Im sure treatments for breast cancer,were invented by men.Its bad enough you lose a breast, then your hair,then deal with the grey fluff growing back,then burns from radiation,the scars you are left with.Now im expected to wear a compression sleeve in the middle of summer,to control my lymphodema.Through this whole thing ive never felt so self conscious and looked so hideous>>>>>>
Hi Annie,
This is Annie from BCNA's Policy Team. I'm sorry to hear you need to wear a compression sleve (on top of everything else). I'm writing to let you know that there are some state and territory run subsidy schemes for compression garments. They don't offer a great deal of help, and the eligibility criteria is quite limiting.
We know that the out-of-pocket costs associated with breast cancer can be very high and place additional burden on women, so we put together a fact sheet that lets women know about the subsidies that are available. If you're interested in taking a look, the fact sheet is called "Lymphoedema compression garment subsidies fact sheet" which is located here - http://www.bcna.org.au/fact-sheets.
All the best,
Annie
Hi Annie,
This is Annie from BCNA's Policy Team. I'm sorry to hear you need to wear a compression sleve (on top of everything else). I'm writing to let you know that there are some state and territory run subsidy schemes for compression garments. They don't offer a great deal of help, and the eligibility criteria is quite limiting.
We know that the out-of-pocket costs associated with breast cancer can be very high and place additional burden on women, so we put together a fact sheet that lets women know about the subsidies that are available. If you're interested in taking a look, the fact sheet is called "Lymphoedema compression garment subsidies fact sheet" which is located here - http://www.bcna.org.au/fact-sheets.
All the best,
Annie
We all have those days, I sometimes find that I have been pottering around and haven't even got dressed and its mid afternoon. Let yourself have these kinds of days and don't feel guilty about them, it does get better.
Like Tonya, I've also regained my hair and have it coloured. Apparently you are advised to wait before doing this, I didn't know I was supposed to wait till after I did it using an all natural dye and I had no ill effects.
I embrace my mastectomy scars, radiation burnt skin and hand foot syndrome caused by Xeloda every day and say "Thank You" to my treatment team for the best side effect of all - I'm still alive and going well.
I also have lymphoedema and wear a sleeve to prevent it getting worse. I don't wear it all the time and I have a lymphoedema drainage session with a trained specialist every fortnight to keep the lymph flowing in the new pathways. Only wear the sleeve when you are upright to prevent gravity letting the lymph collect in your arm. Don't wear it to bed as it can cut off the circulation and cause further problems. I haven't found it to be hot in our recent hot weather in Melbourne, it allows the skin to breathe much to my relief.
With love
Joy K
