I am on cloud 8

thanks Sandy,

My physio also said not to go past pain.

So I am just doing what I can.  but I imagine when I get to radiotherapy stage that they may expect you to be able to put your arm back up over your head, which I am nowhere near able to do.

Julia

Wow Sandy I bet that grin doesn't come off for an awfully long time!!! Great news and well worth celebrating.

Stick at it in regards to the arm exercises as it does become easier and does really help. I've notice that there's already some tightening with chemo so goodness knows what will happen after radiation treatment!!

Have a great celebration lunch on Thursday and keep going from there.

Dette xxx

Hi Julia

My sympathies regarding your arm. My radiologist was most displeased with the use I had in my arm - he noticed how much trouble I still had undressing! He said - one month after surgery I am "behind"!

What we need to do is to go the step beyond pain. He told me that gym junkies are well able to do that - I told him my pain threshold was way below theirs!!!

Seems like it is really debatable about how far to push as the physio I saw told me to stop when i felt pain! So I did. However the radiologist is right - I am favouring my arm so I cannot do what i usually can do.

Try stretching exercises - like climbing the wall with both hands, facing the wall, then do it only with your affected arm. He (the radiologist) also told me a good exercise was to find something I could hold onto - high enough to reach and then pull down. Almost hang from it. Something strong would be a linen closet for instance. I tried this today and worked well. Stretching, reaching, pushing your arm out as far as you can are all good exercises.

I can't wait to get back into the drivers seat to drive my way around. Even though the aches come - take some pain killers he told me and try it twice daily.

Good luck with your oncologist and the exercises too!

I am just in Liverpool and yes, my breast care nurse can refer me to a physio, though I have been working on it on my own at home. Much easier if I don't get too lazy. I also found it beneficial by having a warm shower in the morning as it gets rid of the nightly stiffness.

Cheerio

Sandy

wonderful!  I have to see my radiation onc tomorrow, but am pretty sure I will have to have it as I had four lymph positive. 

I too have arm problems, I have been seeing the physio at RPAH (if you are in Sydney)but I am sure other hospitals must have them too.  It has helped a lot even though it is now 2 1/2 months since  first op and feeling is very sensitive in parts and dead in others and I can  only move it about 1/2 the range I had.  She said it will be slow progress.

all the best,  Julia

Thanks Girls for your support and feedback.

Yes, I am going to lunch with my partner on Thursday. It is coming a couple of weeks later than we planned, though now it seems even more of a celebration.

I am even finding a way to do some stretching exercises for my arm to get it back to "normal" without having to resort to pain killers.

I am not sure it is luck Leonie or the foresight to go with the mastectomy. The radiologist asked if I was given the option of having the mastectomy or a lumpectomy and as I recall the surgeon told me "You don't have a choice - the nipple has to go anyway, we may as well do the whole breast" so although he was taking a radical approach, now I am glad as there were other cancers that had not been picked up even though it did not spread to the lymph nodes.

Happiness is definitely relief though and I will enjoy it for the rest of my life - taking the regular precautionery path, and knowing I am, for now, safe.

hugs

Sandy

Thanks Girls for your support and feedback.

Yes, I am going to lunch with my partner on Thursday. It is coming a couple of weeks later than we planned, though now it seems even more of a celebration.

I am even finding a way to do some stretching exercises for my arm to get it back to "normal" without having to resort to pain killers.

I am not sure it is luck Leonie or the foresight to go with the mastectomy. The radiologist asked if I was given the option of having the mastectomy or a lumpectomy and as I recall the surgeon told me "You don't have a choice - the nipple has to go anyway, we may as well do the whole breast" so although he was taking a radical approach, now I am glad as there were other cancers that had not been picked up even though it did not spread to the lymph nodes.

Happiness is definitely relief though and I will enjoy it for the rest of my life - taking the regular precautionery path, and knowing I am, for now, safe.

hugs

Sandy

That's a very good new indeed Sandy go out celebrate and enjoy. I am soo happy for you.

Good for you Sandy.  It must be such a good feeling for you.  Keep enjoying it for as long as you want to. XLeonie

Good for you Sandy.  It must be such a good feeling for you.  Keep enjoying it for as long as you want to. XLeonie

Well ,you have had a lucky reprieve haven't you.I say  go the chocolate anything for the whole week.Celebrate +++++.        plenty of time to start diets later.

                                         Tonya xx