Early stage lymphoedema
Hi everyone. So I’ve just come back from one of my lymphoedema clinic appointments and they said my sozo measures and arm measurements were a bit high. I’ve been given some extra exercises and self lymph draining massage instructions to do but I was just wondering for anyone who has had reversed it fro this stage had any extra tips that I can do to maximise my chances of turning this around ive got another appointment in 5 weeks and if it hasn’t changed they want to look at compression which I’m keen to avoid with the weather warming up I’m a busy mum of three and work from home on our own business too so there’s no time for gyms or yoga or anything like that, just looking for extra things I can incorporate into my already packed days. Appreciate any tips and tricks that you may have just for background I’ve had left side mastectomy, full auxiliary clearance, 3 weeks radiation and 16 rounds of chemotherapy all completed. Still doing immunotherapy and taking anastrozole Thanks and have a great day 🙂
Lymph node status
I was just wondering how cancer in lymph nodes is detected before surgery. Some women already seem to know their lymph node status before their operation. Was this diagnosed through ultrasound, mammogram, MRI or pet scan? All of these tests suggest my lymph nodes seem ok, but the surgeon tells me a substantial number will have to be removed in the operation anyway. (I am currently undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy.)
Bra and prosthesis fitter
Just to let Vic ladies know that I had a great experience with a bra and prosthesis fitter in Melbourne. I had meet her previously at a Think Pink Centre Day of Indulgence ( book yourself in if you haven't already !) and asked her if she could come (across town) to fit my elderly mum.......... which she did without hesitation. She also handles the paperwork for the new prosthesis which was less paperwork for me :). I told her I would plug her service here. Her name is Genevieve . Here's her details : http://breastcarevictoria.com.au/
Lymphoedema and recurrence fears
Hello everyone. It has been ages since I have posted. Since this site was re done I no longer got notifications, then 2 major surgeries in 2016 and life kind of took over. I was diagnosed with Lymphoedema about 8 weeks ago. Everthing was going along swimmingly. I had lymphoedema but only to a fairly minor degree then one morning about 8 weeks ago woke with a swollen hand and arm. Such a shock. So have had the intensive therapy with the bandages and now have a compression sleeve which just keeps the lymphedema controlled to a point. My struggle is that I was just being able to move on after treatment and surgeries, then this. The constant reminder every day is there now and am really struggling. Is there anyone else in a similar situation?
Breast and thyroid cancer combination
Hi everyone I was diagnosed with HER2 positive breast cancer in October last year. I had 4 courses of chemotherapy to shrink the tumours in my breast and under my arm pit. This was followed by a lumpectomy and clearance of the axillary lymph nodes. I am also on 3 weekly doses of Herceptin for 12months. I completed 7 weeks of radiotherapy in May. I was starting to feel like my old self again but a bit of a shock changed all of that. I discovered a lump towards the end of my radiotherapy treatment. After investigation and numerous biopsies, I was diagnosed with metastatic papillary thyroid cancer. I have just had a total thyroidectomy and neck clearance and am waiting to have a follow up consult with my surgeon regarding the cancer pathology and next steps. My question is has anyone else had this combination of cancers? My endocrine specialist told me that the thyroid cancer is totally unrelated to the breast cancer. So in other words I have had 2 separate primary cancers. I am wondering if this has any impact on recurrence and survival rates. It has been a double whammy to get my head around this diagnosis on top of the breast cancer. I have an appointment with my medical oncologist next week and will discuss it with her. Also I am concerned regarding a seroma that has formed on my neck since the surgery and any advice people may have regarding managing ongoing lymphoedema from these 2 operations would be most welcome.