Hi all
I am a recent mastectomy + axilliary clearance “patient”, with chemo and radiotherapy to come. That’s partly the problem, as I’m not very patient, and as I am a very keen gardener I am rather worried about how I shall cope with the restrictions I will have in future on use of my right arm ( I am right handed) in order to maximise my chances of avoiding lymphoedema. How are others coping with this? When I say keen, I do mean a 3 hours in the garden prior to BC not a problem but a delight.
Any thoughts gratefully appreciated.
Hi
Before BC I loved gardening and consequently our garden is what I can only call high maintenance.
Now following MX and node clearance we employ a little man to do the heavy work. For the work that I do myself I always wear leather gardening gloves which are actually gauntlets. I also make sure that I keep my arms well covered to avoid cuts and scratches. I do have mild lymphoedema but don,t think it was caused by the gardening, more likely forgetting the rule not to wear anything too tight round the wrist and sleeping with my watch on while on holiday.
Good luck
Andie
Hi
I had my mastectomy and recon last Sept followed by chemo and rads which finished at Easter. You didn’t mention if you had reconstruction or not? I had my op on my left side and am right handed so different to you
During the chemo and rads I did exercise my left arm and shoulder but it wasn’t until after I had finished my treatment that I have really started to stretch my left side and feel more confident lifting things. In the garden I have been very wary of lifting tubs and bags of soil and get my husband to do the digging and and any tree lopping which requires ladders or strength as I too am wary of lymphoedema. In general I find myself sitting on a stool more when I am doing pots or planting which I would not have had to do before but it has got easier over the last few weeks. Also my back was quite sore when I did my planting in Spring but I’m not complaining as it probably helped re-strengthen muscles there. Also I find the weeding very good exercise for my left side especially with all this rain as they come out quite easily.
My garden is not huge but like you I love to spend time there, especially when I was going through treatment being able to potter in the garden was so therapeutic. With you being right handed you will just need to take it easy and listen to your body. I hope that you have someone to help you with the heavier tasks and that you can try to be patient whilst your body heals. My biggest frustration was not being able to make up the bed properly as I couldn’t lift the mattress. Fortunately I can now do it so I have found that strength and confidence does come
back.
Best of luck during your treatment and take it easy this year in the garden
Moira
X
Hi
I love my garden and still do quite a bit of work in it. I had node clearance on the right hand side just over 7 months ago and I am left handed. Although like many left handed people, really I can do most things with both sides.
The advice I was given re: avoiding lymphoedema, was that you can return to doing the things you used to do pre-surgery, but build it up slowly over time. NEVER overload or carry very heavy items. Ofcourse, there are no guarantees and for me it means that I don’t carry bags of soil or move heavy pots.
First thing I bought were a set of heavy duty ‘gauntlets’, I have three pairs lying around, in the garage, in the conservatory, or on the potting table, so I don’t really need to look for them when doing a bit of impromptu gardening. Also bought a few of those ‘pot trolleys’ so that I can wheel my pots around my patio. When I go out weeding, I wear an old fleece to protect my arm from scratches. Not great in hot weather, but not negociable. Sometimes, I just have to wait till OH is around to move things for me (we’re a great pair with only 2 good arms between us!)
I would say, build up your strength slowly and pick up your gardening bit by bit. You’re gonna have to try and be patient…give yourself time.
Hope this helps.
I also love gardening. I developed very mild lymphodema about a year after my axillary clearance (full).
Of all the activities I do, I think gardening is the one that has the most impact on my lymphodema. I think this is probably because you tend to have your arms more downwards when you garden. Also as I find it enjoyable I can spend a lot of time doing it without realising.
Have I changed anything? Not really. Gardening is a huge part of my life and I love it. I discussed it with my lymphodema nurse who is very much of the view that you don’t let lymphodema run your life. Mine is only very mild so it may be different for others.
I avoid lifting anything too heavy and heavy digging but had to before anyway because of a back problem.
So as others have said, make sure you keep your arms covered, and wear gloves as much as possible to avoid scratches. I wear a long sleeve cotton top. I still get scratched but I’m not paranoid although I’m careful. So i clean any scratches and spray on Savlon (the risk with scratches is infection).
Also bear in mind, that it is by far from a given that you’ll develop lymphodema. I had other risk factors such as large, ongoing seromas, a portacath on that side etc.
enjoy your garden! Elinda x
I read rececently that those who take up weight lifting after bc treatment have a 33% less chance of developing lymphodema…food for thought! I too am a gardener and have been lugging things around as soon as my arm felt strong enough.If it started to ache I’d stop. Luckily I’ve never had any problems.
Josie x
Thank you all so much for this encouragement; I
I feel much less despondent hearing how much you can all manage to do. I will try to be patient- promise!
Hi, I too, am a keen gardener and have been doing voluntary work at my local Hospice for the past 3 years… since being diagnosed in May and going through the lumpectomy and now the full node removal, I have been unable to dig and pull weeds - dreadful!! I’m getting withdrawal symptoms… and I too have still got to undergo all the treatment: chemo, radiotherapy, hormone treatment and Herceptin. How will I cope? I’m actually very up beat and not at all worried about the outcome/treatment, but am upset that I can’t go and have a good dig and get on with planting! I have a very good husband, but he can’t work under orders, when it comes to planting or weeding - heyho, we can’t have everything!
I hope all is going well with your treatment and I wish you all the best. Currently, I’m suffering from a very swollen and sore armpit/side and am waiting to go and have it aspirated - probably overdoing things again…
Hi I too am a very keen gardener so much so that as someone earlier said I have a relatively high maintenance garden. I had 1st WLE and ANC just before BH w-e at end of May last year. I was treated to sitting in the garden complete with drain directing daughter and s-i-l planting up my pots troughs etc. Then 2nd WLE 4 weeks later meant that my garden was sorely neglected last summer. This year is a different matter. S-i-l helps with heavy stuff but the neglect is not so evident, despite being back at work F/T I was so sad to see how awful it looked. I have always worn gardening gloves and have gauntlets now. I have antiseptic wipes and Savlon in the kitchen just in case for any scratches. I use cream on my affected arm after showering to keep skin moisturised and supple. Might all sound a faff but it is part of the routine now.I was advised to have a supply of ‘just in case’ a-bs on hand for any potential infections of skin and my GP was happy to prescribe these for me.My garden is a form of therapy and always has been, so not happy to give it up.Good Luck J xx
Hi ladies,
Gardening was my job and my hobbie, i started it as a job, after initial diagnosis and treatment in 2002. I am careful but not overly so, used to lift silly weights and then think…oh! mayb shouldn’t have done that lol. Had many scratches,cuts and bite etc on my effected arm and have been very lucky indeed as I never had a hint of lymphodema.
Now at secondary stage and been through the mill a bit, I look in horror at my own garden and sometimes visit the garden I used to work on and hope that I will be back in amongst it all, working like i used too.
I was just careful and not overly paranoid about my arm and it seemed to work for me.
Happy gardening
Clare x