Hi
Mother in Law had surgery for breast cancer removal of lump and lymph nodes underarm, then second op in same place to remove more lymph nodes. |Has had no support for lymphodema derspite having it for over a year just recently since being diagnosed as terminal in Dec and after stopping any further treatment in April has she had any input from lymphodema nurse.
Her right arm and above right breast are swelling and above her breast where operations were done is so swollen that the scars are pulling and are tight. she is in agony everyday on 75mg morphine patches, oral morphine and morphine tablets has steadily increased perscription since May. Could not have arm support as thought she had blood clot but after two months of injections descovered that there was never a blood clot and has since had the support ordered.
Is this normal? Should she be in this much pain?
Hi,
i developed lymphodema after lymph node extraction. Luckily I saw a nurse quite quickly and have the support. Some days it is painful but as long as I am careful what I do it seems ok most the time.
Keep doing the exercises and massaging it which I think helps.
Sorry your mother in law is having such a bad time with it.
K x
Hi, I had my operation back in Dec… Inc full lymph removal… I have serious lymphdemia at the moment, I’m going through Rads and basically cannot be in two hospitals 120km apart for the app… so doing rads… lymph getting much worse daily, can hardly bend my hand or arm by the end of the day…
So yes it can be really painful…
As advised try and rest as much as possible and elivate the arm…
Sorry, can’t advise much more…
Good Luck…
Teresa xxx
Hi Lynseylou
I would say that your mother in law needs an immediate referral to the lymphodema clinic or nurse at the very least. Quite honestly I find if total negligence that this has not been addressed in any way and she is suffering so much from something that can at least be alleviated with professional input.
Sorry if I’m stating the obvious but have you spoken to the bc nurse or GP about her lymphodema. There seems to be such a difference in care of this horrible development and there does seem to be many things that can help alleviate the symptoms when they are properly recognised and addressed.
I think getting on the phone until you get some answers is the way forward. I do hope she gets some relief.
Love Anne x x
Hi
Quick update. Lymphodema nurse now been and she now has a sleeve and her pain relief has been increased. Bydand - you have no idea the poor quality of care my mother in law has received. She has to chase everyhting her cancer Dr is in my opinion a waste of space and has not been good with the patient/doctor relationship, making decisions without giving Karen options he decided on wether she wuld like to access local hospice services etc. Her gp and district nurse have been the best the only ones who seem to get anything doen. We’ll see how it goes. Thanks everyone for your comments, much appreciated. Lynseylou