Please I need your help!!! On Tuesday I start radiotherapy and I have to give tell my doctor if I want radiotherapy on my armpit, but I’m really really worry about lymphoedemia. I read so much about, I also work in nursery nurse and if I will have lymphoedemia that’s mean that I can’t lift babies! I’m just 28 years old and I don’t want to live with swollen arm!
please, help me make desition!!!
ania
(This new post started by Lavender Lassie to try to get more replies for Ania before her appointment on Tuesday-can anyone help? Thanks Lavender xx)
Hello Ania,
I wasn’t offered any choices with my radiotherpay, but just to say mine included my arm pit (as I had affected lymph nodes; it was a precaution to do the radiotherapy there) and so far so good. I am now 4 months post rads, which I think probably means I’ve gone past the especially risky time frame for lymphoedema. A number of poeple do get lymphoedema after radiotherpay but many don’t, and for me it owuld have been a risk I’d have taken to minimise the risk of a recurrence.
You might get osme useufl advice from the halpline if you call them, and i’m sure others will along with ideas soon.
Hope you find the help you need to make the best choice for you.
Hi Ania
I didnt get a choice either… and being a nurse on a Neuro rehab ward I was really concerned about my job and any effects it might have on patient contact…
R/therapy went well tho I do get a bit of swelling (grade 3) on a scale of 1 to 10… I,m not able to wear the sleeve and glove that is supplied to reduce it from the Lymph/Nurse as it is an Infection control risk, but to be quite honest i,m fine without it at work I do have quite a heavy job and patient moving/handling is a big part of it.
I just wear the sleeve/glove when I get home. Also I think the exercise helps, Hopefully you wont be effected.
I hope it all goes really well for you xxxxxxxx Doz
We have a factsheet which you might find useful to read, it’s called ‘Reducing the Risk of Lymphoedema’. It offers hints and tips to help reduce the risks.
Here’s the link to the page where this publication can be downloaded or ordered:
I had lymph node involvement and also wasn’t given any choice. I’ve nearly finished my rads (3 more to go) and, doing the exercises and the self-lymphatic-drainage massage daily, my tiny bit of lymph is better than it’s been for ages. I think we need to take care of ourselves, but lymph getting worse during radiotherapy is not automatic… Hard decision for you though! Quite glad I didn’t have to make it! Jane
I didn’t have radiotherapy but developed lymphoedema after having 3 lymph nodes removed. I am 29 and understand the difficulty in the decision you are facing. If you did develop lymphoedema then I can reassure you that coping with it has been fine and not really impacted my day to day life. I am more cautious about lifting anything very heavy but I have godchildren and lots of friends with children and I don’t think twice about pciking them up. I wear my arm sleeve to work but my lymphoedema is stable enough for me to be without it in the evening and if it does ache a bit I wear it to sleep in to. Being active, swimming and doing specialist lymph massage also helps. And to look at my arm now you would not even know it was any bigger, or ever had been than the other one.
I had 3 lymph nodes removed and 25 doses of RT. My armpit was covered in the RT, I was not given a choice despite no lymph node involvement (all 3 were clear). I have lymphodema now … it look likes it all varies… good luck! PS I found piriton/piriteeze helped with the itch in the latter stages of RT.