abdominal breathing and lie down, ( vertically  10/ 15 minutes etc ) mostly daily, plus I know how to drain the nodes in the neck and groin and abdomen etc. It all  helps drainage and to " rebalance, " both  before and after, doing activities and exercises. I also try and keep skin well moisturized and avoid cuts. Drinking plenty of water to keep hydrated, eating  a varied seasonal diet, weight management, and water therapy, also help me. I do walking a few days a week, and  perhaps could do a bit more.. LOL.

I think there are varying " degrees " of lymph drainage issues,  but  even a " small " problem with lymph, can turn into a bigger problem, if left unattended.

 If you feel you have a problem, keep persuing it and  find someone professional to help you understand how the lymph drainage works and how to manage any issues you have.

  Good luck with finding help with your concerns, Kathy.

Hi Ladies... does it come in threes??? I had a painful breast, swollen, hot... etc... went to the Onchol last Wed and she said without looking or touching.. that it was 'breast lympo' and referred me to the physio.. the Physio then said it was cording and gave me expercises to do... doesn't hurt any more but I'm keeping up with my exercise and massage everynight...

Hi Mich,

Just did a quick google and found these links below...thought you might find them reassuring.

Apparantly there is such a thing as truncal and breast lymphodema, and skin changes, and redness are two of the symptoms. Poorly documented but not so uncommon.

I feel your pain re the fear. I recently discovered two lumps in my remaining breast and wrestled for days whilst awaiting tests between the common sense it must be cysts/couldn't be so unlucky as to develop such aggressive breast cancer in the other breast whilest undergoing chemo....to omg i have developed aggressive cancer in the other breast which wasn't there four months ago, is now two lumps I can seriously feel, and it's survived chemo.

Seeing those two disappear on the ultrasound when they were sucked out was the best thing I've seen in ages.

Hope these links help appease your worries.

x

http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/physicalsideeffects/lymphedema/whateverywomanwithbreastcancershouldknow/lymphedema-with-breast-cancer-signs-of-lymphedema

http://www.stepup-speakout.org/breast_chest_trunckal_lymphedema.htm