Does anyone have any suggestions for relief ? I don’t know if I’m just grabbing at straws before the ct in November my breast and armpit swells and becomes hot and painful its not all the time though. I can start the day with my 1 breast smaller then the other thanks to breast conserving surgery but by the end of the day its bigger than my the other one and the hole/ dent is deeper. Sometimes the swelling settles overnight sometimes a couple of daysi can go a day or so and there’s no swelling My arm and hand doesn’t seem to be swelling like it did in the beginningLooking forward to any ideasor do i just wait till the scan

CRP is a 'general inflammation' blood test - ie if your body is fighting an infection, arthritis etc - I've had arthritis for the last 20+ years, so mine tends to always be a 'tad high' so my GP was 'used to it' .... but if I get an infection, it goes up even higher, THEN my GP takes notice! ...... It would show as just 'one line' on your results ...... as CRPA rough idea of what it indicates is below:What infections cause a high CRP reading?These include:Bacterial infections, such as sepsis, a severe and sometimes life-threatening condition.A fungal infection.Inflammatory bowel disease, a disorder that causes swelling and bleeding in the intestines.An autoimmune disorder such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis.An infection of the bone called osteomyelitis.

Haddenham have new product called comfiwave breast texture garment that is great for at home wear for lymphatic swelling in breast, there are also other brands of texture pads if it is lymphatic swelling. See your doctor , OT or lympahtic therpaist for more info & diagnosis. Aloso if there is a sozo /impedimed machine near you ,you can get a 'water' measurement , then follow up in 3 mths and see if it changes.this can help detect lymphoedma before it even shows.Really important to act on any swelling and start to learn how to move the lymph fluid yourself at home everyday so it doesn't block up.The tighter it gets , the harder it is to move.Plus you don't want to risk dreaded cellulitis infections which require fast antibiotics.BTW Anyone who has lymphoedema & /or lipodema may be interested to know about this live event and its really very valuable information to help with managing the chronic condition. virtual information day by the Lymphoedema Support Group of NSW Inc Saturday, 6th November 2021 9.45am – 2.00pmAustralian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT) Presented in a live friendly and engaging video format, information that has been collated and refined for you and all in once place for easy fast learning..See the Lymphoedema Support Group of NSW webpage, Facebook page and the Eventbrite page for more information and to book ticketshttps://www.lymphoedemasupport.com/upcoming-events/information-day-2021-tamworthCost: $15 members, $30 non-members (profesional group is hosting the virtual webinar) !! FYI. It is a live virtual event,and a recording will not be made available for viewing after the event.

I'm sure we could find someone for you @cranky_granny xx. Oh well, at least with the MRI you'll have a pretty good 'baseline' for future changes in the area too .... I just wish we were all given one yearly (full body) to have as a base line ....

@arpie i have taken some photos of sorts i mentioned it to Onc at last visit hence the ctGot that organised and my follow up with her on 18th nov. as well as blood test etc and all the other tests she wants my GP to organise which i will worry about after this lot is dealt with

Anything hot swollen and painful needs to be checked ASAP. I would not be waiting that long for answers. It may be nothing but it needs to be investigated.

Lymphedema in breast ??? | BCNA Online Network

cranky_granny
Member
4 years ago
@aroie. I did have one after the surgery for about 6 months. For the arm hand and armpit he got it all as good as he could get it. Which was heaps better at the time saved me from the sleeve. That was back in 2017/2018
never expected it to return the arm and hand aren’t too bad. Rings on and off. And i never wear sleeves with tight cuffs. Its a bugger undoing them i kept up the arm and hand elevation mostly in summer or if i did too much yard work.
No man in the house. Or if there is its allergic to physical labour. (A nephew that lives at my house. Strange man/boy.).
Was told he would be a great help. Laughable that one
anyway I’m going to keep soldiering on. And keep learning about this shite show of bc. Give most things a go if i can
arpie
Member
4 years ago
Great info, @Kristen

@cranky_granny - your medical team should be able to put you onto a lymphedema specialist too, who would physically take you thru (and give you) the massage technique .... maybe ask for a referral?

I had a session with one about a month after my surgery & was quite surprised how 'firm' the massage was ..... I was very lucky tho, as I didn't have any ongoing issues

take care xx
cranky_granny
Member
4 years ago
Thankyou @Kristen i have now looked a those breast cancer physio ones. It was great to se a visual of how to do the massages. I was being too gentle and going the wrong direction for the breast the armpit one i had basically right
With the help of watching a couple of times it definitely makes a difference great improvement in shifting the fluid.
Kristen
Member
4 years ago

yep massage is boring. But the more you learn about it/lymphatics etc , the more you can refine your process/method and improve your technique which may enable you to reduce the time it takes and improve the effectiveness of it.Location, pressure, frequency of movemnt, speed- slowness can all have huge effect. I am still learning and i been doing it for 12 years.
eg no point 'pumping' pushing up and down fast, as our lymph system can not move fast, only pump once every 6 seconds , but several times. This can speed up lymphatics for a few hours. So doing it every few hours in your armpit, as it is where the fluid driains into blood system (even if lymph nodes have been removed) , will then make space for fluid to move out of breast and towards the 'plug hole' and keep things moving.

Incase anyone comes across this topic and is looking for info re self care of lymphoedema in breast.
Some great resources, and videos are on these two You Tube channels, both of these physios have informative videos specifically in relation to breast swelling as well and lots of other stuff re scaring and much more . Well worth subscribing and watching and learning - early interevention is good to say and adverti,se but requires learning stuff before we need it.Trying to spread the word in any little way i can. I know personally especially with cancer and lymphoedmea, that early intervention and education make a huge difference.

https://www.youtube.com/c/TheBreastCancerPhysio

https://www.youtube.com/c/CancerRehabPT/search?query=breast

Pump it ladies.Pump it up.

Happy New year.
#lymphoedema
cranky_granny
Member
4 years ago
My self Massaging is still working. But oh so boring haha 😛.
Still waiting for phone call (in January). Re the MRI results
cranky_granny
Member
4 years ago
@arpie & @Locksley.
This whole month has been one scan to the
next. Each one says needs further examination
next one the MRI. Im costing medicare a fortune at the moment. Let alone lost hours at work for me.
Maybe by the new year it will all settle down
to some sort of pattern.
Take my pills. Do my blood test then repeat repeat repeat every month

I’ve had no offers re my nightly massage 🥴 as yet. I can dream
Locksley
Member
4 years ago
@arpie me too if we had full body scan each year it may save us unnecessary grief down the track.
arpie
Member
4 years ago
I'm sure we could find someone for you @cranky_granny xx. Oh well, at least with the MRI you'll have a pretty good 'baseline' for future changes in the area too .... I just wish we were all given one yearly (full body) to have as a base line ....
cranky_granny
Member
4 years ago
UP DATE of sorts
breat surgeon is fairly certain the swelling is lymphedema but is sending me now for a MRI. To see whats going on with the muscle ??? Etc. because all the other scans don't show muscle
i have to massage the breast to try move the fluid.
Pity i don’t have hubby to do it for me it would be more fun 🤩
cranky_granny
Member
4 years ago
@arpie I’m desperately trying to sort a trip
but bloody appointments get in the way
and work. My holidays are from 7th dec to New year. So hopefully somewhere in there