Forum Discussion
Lymphedema
I had a mastectomy in late april for invasive ductal cancer. I was to have a sentinal node biopsy but due to the feel/appearance of nodes in surgery, ended up with axillary dissection. My surgeon didnt discuss lymphedema, seems he didnt discuss s lot ie my brachio...... nerve was "unavoidably" cut t o access the other lymph nodes and is now a living herll. Thank god i get my nerve block on the 14th. Anyway.my physio has been measuring my arm in 4 places each week and in the last 2 measurements there was a 3cm grtowth. Its also pudgy feeling in my armpit and my chest has some swelling just near the armpit. She put on an elastic type tubular ba ndage and said i would have to leave it on 24/7 and my go is saying about going to the lymphedema clinic.
I guess whete im scratching my head is we are only tslking about a 3cm change and it was a week not overnight?
Opinions anyone? 3cm seems pretty pathetic to be wearing this. It creases in my elbow fold a nd is pretty irritating !
Ps im also on tamoxifen and have just learned that it also has this as a side effect
I guess whete im scratching my head is we are only tslking about a 3cm change and it was a week not overnight?
Opinions anyone? 3cm seems pretty pathetic to be wearing this. It creases in my elbow fold a nd is pretty irritating !
Ps im also on tamoxifen and have just learned that it also has this as a side effect
12 Replies
- Whoa language not everyone's preferred description. I've just lost someone to cancer and I like you are in the middle of the battle and offended by the language
- @Bevvsy, so sorry the Crap you're going through. I feel scared already. I'm on zoladex injections for 2yrs plus tamoxifen after radiation. The sweats have me awake most nights. I have my fan running even though it's cold.
- Hugs @bevvzy, I can so relate. My lymphedema was harder to deal with than the cancer, which sounds weird... I knew the surgery and treatment fixed that but the lymphedema.... a whole other story. Hang in there with a sleeve and massage etc it does become manageable... Just a bitch!! cyber hugsPaula xxx
I am so with you. I thought, ok take the whole damn thing off and it will all be over. What a load of shit. Even though I had a heap of nodes out my surgeon told me I would be low risk! Breast care nurse and onc both said any more than 3 or 4 puts you at risk and bloody tamoxifen has that as a side effect too. So when you have it off they dont tell you the "scars" physical but also mental, that come with it. Cut nerves to get to all the nodes, had a nerve block for that yesterday and did shit. My armpit feels like sludgy putty fat and full. Even though its only a few cm it feels heavy and uncomfortable. yep cancer is fucked. As for the tamoxifen, apart from the lymphedema, there are so many side ffects. The one I hate the most is the drenching sweats. Could be 6 degrees in orange and the back of my hair is drenched with sweat. its a bitch night tonight sorry ladies. Get fitted for sleeve on the 26th, hope thats the alst of the dramas. I just want to put all this behind me!LMK74 said:Bevvsy, it's good to hear from you again. This journey just sucks. I'm heading for a mastectomy in August and full axillary clearance. This is my very fear of having lymphedema. I too will be put on tamoxifen. Fuck cancer!!.- Thanks Brenda. Saw my onc today and breast nurse. She has referred to physio for fitting. Its only a few cm but she said this is the time to be doing something
- Just wear the sleeve as much as you can stand for a start. I couldnt wear mine at night as I would bend my elbow in sleep and it cut circulation there so at night I wouldnt wear a sleeve but I would elevate my hand. Mine is sort of settled atm so sleeve wearing only when I can feel the pressure building. You get attuned to checking it.
- Good advice from Paula, worth getting it checked out and being sure what you are dealing with. I got mine relatively early, and it has proved very manageable. It could be a number of things and treatment for one thing may not help if it's something else. Good luck.
- @bevvzy , I would be taking your GP's advice and going to the lymphedema clinic. You don't want to muck around with this and the earlier you catch it, the better the outcome. At the clinic they will have skilled staff who can help you immediately. I have mild lymphedema that was caught reasonably early. I tried to deny it and hated the fact that I had it... it's a case of cancer the gift that keeps giving. However I am now more accepting of it and do lots of self massage and wear a garment most of the time. 3cm is actually quite a big difference and with the pudgy feeling something that needs to be addressed quickly. Lymphedema is not discussed enough by our surgeons and something that is often forgotten. It won't go away on its own., however you can have quite a good outcome if you get onto it straight away.
Hugs
Paula xxxx - My hand became swollen just after starting chemo. It settled down after that and I had laser and massage to help manage it. My arm sometimes swells, but not a lot. It's best to manage it well early and then it's easier to deal with later. Mine is managed with mostly elevation and massage and I sometimes wear a glove if I travel.
