Lymphedema in arm

DebbieMeier

Has anyone had lymphedema in their arm completely clear up?

Started on a new treatment just over a week ago, Halaven, with in a couple days the swelling in my hand went down to all time low and now my arm is almost totally normal. Hasn't been this way since pre diagnosis in June.

Is it possible to have it resolved and not be plagued with it in the future provided that cancer stays under control?

Teachermom2

DebbieMeier I just started Halaven yesterday...and I have severe lymphedema I'm my arm and hand..wow if only that was a result for me. I have been struggling with it for years and it's awful..i don't even wear sleeves because it just agrivates my fingers to the point of ridiculous.

How are your other side effects? I hate starting new regiments and the unknown.

Wishing you much luck and success!!!!

DebbieMeier

I just had my second dose of Halaven on Friday, was pretty tired, took longer then planned because my PICC line locked up. Felt good Saturday, though tired easily but pretty useless and in pain on Sunday. Had a port put in on Monday, miserable day with pain meds on board, felt good yesterday and feeling pretty good today. Have a Fent patch on now but not using anything else for pain, plan on being pain med free tomorrow. Next trip up for Havalen will be a week from this Friday.

Swelling in my right chest is starting to go down, when the cancer acted back up a few weeks back both my breasts got to swelling, the right more then the left all the way up into my collar bone. Slowly it's decreasing. My right arm is almost totally normal, but I have been going to Physical Therapy since September to help move the fluid in my trunk with hopes of creating new pathways. My arm was going down, but would puff back up when I used it. Since it went down after starting Havalen I've not seen it puff back up. I don't know if it's from the Havalen or is we got new pathways open or combination, but sure hoping it stays down and sure nice to not have the aching in my wrist and hand from the swelling.

We are hoping to keep my blood counts up and recovering quickly when they go down, only made it three weeks on Taxel back in August before they tanked and wouldn't come back up. Switched to Ibrance, which was a relief until skin mets broke out, only made it 3 cycles. Then they moved me to Xeloda for 3 cycles, mets continued to spread and then my inflammation in my breast came on with increases in the masses in my breast and lymph nodes, my hands and feet are just now getting back to normal, the Xeloda is rough on the skin. Only masses that have continued to reduce during the different treatments are those on my liver, which is a positive, at least something has been responding to the different treatments. Kinda feel like my lymph nodes are reducing since starting Halaven too, I just keep hoping, but remain guarded.

Fingers crossed the Halaven works well for you, head up and keep marching on.