Our Gardens

Thank you for the warm welcome and encouragement, ladies!

I have been doing the recommended daily exercises 3 times per day. They are helping a lot even though I’m not sure if I’m doing all of them 100% correctly (I was just given a sheet of exercises to follow - I’m assuming this is the norm?). I have been hearing a lot about the benefits of lymphatic drainage massage post surgery but unsure when is the best time to start?

Dear @Sophilina,

Happy gardening and best wishes from jennyss in Western NSW

Hi @Sophilina
After a mastectomy and axillary clearance, I did unfortunately get lymphoedema but it affects very little and I can still work in the garden (I am not a good gardener but sort of enjoy it!) so don’t be put off doing what you like. Gloves by all means (I invariably forget!) and watch out for rose thorns. Most of all, any scratches, stop, wash, disinfect straight away. Lymphoedema can be very manageable, just very unpredictable as to getting it. You may find it useful to talk with a good, qualified lymphoedema therapist for advice on protection/early detection. Best wishes.

@Sophilina, sometimes these things appear to be worse than they are.  Good hygiene is the answer.  Yes, wear gardening gloves but still wash wash wash afterwards.
You can do anything you want to do in the future, just think about what you are doing and how you are doing it.  Be cautious but not scared.
My dominant arm is my mastectomy side but nothing stops me in the garden except my arthritis which prevents me bending properly - and I have to admit it is not always gloved gardening but I do wash well after - I am 6 years on ....
All the best.  Look forward to news of your new career !

Hi @Sophilina welcome to the club no-one wants to join.   I would suggest you do the exercises they tell you to do.  I didn't always do them after my mastectomy and I have a little bit to go for  strength and stretch. 

  Fatigue after chemo and radiation slowed me down a lot but now 12 months on I am gardening again.  I can't do it for as long as I used to but for me the letrolze medication I now take daily for 10 years means I can't stay down on my knees for a long time but age and weight add to this.

I am sure you  will be able to continue a career in horticulture.

Hi ladies! First time poster here 👋🏻

I am 35 years old and I was diagnosed with with hormone positive IDC on the 19th of May this year. 

I am 9 days out from a single mastectomy and axillary clearance. Prior to my diagnosis and surgery I was a very keen gardener. I’ve been worried that I won’t be as capable of performing these kind of tasks anymore due to the risk of infection and lymphedema in my affected arm (which happens to be my dominant arm, d’oh!).

This thread gives me hope that my gardening days aren’t in fact, over 🙂 I know that gloves are more important than ever now (I got away without using them in the past!) is there anything else I should be wary of? Has your BC diagnosis changed the way you garden? 

I have pulled out a few weeds here and there using my unaffected arm but haven’t been game enough to use the affected arm yet! Before my diagnosis I had intended to pursue a career in horticulture, I hope this is still a possibility for me 🤞🏼

Thanks 🌷🌹🌺🌸🌼🌻

FLClover said:

More indoor babies 

wow so healthy

No problem at all @gumnut, it was my pleasure 😊. The air purifying ones are that large one, which is a Happy Plant or Dracaena, and I also have a small version of that in my bedroom (you can see the in the pics). The Mother-in-Law‘s Tongue, or Snake Plant is also air purifying, and I have the small version of that in my bedroom too. The Spider Plant is another one, which is in my terrarium, and it grows quickly too. The Peace Lily is beautiful and a good air purifier, but I gave mine away when I got diagnosed and need to get a new one. And finally the Aloe Vera, great for the skin and the lungs 😁. Definitely get them, as they’re really low maintenance, cheap, plus they’re so pretty 😊🥰

Hi @FLClover
I love yr air purifying plants - I didn't know that they existed. I've been researching them on the web, sounds like a great idea. I'm going to get some too  :)
Thank you <3 for sharing xx