Sept 2012 chemo

bearcub

JoJo in answering your question about my healing after rads, it went well by about 2 weeks out the skin looked normal. I still get twinges, at my 6 week checkup i was givin the okay to go back in the hottub. I asked my RO about why in Canada some of us do 16 rounds while in the USA it is usually 26-33 never 16. He said because they give us a bit higher dose each day, and because in the states you pay for your treatment and so they would not be interested in reducing the number of treatments even though it has been proven to have the same outcome. I think because I was on the 16 protocol I have fewer SE. I never had cording.



Forever great news about the node, happy healing girl!!..get lots of rest!!

florbo

Forever--Glad to hear from you!  Sending you healing thoughts and prayers.

Jojo--I had cording twice in 2009. Once after the mastectomy and once after chemo.  The first time, my breast surgeon broke up the cording when I was under anesthesia because I was getting my port inserted.  I just woke up with a sore arm.  The second time, she had me do massaging exercises over a few weeks and that went away before I went to a PT.

Foreverchanged72612

Got home last night and almost instantly regretted my decision to leave the hospital. My rambunctious 5 year old (his birthday was the day of my surgery) came running at me. My mom couldn't stop him and he slammed into my chest. PAIN.  I took some percocet and went to bed. This was around 9:30. Woke up at 6:30am in a lot of pain and took anther percocet. Maybe I should have taken another percocet exactly 4 hrs after the 9:30 dose? Anyway, moved over to my glider for breakfast and am feeling better. 

Jennie93

Jojo - I had the cording thing, too.  In fact I'll just save time and copy what I posted on another thread.   :-)

I have had the cording and severe pain since soon after my surgery, so about 6 months now.  When I would ask the MO (the only doc I was seeing during chemo) she just shrugged it off.  Then, one month PFC when I had a consult with the RO, and found that I couldn't get my arm up over my head where they need it to be, I knew that I had been right all along and this was not normal!  Very frustrating.  They gave me some exercises to try, said come back in 2 weeks and try again.  But most importantly they finally got me in touch with a LE specialist.  I saw her this past week and it was wonderful, someone finally who listened to me and knew exactly what it was and what to do about it!  Get this, she told me that the lumps & cording in my armpit is actually lymphangitis, and she put me on antibiotics for 2 weeks, said that should clear it right up.  And also said that this would have never gone away on its own.  Who knew??  (Not those other clueless docs!)  I also got tons of great info about LE prevention (because having the cording, and having rads to the lymph nodes, puts me at high risk).  That was super helpful because so much of what I've been reading was just giving me conflicting information!  

So, don't take no for an answer if your onc or surgeon or whoever just tells you "it will go away eventually" or "these things just take time" or "everyone is different, just be patient".  Insist on seeing a PT who is trained in LE.  I can't tell you how much better I feel already just knowing that I wasn't crazy, not some kind of a wimp for not being able to do the stretching, that there is something that can be done to fix it and I don't just have to learn to live with the pain & tightness.

Faith-Focus-Finish

Forever - Great news!  Best wishes for a speedy recovery.  : )))

JodiRocks & Jem3 - Thanks for the feedback on the exchange surgery-it is very helpful.  I'm not sure if there is a forum on this site that addresses this ??? Probably.

Patricia - I hope all is well with you.  Sending hugs to you too!

jojo2373

Jennie and Florbo, thanks for the info. I will be calling them tomorrow.

Amy4978

Jojo my PT is certified in lymphodema she says she literally works in armpits lol! are you doing stretches at home too?

Faith-Focus-Finish

I have been doing research about LE.  The StepupSpeakOut site has terrific information.  I also read up on my insurance coverage; I cannot find a PT that is in my network that specializes in this area. : (  I am not giving up though - going to try and make some calls this week.  Currently, I do not have symptoms, but from everything I read, I am still at risk.

Amy4978

faith... my BS was the one who refered me to a pt that speialized in that area

so maybe they could help

Cocobean

My BS and my MO were able to refer me and you could call ur local cancer center/clinic and ask too. My MO caught mine lymphedmema very early, I saw a great PT twice a week for 4 weeks, super helpful....wear a sleeve when I work out and occasionally do self massage if my arm feels weird. I did not know I had it, I just mentioned my rings didn't fit on both hands, thought it was just post chemo swelling, but nope. At first I wad really upset about it, like I said my PT was great and I feel much better about things.

jojo2373

Yes Amy been stretching daily. I can only imagine what shape I would be in if not!

Amy4978

JoJo... Cording sucks the big one! lol I am in way better shape than I was but still dont have full range. I started marking my wall with a pencil right when I got home from surgery so I could track my progress and height and it has def improved but I swear I attribute most of the reach I have to my amazing PT I go 2x per week.

Shari0707

How soon did U guys start exercises

Amy4978

Shari0707... while I was in the hospital they had me doing small stretches.

Amy4978

IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO JOIN THE FB GROUP DURING THE NEXT WEEK PLEASE PM JOJO. I WILL BE ON VACATION AND PLAN TO STAY AWAY FROM MOST ELECTRONICS LOL... GOING TO TRY TO JUST ENJOY EVERY MOMENT AND GET SOME MUCH NEEDED ONE ON ONE WITH MY KIDDOS! I WILL BE BACK ON THE 4TH THEN START RADS ON THE 9TH!

Timbek2

Enjoy your time. You deserve it!!

Hopex3

Amy...have a great time!!

Amy4978

Oh I will! Leaving thursday evening..... Long day of packing tomorrow..

Faith-Focus-Finish

Amy - I hope you have a blast!  Enjoy the time with your family.  : )))

cgesq

Amy, have a great vacation.  Hope you are going someplace fun!!

Faith-Focus-Finish

I was running around all day today - appointments for my pre-op testing.  Every person I ran into seemed to be in a bad mood ... what's up with that?

My surgery is scheduled for next Thursday - 1 week from today.  It's starting to sink now.  I'm going to use this weekend to prepare once again.

It seems like the conversation here has slowed a bit ... is it because most are on facebook?  I asked DH to show me how to set up an account so I can join too.  Maybe I'll get to do it this weekend.

Hugs : )))

Hopex3

Faith...I can't remember what kind of surgery you are going to have?

Foreverchanged72612

Faith: hope you join fb this weekend! I think the ability to "like" somebody's post is worth it alone!!!

patriciahurtado

I got my pathology ..........im cancer freeeeeeeee!!!

my ladies hang in there...we will make it together!!!!!!!!!!

patriciahurtado

Faith.......yes join us.......surgery will go by fast...im 1 week of surgery......

PatinMN

Fantastic news, Patricia! 

Faith-Focus-Finish

Good Morning!

CONGRATS Patricia!   What terrific news!!

I am having my exchange surgery Thursday.  No more tissue expanders!!  Wooo!  Whooo!

: )))

Hopex3

Faith...I can hardly wait to hear how it goes for you on Thursday! My expanders are moving into my armpits. I have my last fill this Wednesday but feel I'm good enough. This last one has been hurting me...really tight feeling and I don't want to feel even worse for the next two months until my surgery!



Have a great weekend. It's going to be in the 70's here..Washington State. I'm so excited for the sun!

Faith-Focus-Finish

Hope ... I can't wait until Thursday.  Nervous and excited at the same time.  Yeah, my TEs are in my armpits too.  Good luck on your last fill.  You are in the home stretch.  I am praying no more pain!!!  Nice weather ...  the sun is shining here and it supposed to be a high of 74. It's beautiful out. 

Have a great weekend too!

florbo

Happy Easter and Happy Passover to all!  It's good to hear that the sun is shining in a lot of places!

I'm starting rads tomorrow.  I'm praying it will be a good and easy first treatment.  I don't want an angry looking boob.