What do you do for scar tissue?

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jnl
jnl Member Posts: 3,869 Member
in Breast Cancer #1
I have some scar tissue from my lumpectomy and rads and my oncologist said he could set me up with a PT to massage it and it would really help. I massage it myself every now and then, but, it is still there. Anyone else go to a PT for this and did it help?


Thanks,

Leeza

Comments

  • Bella Luna
    Bella Luna Member Posts: 1,578 Member
    #2
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    Leeza... I had two
    Leeza... I had two lumpectomies on my right breast, underwent chemo and rads. I am almost 2 1/2 years out from diagnosis. I noticed the scar tissue has softened up a bit. I can only speak for me, but I think the scar tissue softens up over time. I don't have any pain in that area. Keep us posted on how things are going for you.
  • cinnamonsmile
    cinnamonsmile Member Posts: 1,187 Member
    #3
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    Massage
    Hi Leeza,
    I had a BMX with node dissection on 1/11/11. I did the stretching like I was supposed to and did some massaging while I put Vitamin E creme on my chest, but I also had severe PMPS. In June of of 2011 I started physical therapy for that and scar tissue adhesions. I had no idea how bad my scar tissue was (it was even causing my shoulders to slouch forward). I went biweekly for an hour five months (I had done previous month with different PT who had no idea what she was doing), for a total of six months.
    The massage they do on you, if they do it like they did me, is not like going to a massage parlor and nothing like I could ever do myself. My PT's could feel which way the scar tissue was worse (with my help) and worked on me. They also told me that I was lucky since I didn't have radiation, because that can make it worse for some. But anyway, it helped immensely! If I had an appt on a Thurs but didn't return until Tuesday, I could feel it tighten up again til the end of the sessions.
    When they worked on my chest, some of my skin would turn a light red, which they called blushing, which just came from stretching out the scar tissue.
    I highly recommend it. I know of ladies that had PT, then had to go back months, even years later. I can feel mine tightening up again and am thinking of asking my doc for more after I heal up from my surgery last week.
    If you do go to physical therapy (mine was called occupational therapy) make sure you get one that is experienced. My first one only had patients like me once every three months. The other two gals who job shared, had lots of experience. Each one had different techniques, so I think I really benefited from having both!
  • GMcD
    GMcD Member Posts: 134
    #4
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    cinnamonsmile said:

    Massage
    Hi Leeza,
    I had a BMX with node dissection on 1/11/11. I did the stretching like I was supposed to and did some massaging while I put Vitamin E creme on my chest, but I also had severe PMPS. In June of of 2011 I started physical therapy for that and scar tissue adhesions. I had no idea how bad my scar tissue was (it was even causing my shoulders to slouch forward). I went biweekly for an hour five months (I had done previous month with different PT who had no idea what she was doing), for a total of six months.
    The massage they do on you, if they do it like they did me, is not like going to a massage parlor and nothing like I could ever do myself. My PT's could feel which way the scar tissue was worse (with my help) and worked on me. They also told me that I was lucky since I didn't have radiation, because that can make it worse for some. But anyway, it helped immensely! If I had an appt on a Thurs but didn't return until Tuesday, I could feel it tighten up again til the end of the sessions.
    When they worked on my chest, some of my skin would turn a light red, which they called blushing, which just came from stretching out the scar tissue.
    I highly recommend it. I know of ladies that had PT, then had to go back months, even years later. I can feel mine tightening up again and am thinking of asking my doc for more after I heal up from my surgery last week.
    If you do go to physical therapy (mine was called occupational therapy) make sure you get one that is experienced. My first one only had patients like me once every three months. The other two gals who job shared, had lots of experience. Each one had different techniques, so I think I really benefited from having both!

    I never thought of massage
    I never thought of massage !! I had lumpectomy almost 2 yrs ago and have had recurring cellulitis and feel like I have " jumbled up" tissue in my breast. I'm going to mention this to my onc when I see her. Thanks for posting this subject and I hope everyone is doing well. I also had 33 radiation treatments.
  • linny b
    linny b Member Posts: 25
    #5
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    massage
    Hi, I had a mastectomy and latissimus dorsi surgery almost a year ago. I have lots of thick scar tissue and go for lymphadema massage, the therapist also works on the scar on my back to break up scar tissue and get the blood flowing again. I feel great afterwards, and I can feel the tightness coming back by my next appointment. I also had radiation, and that causes scar tissue to form, along with all the surgeries I've had. Some people creat keloids when they heal, that's a scar that sticks up from the skin. The therapist really works on getting the scar to flatten out and stretches the skin around it. I would highly recommend going for a massage, you'll feel great afterwards.
    Linny
  • jnl
    jnl Member Posts: 3,869 Member
    #6
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    linny b said:

    massage
    Hi, I had a mastectomy and latissimus dorsi surgery almost a year ago. I have lots of thick scar tissue and go for lymphadema massage, the therapist also works on the scar on my back to break up scar tissue and get the blood flowing again. I feel great afterwards, and I can feel the tightness coming back by my next appointment. I also had radiation, and that causes scar tissue to form, along with all the surgeries I've had. Some people creat keloids when they heal, that's a scar that sticks up from the skin. The therapist really works on getting the scar to flatten out and stretches the skin around it. I would highly recommend going for a massage, you'll feel great afterwards.
    Linny

    Thanks for your replies and
    Thanks for your replies and advice. I will go ahead and have my oncologist set me up with an appointment with a PT. I just had never heard of this and didn't think it would work, but, you have convinced me that it will hopefully.

    I really appreciate your help!


    Love, Leeza
  • VickiSam
    VickiSam Member Posts: 9,079 Member
    #7
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    jnl said:

    Thanks for your replies and
    Thanks for your replies and advice. I will go ahead and have my oncologist set me up with an appointment with a PT. I just had never heard of this and didn't think it would work, but, you have convinced me that it will hopefully.

    I really appreciate your help!


    Love, Leeza

    Interesting subject for sure :)
    Thanks for the posting ..


    Vicki Sam
  • mollieb
    mollieb Member Posts: 148
    #8
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    Amazing Results
    I had amazing results on my scar after mastectomy, and I am getting more PT now, after radiation. I am hopeful for the same good outcome, although radiation can be harder to deal with.
  • jnl
    jnl Member Posts: 3,869 Member
    #9
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    mollieb said:

    Amazing Results
    I had amazing results on my scar after mastectomy, and I am getting more PT now, after radiation. I am hopeful for the same good outcome, although radiation can be harder to deal with.

    I am hoping I get good
    I am hoping I get good results too Mollieb. I didn't know anything about using a PT for scar tissue, so, this is all new to me.
  • jendrey
    jendrey Member Posts: 377
    #10
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    jnl said:

    I am hoping I get good
    I am hoping I get good results too Mollieb. I didn't know anything about using a PT for scar tissue, so, this is all new to me.

    ...
    My PS told me that the more you massage the scar tissue the more the collagen will break up in turn causing less visible scarring. But the massage technique was more like rolling the scar tissue between your fingers rather than rubbing/massaging the area.

    (((Hugs)))
  • DianeBC
    DianeBC Member Posts: 3,881 Member
    #11
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    VickiSam said:

    Interesting subject for sure :)
    Thanks for the posting ..


    Vicki Sam

    Yes, thanks for posting
    Yes, thanks for posting this.
  • Noel
    Noel Member Posts: 3,095 Member
    #12
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    mollieb said:

    Amazing Results
    I had amazing results on my scar after mastectomy, and I am getting more PT now, after radiation. I am hopeful for the same good outcome, although radiation can be harder to deal with.

    Leeza, let us know if the PT
    Leeza, let us know if the PT helps you. Good luck!
  • LoveBabyJesus
    LoveBabyJesus Member Posts: 1,679 Member
    #13
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    Hi Leeza -- I have the same
    Hi Leeza -- I have the same problem as you. I feel this hard scar tissue around my breast. It’s difficult to examine even (at least for me). I never heard of massages to improve it, but now that you mentioned it I will ask about it. I hope it works for you – please let us know.

    And thanks for the suggestion!
  • LoveBabyJesus
    LoveBabyJesus Member Posts: 1,679 Member
    #14
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    GMcD said:

    I never thought of massage
    I never thought of massage !! I had lumpectomy almost 2 yrs ago and have had recurring cellulitis and feel like I have " jumbled up" tissue in my breast. I'm going to mention this to my onc when I see her. Thanks for posting this subject and I hope everyone is doing well. I also had 33 radiation treatments.

    hmm
    GMcD I too suffer from cellulitis and edema. Just saw Dr. about this yesterday and i am not getting any treatment for this. Already took 5 weeks of antibiotics and didn't do all that much. But I have no fever, chills or anything...just pains (here and there), swollen and redness. I hope you recover and feel better.
  • Noel
    Noel Member Posts: 3,095 Member
    #15
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    LoveBabyJesus said:

    Hi Leeza -- I have the same
    Hi Leeza -- I have the same problem as you. I feel this hard scar tissue around my breast. It’s difficult to examine even (at least for me). I never heard of massages to improve it, but now that you mentioned it I will ask about it. I hope it works for you – please let us know.

    And thanks for the suggestion!

    I've been following your
    I've been following your posts LoveBabyJesus and I hope that you get some help and results soon.

    Keep updating us so we know.


    Hugs, Noel
  • Alexis F
    Alexis F Member Posts: 3,598
    #16
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    LoveBabyJesus said:

    hmm
    GMcD I too suffer from cellulitis and edema. Just saw Dr. about this yesterday and i am not getting any treatment for this. Already took 5 weeks of antibiotics and didn't do all that much. But I have no fever, chills or anything...just pains (here and there), swollen and redness. I hope you recover and feel better.

    I didn't know about this
    I didn't know about this either. Thanks for posting it Leeza and for the replies. I do have scar tissue, so, this will be something I will mention to my oncologist for my next appointment.


    Lex
  • survivorbc09
    survivorbc09 Member Posts: 4,374 Member
    #17
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    Noel said:

    I've been following your
    I've been following your posts LoveBabyJesus and I hope that you get some help and results soon.

    Keep updating us so we know.


    Hugs, Noel

    I have some, not a lot, of
    I have some, not a lot, of scar tissue. Didn't know that you could even go to a PT for this. Thank you for letting me know this.


    Jan
  • disneyfan2008
    disneyfan2008 Member Posts: 6,583 Member
    #18
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    jnl said:

    Thanks for your replies and
    Thanks for your replies and advice. I will go ahead and have my oncologist set me up with an appointment with a PT. I just had never heard of this and didn't think it would work, but, you have convinced me that it will hopefully.

    I really appreciate your help!


    Love, Leeza

    I am sure can't hurt
    I am sure can't hurt anything so worth a try...I"ll check back to see how it is going!

    Denise

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