so tight around chest

Mamita, I am not a creme user either, but I found that rubbing in a little lotion after a shower helped my radiated skin feel a little more pliable, but I agree, that skin feels like it will never be the same. It has lost all elasticity.

The muscle tissue under the skin is what feels really different to me. It reminds me of a piece of tupperware that gets deformed in the dishwasher and the lids never fit again! I have found that I have to really stay on top of stretching my chest area and the underarm, otherwise it just tightens up again.

When I went to the physical therapist for lymphedema training she told me that it's really important for all women, not just those that have had surgery or cancer treatment, but all women as they go thru middle age can develop "frozen shoulder" just from lack of use and it's imperative that we really work on our range of motion exercises. I think this falls into the category of "use it or lose it".

I work on it daily too...really notice when i don't do my stretches. If you are looking for a good creme, good old glaxal base creme worked wonders for me.

I was contemplating posting  something and then this pops up so advice needed !!

I handled chemo well..eyebrows & lashes hung on to the bitter end and then immediate growth ( need a wax starting to look like caterpillars) he he...Rads ..all went well untill last weekend..25 rounds with bolus...wore my bra right till last rad.

But now ouch !! peeling red itchy , seeping (not infected)no BRA....very uncomfortable,range of motion compromised ..Kerry I have tried  the Glaxal nothing., My naturopath gave me calendula pomade does a bit better than the oncs creams,I have heard the calendula gel is better,also polysporin for open areas..it is improving ..I am thinking of opening a small pharmacy out of my home with all the ...stuff ...I have accumulated over treatment !!!How long did this last I am thinking another week..but it kept me housebound because all I can wear is my flannel jammie tops .

I watched a dvd  made by Miranda Esmond  White for stretching after lymph surgery highly recommend it ..she was   a dancer with the Canadian National Ballet ,breast cancer ,survivor .

ml C

Hi Cheryl: I heard the calendula is very healing.  Sounds painful, I hope it gets better for you!

My sister-in-law, who is a retired ER nurse, recommended vitamin E. She said to get the capsules that are designed to be taken orally, and cut them open. Squeeze the vit-e out of the capsule. She said it would also help reduce the scarring.