Lumpectomy and now starting radiation treatments

aztec45 said:

Welcome
Welcome Snowbaby. Glad to meet you via these boards.

P

MyTurnNow said:

Welcome, Snowbaby, I'm glad
Welcome, Snowbaby, I'm glad you found us. You'll be finished with your treatments before you know it. Rest and take care of yourself and ask questions as you have them. We'll be along to share our experience. Take care and good luck.

Cairmaid said:

This is all very confusing :-)
Before my lumpectomy, the surgeon told me if she removed more than the 1 sentinel node, she would keep me in the hospital overnight, have the nurses show me some "exercises" and put me on lymphodema precautions (no blood pressure, needles or shoulder bags on that arm). Well, I got to go home that same evening. A while later, I got a copy of my labs, which said there were 4 lymph nodes tested. ??!! I mentioned it to my medical oncologist, who said she would ask the surgeon for me. My husband piped up and said, "Well, the surgeon said there wouldn't be a problem because the nodes were so close together they acted as one." Gee, thanks, hubby...when were you going to tell ME? :-)

Anyway, this is a roundabout way to say each patient and each surgeon is different. My surgeon confirmed that she was not putting me on precautions because the 4 nodes came out without disturbing any of the others. The way I understand it, when you're injured, white blood cells rush to the rescue and when they're finished their job, the lymph nodes help drain the extra fluids away from the area. Without enough lymph nodes, the fluid stays there and causes problems. So, you wear a compression sleeve to keep down the swelling and you do massage to help the fluids drain away.

snowbaby1209 said:

Hope to clear up some confusion
Hi, I had 3 lymph nodes removed. I am wearing a compression sleeve to prevent lymphodema. I had swelling around my surgical site under the arm and the breast tissue. The reason why I was referred to the lymphodema therapist was due to arm pain. I noticed it a week after surgery especially if I had to reach for something. I also felt a hard cord in my armpit and it followed down my inner arm to my elbow. It is very common with breast cancer surgery. The therapist did manual lymph drainage to help with the congestion around my surgery site. She first stimulates the lymph system on the other side and then encourages the lymph fluid on the affected side to move towards the good lymph channels. She also showed me stretching exercises to help resolve the cord; how to massage my incisions so they will be smoother; and how to do manual lymph drainage. She was very helpful! I have started radiation and have had 8 treatments of 33 so far. The tired feeling just started yesterday so I went to bed at 8:00p.m. My family has been great and my husband has been doing more of the cooking.
The reason why I called myself Snowbaby is that I have quite a collection of Snowbabies and I live in Minnesota where the winters last longer than the summers! Hope to hear back from you Mary Kay.
--Pam

snowbaby1209 said:

Rad Treatments
Hi Kat11,
How long did it take for the skin burn to show up? Also, how long did it take to heal? I suppose everyone is different depending on how one reacts to the sun. I have increased sensitivity to wearing even a sports bra so switched to an all cotton tank instead. Even the seatbelt is uncomfortable and this has been only 8 rad treatments of 33. I am also trying Vanicream and will continue to use that instead for now.
--Snowbaby1209