Mastectomy of irradiated breast

I have found that with each cycle of chemo the tightness got worse...it just improves in time for the next round. My oncologist believes it to be due to the steroids and most likely is trunkal odema. I try to wear shapewear singlets when really bad as well as doing massage and this seems to help. It wasn't  until I was weekly that they really listened to what was happening. Apparently an uncommon side effect. Kath

Hi Anne-Marie

sorry it has taken me so long to respond-ended up in hospital on the 14th and still here. Surgeon operating this afternoon, hopefully this will address infection issue once and for all. Thank you so much for having me in your thoughts and prayers. Take care.

Janette x

Hi Kath

I have been doing my exercises but get little relief-feels like I am wearing a really tight vest all the time. Info from Beppie sounds similar to me skin is very tight/stretched. Once on top of this I would like to utilise hydro pool think it would be really beneficial. Take care

Janette x

Hi Bep 

Thanks for info-so sorry you have had so many issues. I have been in hospital for10 days on IV anti-biotics with no real improvement. Surgeon has decided to operate this afternoon now that my white cell count has improved. Hopefully this will clear source of infection. First chemo really exacerbated problem so worried about next round doing the same. Was really hoping tightness was temporary it feels like I am wearing a really tight vest. Will definitely buy some Udder cream. Take care 

Janettexx

I get tight each chemo round and my oncologist believe it is the steroids.  So I make sure I do the exercises...sometimes need a aah bra to help and other times just a tight tank seems to help the flow a bit. Sitting with my arm up on the affected side for a while seems to help. I go to a hydro pool too and do arm rotations and stretching and find the water compression seems to assist with the drainage. Hope things improve for you. Kath x

Hi Janette , 

i had a lumpectomy and radiation with my first breast cancer. 9 years later it returned with a mastectomy and chemo this time. My chest is so tight and thin as muscle was removed as well. I had lymphodema in my arm and had numerous physio . It aches on/off now and always has, I'm just used to it now. I had the site drained every week for 6 weeks after mastectomy as fluid built up. A seroma did form and after a year I had it removed surgically as it was dense and my surgeon wanted to be sure it was just fluid. Once the areas healed , rub some Udder cream in from the Moo Goo range from chemists. Can't do anything about the burns or scarring either . I developed atrial fibrillation from all of that from heart damage as it was my left side. By now I'm really used to it, don't like it but I'm still alive . I had. TRAM flap reconstruction and that foob looks really good . Not a lot of choice for reconstruction due to the radiation and no muscle. Hope your doing well now xxx Bep 

Thanks- surgeon putting me back in hospital today.

Janette

Hi there

i can't help about the irradiation but I had a persistent seroma (fluid) with lots of fluid removed. I suspect the three infections I got were from the fluid providing a fertile ground for the bacteria we all have, rather than being caused by having the fluid removed, but it can be hard to tell. The third infection was serious however, so don't ignore them. After the third, my surgeon went back, cleaned out the site and no more fluid, no more infections!

Hi Janette, I can't offer any advice but I know some other kind and helpful ladies on this site can.

I have recently finished chemo and Radiothreaphy.... Diagnosed last Aug 2015. When I started chemo I did suffer with nausea but my oncologist was able to organised more drugs which help so much.

yes it does all get to you but hang in there and know you are in my thoughts and prayers. 

Probably easy for me to say but I look back and boy it was one hell of a ride but all the treatment will finish before you know it.

Anne-Marie ????