I saw my GP yesterday who found it strange that as I’ve been back and forth to the hospital for the last year they hadn’t picked up on this breast lymphoedema earlier - well in fact in April I was given anti inflammatories by my surgeon because it was swollen then. There doesn’t appear to be any type of taping or special compression bra available here in France so my best option is a stretchy support meant for the abdominal area (I still have one after DIEP recon 2 years ago) - this is available on prescription so I’m going to try with the old one first, will cut it down so it fits the bust area better. I was advised to lose weight so diet and exercise started today.
I’m seeing my Oncologist on Monday after my GP arranged a special appointment - neither of us are very happy that I haven’t seen an Onc for 2 years, despite having a second primary cancer a year ago and have now gone 5 years since the first primary cancer.
Rozita I do get a lot numbness and strange sensations in my right arm - it’s like it goes dead at times, I’ve had this since the node clearance in 2008 so am pretty used to it by now so try not to worry too much I think it is a side effect of the nodes being mucked about. I don’t have lymphoedema on this side. I’ve also had a lot of pain and aching in the shoulder since MX and have spent the last 4 years taking tramadol, which has helped but now I’m trying to stop them for a while just to see what it is like now.
Lottie hope you get your MLD appointment soon let me know how the taping goes, it sounds similar to what I am going to try.
Has anyone tried ice (bag of peas works well) on the swelling of the breast? This does seem to be easing the pain a bit but isn’t doing anything for the hardness.
Hi all awake strange hours as usual just taken my tramadol and paracetamol and gp said add ibuprofen as well so hopefully kick in soon I went to gp yestoday but regular doctor away so swapped to another he was ok I explained had lymphodemia a few years but struggling at the moment with the breast swelling and pain in arm n numbness hand n fingers just woke up only laying on back cos thts th only way now n still lymphodemia arm hand numb and tingly n not lent on wierd Go said straight away carpal tunnel typically my arm was not swollen as had been resting said options were steroid injection. ( i explained were not supposed to have injection in that arm ) or an operation ( well!! ) obit first a wrist splint he said perhaps the other two could be done under the right s circumstances I’m not sure about that. Not even sure about carpal tunnel I thought your fingers wer supposed t turn in ? though ink it seems more like a trapped nerve but worry that something could be pressing. But no mention of a scan so another long wait n route wait for hospital to fit me for a splint there’re probably sick of me as I’m trying to sort out why I’ve been constantly coughing since may 2012 ended up with pleurisy in November and been on tramadol ever since which help with the cough but cant take if I have a few drinks of drive il have a read a out this carpal tunnel and see what I think. Well sorry for th rant hope your all doing ok peacock I hope you get some answera on Monday not good not seeing an Onc I don’t would expect to if had a secondary I think maybe youl have to demand lot tie hopefully your treatment will help I had massage In the beginning and was very nice very gentle does help if only you could take those nurses home !! Emn did you get your Seroma sorted ? N ladies with the pain n swelling lets hope yor all doing ok with the heat n if any of finds something that helps wel share rozita x
Just an update
I saw my Oncologist yesterday - haven’t seen him for at least 18 months - he won’t tell me what the swelling/hardness is until i’ve had some tests, just the usual - mammogram, ultrasound and the MRI. I asked him what it could be, he mentioned seroma, hematoma and a couple of other things. I asked “could it be another cancer” he said yes, but he doesn’t think so but won’t decide on treatment until after all these tests. So I’m waiting for appointments for these tests then I will see him after. Still painful, swollen and looking like an elephant man (on the breast) LOL.
Hi all wow peacock your oncologist isn’t subtle . I’m still the same very swollen around breast and under arm and breast so painfull to touch saw the specialist eventually yestoday about my cough and explained about lymphodemia and pain in shoulder n arm n numbness he said hel send me for a ct scan but didnt think anything would show and if that was clear il have a camera down throat and if thts clear see a dr in hull about coughing so at least something will be done but he didnt seem to think anything was cancer related. Had my routine mammogram yestoday which was painful but at least another thing checked just hav t wait for results and got my appointment tmorro with the lymphodemia nurse so will see what she says usually the same keep massaging and use a support bra !! So all appointments all at once. Just hope it’s not ages for scans etc n fingers crossed. It’s hard not to be worried when you can’t remember what normal felt like !! Take care ladies how are you all doing ?? Rozita x
Hi Ladies
Sorry to hear you are still having a painful time , My breast has settled a little , still sligtly tender and pink ( But has been pink since day one ! ) I have increased the massaging and exercise and the reduce in temp seems to be helping just waiting for an appointment now for first MLD , I am also now wearing a soft support crop top style bra in bed I will try anything to get my poor booby back to similarity to the other one !! Good luck with the tests / results peacock and Rozita ,
Stay comfy one and all x
I hate to say this but I am nearly 7 years post dx and still having problems. I did have a lot of internal damage due to a surgical error and then had rads on an open wound which didnt help. Sometimes its a lot better, sometimes a lot worse - sometimes I know why, eg I forgot and carried something heavy but sometimes I cannot find a reason. Last week it was particulary painful on the left of the affected breast and down my left side. I had a mammo yesterday and now I am in my usual state of being scared to death of getting those results - ironically for the past few days the pain has gone and I just have a slight “tingly” sensation in the breast although my left side is a bit sore to touch. It never completely goes away and I struggle to get comfy if I lie on that side but I do get frightened when the pain seems to carry on for a few days and fear the worst. x
I had my WLE & SNB in march then 15 sessions of radiotherapy in May. About June my operated on breast started to change, the skin got harder like orange peel all swollen and tighter and then red hot only on the left side of my boob not at the side of the armpit. The onc said it was just damage from the radiotherapy. I asked if it was lymphoedema and he said no but then it got worse so I saw him again this time he said it was an infection and gave me penicillen. Its now november and it is no better I saw a different onc this time and she said it is probably lymphoedema of the breast. ( notice she said probably) She has made appointment for me at the Alnwick Hospice who have nurses that are trained in this. Whether they can help I will soon find out but I am really annoyed that it has been left so long cos surely the sooner it is found and treated the better. I have had over 5mths of pain and discomfort. After reading on here about some of you having it for years I dont think I can stand much more. I am more depressed now than when I first found out about the cancer.
just waiting for an appointment now for first MLD , I am also now wearing a soft support crop top style bra in bed I will try anything to get my poor booby back to similarity to the other one !! Good luck with the tests / results peacock and Rozita ,