Chest tightness after bilateral mastectomy.
Hi there fellow warriors. Had my bilateral mastectomy with axillary clearance on left and sentinal nodes on right one month ago. My chest is still really tight...feels like I still have the chest bind...
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Hi everyone. I had a bilateral mastectomy two and a half years ago and hear you! How ironic that having had size F breasts removed it felt just like wearing a massive bra that was way too tight! I found an oncology massage therapist and she did lots of work helping to release the fascia. This made a HUGE difference. I also practice yoga and that has helped with the tightness, my range of movement, my lymph drainage and building my upper body strength. As a side bonus, the chest muscles I've built with all those downward and upward dogs make me look naturally flat chested rather than surgically altered.
Please know that it does get much better with time. If you can't afford massage, then gently rubbing the area yourself can help, as can patting yourself downwards, as if you were patting a cat (this drains lymph). I no longer have any tightness across my back. I sometimes still feel tight across the front of my chest but it's almost not noticeable.
Someone on this site let me know just after my surgery that the tightness would improve, and my skin would eventually stop feeling 'stuck' to my muscle. They were right and it helped me so much to know this. I hope my comments have helped you too.