Problem area?

bigbhome

Good news first - I got to swim in our new pool yesterday and today! Yay!

But...last night I was scratching an itch and found a sore spot on my left rib, right under bra, closer to armpit than center of chest. So, I took off clothes and noticed, my ribs on left side stick out farther than the other. Also, there seems to be edema stretching from underarm to center of chest. Hmmmm. Went to bed telling myself not to freak out.

Got up today and decided to see what dh thought. We have a problem.

Normally I wouldn't worry, but they found my metastasis because my left cheekbone was protruding. It was a tumor on my main massiter muscle, pushing my cheekbone out. Rare, but has been seen before.

Now I am freaking out thinking tumor is pushing ribs out. But I had a great pet scan early April. Just metabolic activity in left illiac and sacrum, which we radiated.

Tumor markers back to normal, last month and the month before. Of course, they have been normal up until this past year. They were never an indicator of disease for me.

Has anyone else noticed anything like this?

Hugs and prayers everyone

C

Zillsnot4me

it sounds like you have some swelling/fluid back up from the bra/heat. It's been brutal this past week. What happens if you gently use sweeping motions downward? Does it get better?

I completely understand your fears given your history. As you know bones are generally slow growing. However I would definitely ask my MO about it. You may just need to see a good lymphedema therapist. Mine requires a referral so you would probably need to see your MO regardless.

There is a great section on lymphedema, if you want to read up on it. Good luck.

bigbhome

Thanks Zills! I thought you only for lymphedema in your arm? Mo's office is swamped. They told me to go see primary md.

I will check out lymphedema page you recommended.

Hugs and prayers

C

Beatmon

Zills is right, you can certainly get lymphedema in the chest. But stay after your oncologist.....I'm afraid this will be out of GP comfort level

bigbhome

I think you are spot on. I read the lymphedema page, and it sounds like that's what it is. Also, I wore a new sports bra last week that actually rubbed the center of my chest raw. I cleaned it and put Neosporin on it, but maybe I did get an infection. And yes, the heat has been brutal.

Primary is squeezing mine in tomorrow. Hopefully he will know what to do. Still doesn't explain lump underarm.

Hugs and prayers

C

bigbhome

Called the Mo office and was told to see primary because mo office is swamped. What I can't find in the Lymphedema whether I should wrap my chest and if so, how? Should I stop wearing a bra? I doubt primary is going to have info.

Should I call palliative Dr?

Does anyone know what I should do?

C

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Cafelovr

I swell like crazy in the heat, expecially in the extremeties. Do you have a lymphedema PT? I would give them a call.

bigbhome

Thank you for all your kind words. Saw primary today, and he had seen a lot of lymphedema and huge says this is not that.

He said that stupid, my word, sports bra aggravated that whole area to the point where soft tissue started swelling. First, he said through away the bra! Haha! He feels it will completely resolve itself in another week or so.

He also said that after 12years, Odds of suddenly getting lymphedema were slim to none.

Thank you again for your support!

Hugs and prayers

C

Zillsnot4me

Glad it was simple and your PCP was helpful. Still follow up with your MO about it during your next appt. hopefully you will be all better and you can find a bra that works.