Did I blow it?

QuinnCat

First of all, I do not have lymphodema and despite opinions here, my surgeon told me not to worry about it with only 1 node removal. Nevertheless, I always take a precautionary view of it and avoid bp on left arm, injections, etc.

Today I went to the pharmacy to get an influenza shot and I let him do my left arm by mistake! I'm not exceedingly worried, but wondered if there is any immediate mitigation I might do, such as lymph massage, etc.. or am I looking for trouble where none exists?

Thanks in advance for your ideas.

dogsandjogs

I had 17 nodes removed with my MX in 1982. For a while I avoided BP takings, needles, etc on that side. Then after a few years I decided to forget it. I never got lymphedema.

Momine

Kam, I had a BMX, so I had nodes out on both sides. They use the arm where I only lost one node for blood draws, shots etc. So far it has been 2 years, and no problems.

QuinnCat

Thanks dogs and Momine. I did have cording after my BMX, but am not sure that is a precursor to LE. I'm just looking for trouble, I guess, or some extra insurance (massage)? Just not sure if massage would really mitigate.

I guess I could say that I've gardened without gloves and have felt plenty of thorns in my hands, oh, and picking blackberries, so honestly, what is the difference?

flannelette

I had 6 nodes removed at mx 5 yrs ago, then 2 summers ago had 6 removed on the other side. Nada. Not to worry. I no longer care or notice (also never developed lymphodema, which was barely even mentioned to me) I don't think you blew it.

ziggypop

Kam, I have 'mild' LE, and I would say put a little neosporin (sp?) on it, and don't worry about it. Do, however wear gloves when you garden, and do protect that arm (make sure to use lots of sunscreen on it, etc. It's highly unlikely that you'll develop LE ever, but there's no reason not to do the easy precautions.

mjjones453

I would still take precautions! I was told, and have read that you can get it at any time in your life, even years down the road. So, I will always try to take precautions, especially when I read how miserable many are that deal with Lymphedema all the time.

QuinnCat

Thank you. I'm still wondering if massage, now, would mitigate the "accidental" shot. I would rather be precautious than lucky.

carol57

kam, lymphatic massage (MLD, or manual lymph drainage) is a technique you really have to be shown, so I don't know that you'd be able to get help with that before any risk from your shot was long gone.

In very round numbers, about 40% of women whose BC treatment touches lymph nodes will get LE. Most get it within 3 years of treatment, but the risk really is lifetime. The more expansive your treatment, the higher the risk, so if you had 17 nodes out your risk is higher than one node out; rads damage the nodes and create scar tissue (even if aimed only at the breast; there is spillover); and some studies suggest that even chemo adds to the risk. With just one node out, your risk is small, that's for sure.

No one knows why some women have minimal LE-risk treatments and get LE anyway (I had sentinel node biopsy, no rads, no chemo, with bmx, and I got LE despite low risk) yet others with more extensive trauma to the lymphatic system never do get LE (like my mom...every single node removed and rad doses they'd never dream of giving today). One theory is that some of us are born with a super-highway lymphatic system and some of us get something more like a country lane, so when there's trauma, we country-lane people don't have enough robust lymphatic pathways to successfully reroute around the disruption.

So, whether to take precautions when you're low risk has a lot to do with your comfort with that particular unknown--do you have a highway or a country lane? You cannot know which. But my common-sense thought is that your risk is quite low, so maybe just take the simple precautions like avoiding shots in that arm, attending to little cuts and bites promptly, etc., but don't obsess over it if you forget once in a while.

It would be a very good idea to make sure that you know the symptoms of both LE and cellulitis, which is a tissue infection that we're susceptible to after losing nodes, and which is both a trigger of LE and a particular ongoing risk if you have LE. It's a medical emergency if you get it. Knowing LE symptoms (you can have latent LE without any swelling, and that's when you want to catch it and start treating it to keep it mild) is smart, so you can seek treatment asap if you get it.

I'm using my phone to write this, so dropping links is not easy. So I'll just suggest that you visit stepup-speakout.org and look for the pages that explain LE and cellulitis symptoms.

It's really great that you're being proactive. Hope you never need to deal with LE!

Carol

QuinnCat

Thank you Carol - you certainly have given me a lot of information. I got unlucky in the peripheral neuropathy / chemo department, so I don't assume I will get a free ride on any aspect of this BC journey.

hugz4u

On the note about sunburn, yes it believe it triggered my LE even though I was careful and stayed under a umbrella, I went for a walk and burnt after. Be careful.