Hi @Maree72,
congrats on finally over and done with the active treatments!
I am no expert but it sounds like you may have lymphedema + restricted arm movement caused by radiation.These are both side effects that I am still managing. I completed radiation some where around end of Mar. And my arm become extremely restrictive ( I got slacked with my physio exercises) 2 months post rads. And I also have what’s called clinical lymphedema. This was identified through the SOZO machine. I was ‘measured’ before my surgery so they know what is my base measurement, and I was ‘measured’at various stages of my treatment (before chemo, after chemo, before rads and after rads). Were you at any stage of your journey been checked using SOZO?
I am seeing a BC physiotherapist (actually been seeing her after my surgery last year- it’s very expensive to be diagnosed with BC!) and I am wearing compression sleeves (your therapist will measure and order this for you if you do need them) as my lymphedema is around my arms. So I suspect your radiation nurse will refer you to a physiotherapist as well. The therapist will also do the lymphatic massage (+ teaching you how to do them at home ). My therapist also started massaging my radiated breast ( after 2 months post rads) as it was expected to be very tight.
Keep me posted on what your rads nurse say as I am curious.
P.s. couldn’t agree more that it was very very sore initially but it does get better (very slowly unfortunately).
p.s. I don’t have any lymph nodes as well- all removed 😏!
