HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - and then came...lymphedema.

Saw the lymphedema PT today. My case is very mild, but the level of pain is NOT relative to the amt of swelling! Yow! Pain and twangy nerves from elbow to fingers. My fingernails are throbbing, almost like they did with taxotere. She taught me massage techniques, showed me some exercises, and measured for my sleeve. (We are leaving for a week in Haiti, and she recommended it for flight.). I just got done with rads yesterday.

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Age 54, married farm wife/school nurse/mom of 5 adult children...March 2012- found 2.5cm hard, non-painful mass on bse. It was not there, and then it was. Yikes.
Biopsy- DCIS, IDC, er-/pr-/her2+++, grade3. 1 node suspicious on us. Biopsy +.
Plan was for Neoadjuvant TCH x6, Herceptin q3w x a year.
May1- first chemo.
May 5- I could no longer feel the mass. Really. Neither could my oncologist.
July 2- 4th TCH- Oncologist cancels last 2 tx due to "complete response"
August6- lumpectomy with axillary node dissection. No disease present in breast. 1 out of 14 nodes + (4mm)
MUGA #2- 72%
Finished 30 rads Oct '12. Mild lymphedema noticed when I had 2 rads left.
Continue Herceptin q3w until next May
April '13- first mammo since surgery- calcium deposits that are " not concerning." Well, they are concerning to ME! Turned loose from surgeon for 6 months! One more Vit H, will make plans then for port removal.
Oct '13- no change in calcium deposits. "See ya in 6 months!" Keeping port for now.
March '14- oncologist says return in 6 mo.
April '14- mammo unchanged. Surgeon will see me in 6 months but no mammo for a year unless something changes. Its getting easier, but oh, boydo i hate that scanxiety! Keeping port until 2 year anniversary of last Herceptin.
Sept'14- bloodwork good, return to onco in 8 months.
Oct'14- surgeon will see me in April '15. Moving on.
May '15- mammo unchanged, keeping same schedule. Tumor markers soon and if all is well port comes out.
July '15-tumor markers normal. See onco in a year. Appt. for port end of month. First grandchild born July 1st- for today, life is good.

10-18-2012, 03:04 PM	#19
carlatte7 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 129	Re: and then came...lymphedema. Saw the lymphedema PT today. My case is very mild, but the level of pain is NOT relative to the amt of swelling! Yow! Pain and twangy nerves from elbow to fingers. My fingernails are throbbing, almost like they did with taxotere. She taught me massage techniques, showed me some exercises, and measured for my sleeve. (We are leaving for a week in Haiti, and she recommended it for flight.). I just got done with rads yesterday. . __________________ Age 54, married farm wife/school nurse/mom of 5 adult children...March 2012- found 2.5cm hard, non-painful mass on bse. It was not there, and then it was. Yikes. Biopsy- DCIS, IDC, er-/pr-/her2+++, grade3. 1 node suspicious on us. Biopsy +. Plan was for Neoadjuvant TCH x6, Herceptin q3w x a year. May1- first chemo. May 5- I could no longer feel the mass. Really. Neither could my oncologist. July 2- 4th TCH- Oncologist cancels last 2 tx due to "complete response" August6- lumpectomy with axillary node dissection. No disease present in breast. 1 out of 14 nodes + (4mm) MUGA #2- 72% Finished 30 rads Oct '12. Mild lymphedema noticed when I had 2 rads left. Continue Herceptin q3w until next May April '13- first mammo since surgery- calcium deposits that are " not concerning." Well, they are concerning to ME! Turned loose from surgeon for 6 months! One more Vit H, will make plans then for port removal. Oct '13- no change in calcium deposits. "See ya in 6 months!" Keeping port for now. March '14- oncologist says return in 6 mo. April '14- mammo unchanged. Surgeon will see me in 6 months but no mammo for a year unless something changes. Its getting easier, but oh, boydo i hate that scanxiety! Keeping port until 2 year anniversary of last Herceptin. Sept'14- bloodwork good, return to onco in 8 months. Oct'14- surgeon will see me in April '15. Moving on. May '15- mammo unchanged, keeping same schedule. Tumor markers soon and if all is well port comes out. July '15-tumor markers normal. See onco in a year. Appt. for port end of month. First grandchild born July 1st- for today, life is good.