|
radiation causing lymphedema
When i started radiation in August 2010 the radiologist sent me to a lymphedema therapist. I had no problems to speak of until the radiation.
Now i have what my therapist calls stage 2 lymphedema and she tells me I will most likely never go away. I will have to do the manual lymph drainage and wear the compression sleeves here on out. I cannot straighten my arm up over my head unless I raise it up with my right hand. she told me it was time to get my wedding rings resized and made bigger to fit my fingers.
I am jsut wondering if anyone else has gotten lymphedema coming on from radiation. How do you deal with the lymphedema in summer time, while swimming or going to an amusement park.. we have 2 granddaughters we are raising aged 7 and 12 and a pool in the back yard and season passes to an amuesement park. couldnt do much last year caue of treatments and being weak and fatigued was looking so forward to this summer being close to normal. Any suggestions or guidance on this lymphedema stuff?
I lost 31 nodes so i guess i was prone to get this anyway but thought i was dong good last year... until radiation started.
But with all this being said I am so glad that lymphedema is all i have to deal with right now!
__________________
Mammogram Sep 21, 2009 everything good and clear
DX jan 19,2010 Invasive Ductal Carcinoma, Grade 2 Age 56
modified radical masectomy on LEFT side 29 Jan 2010
2.7 cm 18/31 nodes
mets to just above collar bone ( 2 nodes showed in PET)
ER- PR - / Her2 +++ (IHC) Stage 111 C
ki-67 60% nottingham score 7
A/C chemo mar 22,2010 DD
herceptin & taxotere DD june 1,2010
finished taxotere july 12, 2010
finished herceptin 16 May 2011
PET Scan 9 Aug 10, cancer in neck is gone! NED
33 Rads completed 1 Oct 2010
PET/CT Scan 6 Jan 2011 NED
PET/CT Scan 3 Aug 2011
MUGA 59% 3/22/10 -63% 9/23/10 - 51% 1/4/11 - 55% 2/17/11 - 50% 8/3/11
26 Aug 2011 NED
20 Feb 2012 NED
5 Mar 2012 PORT OUT
12 July 2012 DIEP breast reconstruction
23 Aug 2012 NED
15 Nov 2012 new breast tweeked and natural breast uplifted and implant added
17 Feb 2013 NED
27 mar 2013 lipo suction to add fat cells to new breast in hopes for needed adjustment.
"Don't spend your time worrying about when or how you are going to die, spend your time figuring out how you are going to live today". ~Elizabeth Edwards.
|
Threaded Mode