Lumpectomy and now starting radiation treatments
Comments
-
Welcome snowbaby
Just wanted to say Hi and welcome you to the site. I am just finishing rads and every now and again I also get the stabbing pain. They said it was normal. For some reason I was told not to use Aquaphor, because it is to thick and it remains on the skin and it could block treatment and cause me to burn. Well I did not use it and I burned anyways. make sure what ever you use you check with the doctor first. Again welcome0 -
Warm welcome, snowbaby1209
Glad you found us - an amazing group of kind and open hearted folks - though sorry for the reason. Know that when you're here, you're amongst survivors - all of us. Only those who actually travel the journey can truly understand all that it entails.
I, too, was taught the MLD (Manual Lymphatic Drainage) self-massage technique you describe. Except my practice of it is preventative. (So far, along with many precautions, it's worked well for me.) Began 6+ years ago, when it was considered somewhat experimental.
Please do visit often, whenever you'd like or need to.
Kind regards, Susan0 -
confused..
Well, I must first say -I am easily confused these days. Anyhow, how many nodes did you have removed? Why do you need a compression sleeve and what is manual lymph drainage? axillary cord problem? I am guessing that since you had negative nodes they did not have to remove many?
I am very new and everytime I think I understand something -there is a new discussion on the topic. My lumpectomy was 2/16 and five negative nodes-so I am curious with your story. Thanks for the info.
Mary Kay0 -
Welcome Snowbaby
Welcome to the site! You'll find a great bunch of women here. I had lumpectomy in Nov (stage 1, grade 1, neg nodes, ER/PR+ HER2 negative) and finished my course rads at the end of Jan and have started tamoxifen (no problems except occassional hot flashes).
I only had 2 or 3 nodes taken, so I haven't really had to worry about lymphedema. For Mary Kay: Can't say that I've heard that you had to have a specific number (like more than 10) removed to get lymphedema, but figured the chances for me were pretty small. The rad onc nurse recommened no blood pressures or shots in that arm, just to be careful. So that's what i'm doing. I don't have a sleeve and haven't had any treatments.
Good luck w/rads! Use your cream often (3-4 x/day) and be generous! Come back anytime you have questions or need to vent, the great thing about this site, it's open 24/7!
God Bless...
Julie0 -
Welcome snowbaby! I usedsbmly53 said:Snowbaby,
Welcome! Our BC
Snowbaby,
Welcome! Our BC experience is just about the same. My lumpectomy was 12/7, Onco let me skip chemo, and I have 10 more (out of 33) rads to go. I also had tendon cord. Ouch!
Get your rest - naps, early to bed.
Sue
Welcome snowbaby! I used Biafine and Aquaphor as prescribed my rads oncologist. Be sure and get lots of rest too. Rads will wear you down. Good luck!0 -
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.0 -
Looks like you're well onMyTurnNow 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.
Looks like you're well on the road to the finish line. Haven't had rads yet but sounds like you're taking good care of yourself and are well informed. I've heard that this step can be exhausting and you may need a lot of rest. Keep posting and let us know how you're doing.0 -
Hope to clear up some confusiondash4 said:confused..
Well, I must first say -I am easily confused these days. Anyhow, how many nodes did you have removed? Why do you need a compression sleeve and what is manual lymph drainage? axillary cord problem? I am guessing that since you had negative nodes they did not have to remove many?
I am very new and everytime I think I understand something -there is a new discussion on the topic. My lumpectomy was 2/16 and five negative nodes-so I am curious with your story. Thanks for the info.
Mary Kay
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.
--Pam0 -
Rad TreatmentsKat11 said:Welcome snowbaby
Just wanted to say Hi and welcome you to the site. I am just finishing rads and every now and again I also get the stabbing pain. They said it was normal. For some reason I was told not to use Aquaphor, because it is to thick and it remains on the skin and it could block treatment and cause me to burn. Well I did not use it and I burned anyways. make sure what ever you use you check with the doctor first. Again welcome
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.
--Snowbaby12090 -
Hi I am also new here, have
Hi I am also new here, have stage 1 neg nodes and low risk on my oncotype.Yeahh.. I had the surgery on jan 25 and am starting radiation in a couple of weeks. I also have a strange cord type feeling from beneath my armpit thru to my arm, so i will see a physical therapist tomarrow.0 -
This is all very confusing :-)dash4 said:confused..
Well, I must first say -I am easily confused these days. Anyhow, how many nodes did you have removed? Why do you need a compression sleeve and what is manual lymph drainage? axillary cord problem? I am guessing that since you had negative nodes they did not have to remove many?
I am very new and everytime I think I understand something -there is a new discussion on the topic. My lumpectomy was 2/16 and five negative nodes-so I am curious with your story. Thanks for the info.
Mary Kay
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.0 -
Welcome snowbaby! Glad youCairmaid 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.
Welcome snowbaby! Glad you found this site, as you can see, there are so many helpful supporters for you. Good luck!
Hugs, Leeza0 -
Aloe Vera GelKat11 said:Welcome snowbaby
Just wanted to say Hi and welcome you to the site. I am just finishing rads and every now and again I also get the stabbing pain. They said it was normal. For some reason I was told not to use Aquaphor, because it is to thick and it remains on the skin and it could block treatment and cause me to burn. Well I did not use it and I burned anyways. make sure what ever you use you check with the doctor first. Again welcome
My drs. recommended 100% Aloe Vera Gel to rub on the breast after rad treatments. But be sure you do not have it on when you are being treated. I use it. It seems to help. Ive only had 7 treatments.0 -
your reply has helpedsnowbaby1209 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
Pam,
Thanks for your reply--it does help to explain. I posted another question about my "feeling" to see what others are saying too. I am glad you made me aware of the possibilities. Hope you are having a good day.
Mary Kay0 -
Welcome DianaDiana77 said:Hi I am also new here, have
Hi I am also new here, have stage 1 neg nodes and low risk on my oncotype.Yeahh.. I had the surgery on jan 25 and am starting radiation in a couple of weeks. I also have a strange cord type feeling from beneath my armpit thru to my arm, so i will see a physical therapist tomarrow.
Just wanted to add my welcome to the boards!0 -
I never burnt during rads.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
I never burnt during rads. I just got a really dark pink. So, there was no healing really. Just keep your cremes on and be gentle with your skin. Use the cremes that your rads oncologist says to. I used Biafine and Aquaphor. Good luck!0
Discussion Boards
- All Discussion Boards
- 6 CSN Information
- 6 Welcome to CSN
- 122K Cancer specific
- 2.8K Anal Cancer
- 446 Bladder Cancer
- 309 Bone Cancers
- 1.6K Brain Cancer
- 28.5K Breast Cancer
- 398 Childhood Cancers
- 27.9K Colorectal Cancer
- 4.6K Esophageal Cancer
- 1.2K Gynecological Cancers (other than ovarian and uterine)
- 13K Head and Neck Cancer
- 6.4K Kidney Cancer
- 673 Leukemia
- 794 Liver Cancer
- 4.1K Lung Cancer
- 5.1K Lymphoma (Hodgkin and Non-Hodgkin)
- 238 Multiple Myeloma
- 7.2K Ovarian Cancer
- 63 Pancreatic Cancer
- 487 Peritoneal Cancer
- 5.5K Prostate Cancer
- 1.2K Rare and Other Cancers
- 542 Sarcoma
- 736 Skin Cancer
- 656 Stomach Cancer
- 192 Testicular Cancer
- 1.5K Thyroid Cancer
- 5.9K Uterine/Endometrial Cancer
- 6.3K Lifestyle Discussion Boards