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Re: Lymphedema Issues
I'm sorry you are having to deal with lymphedema. I developed it almost immediately following surgery in August 2011. I have been to a lymphedema specialist numerous time, wear a sleeve and gauntlet/glove in the day time and have a special night time garment I have to wear at night. I do manual massage and exercises and have to be on a compression pump 2 hours every day. I have tried the wrapping which is impossible especially to find any clothes to fit over an already fat arm. I've been told that everything that can be done is being done so am trying to learn to live with it. I absolutely hate it. I have heard about the surgery. Anyway I wanted you to know you are not alone and if I can do anything to help you to please let me know. Sometimes just knowing others are going through the same things help me. Also I have come to feel undressed if I forget to put my sleeve on and like you at the beginning I thought I wouldn't be able to stand wearing the very tight sleeve. Let me know if you find any other answers to help reduce your arm.
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Cathy
Routine mammogram 6-29-11
Ultrasound 7-5-11
Biopsy 7-11-11
Right modified radical mastectomy 7-18-11 with 7 out of 24 lymph nodes positive
Stage IIIC, Grade 3, Estrogen + 100%, HER2 +
Had 5 tumors in right breast, none of which showed up on the mammogram (What showed up on mamm was a lymph node)
Lymphatic vascular invasion
Lymphedema right arm (started shortly after surgery)
TCH started August 15, 2011
Finished Taxotore and Carboplatin 11-28-11
Radiation x 36 - finished Feb. 3, 2012
Herceptin weekly for 1 year - finished 8-13-12
Arimidex started Feb. 2012 for 5 years
Left prophylactic total mastectomy March of 2012
Arimidex stopped August 2014 due to side effects
Aromasin started Sept. 2014
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