Shoul I be Concerned

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Pure
Pure Member Posts: 1,796
edited June 2014 in Stage III Breast Cancer

This weekend marks 1 year since surgery. I feel good and have lost lots of weight. I am getting weepy approaching this weekend and I am pretty surprised at how emotional I am being.

My masectomy is on my left side. Below my collarbone on that side it feels slightly more puffy then on the non masectomy side. I have no pain or lump just its a bit more puffy. My husband says it probaby b-c of surgery and rads. Also, I hold my baby on my right hand side so that might be pulling on that area on the left. So here I am with a slight raise or puffy area.

Does anyoe else feel that on the masectomy side things feels a bit different/bonyier then on there normal side?

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  • JacquelineG
    JacquelineG Member Posts: 282
    edited August 2010

    It doesn't sound like it's anything to be concerned about! I finished rads a year and a half ago and I still feel soreness/tenderness all around that area, including collar bone and below/above it. I bet some inflammation around it is completely normal. Ease your mind! It's normal to start focusing on parts of your body as you approach milestone dates -- i do it all the time :-)

    Congrats on one year since surgery and I wish you many, many more!

    Jackie

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  • Bugs
    Bugs Member Posts: 1,719
    edited August 2010

    Sounds pretty normal, Jen.  The tissue around my collar bone on my rads side feels different than my normal side.  The bone is still tender and I expect it will always feel a bit "off".

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  • kim40
    kim40 Member Posts: 904
    edited August 2010

    I have the same thing and I asked my oncologist to check and was told that it is normal.  Coming up on your 1 year of your surgery is very emotional.  (((hugs))) to you Jen!

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  • lexi4
    lexi4 Member Posts: 1,074
    edited August 2010

    Me too.

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  • Pure
    Pure Member Posts: 1,796
    edited August 2010

    Thanks Guys...I apreciate your support....I NEVER thought I would be falling apart like this. This 1 year thing is hard...

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  • diana50
    diana50 Member Posts: 2,134
    edited August 2010

    this is a big deal; this 1 year anniversary. i remember you in the very very early stages of diagnosis and beyond. cry a little; it is a bit of a release when you hit your first year out. you are doing great. just be where you are. take a little time to get used to your post treatment body; ie, surgical areas....rads...etc. your body will most likely continue to change in the area of treatment as you deeply heal in there. my treated side (left like you) is much different in looks; feel and touch.

    hugs. awesome jen** you did good*

    diana

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  • KerryMac
    KerryMac Member Posts: 3,529
    edited August 2010

    Jen, I had a terrible time last year at my one year mark. I kept thinking "this time last year i didn't know" and remembering all of the insanity of the year before. It was very hard.

    I don't even think I can say anything to make it easier for you, all I know from my experience is once that day was past, I felt better. And, none of my other milestone days (Surgery, starting Chemo, etc) produced the same emotions.

    So, hang in there, just expect to feel crappy for a couple of days, recognise it for what it is, and know that better days will come again. 

    This cancer thing is not easy! 

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  • clariceak
    clariceak Member Posts: 752
    edited August 2010

    It is hard.  We're at about the same place and the same frame of mind.  This too shall pass.

    My cancer side is a lumpy bumpy mess.  I still have what I like to call my "side boob" which is a seroma/lymphedema/scar tissue mass which will probably never go away.  I don't think I can distinguish between what is normal vs. "concerning". so I basically don't think about it too much.

    You've done a remarkable job of delivering a beautiful baby and keeping yourself healthy with the juicing and exercise.  You have so much to be proud of! 

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  • jenn3
    jenn3 Member Posts: 3,316
    edited September 2010

    Jenn - I had my 1 year annivesary in June, I didn't do much in the way to celebrate it and found that I was a little out of sorts, but it came and went and I was fine.  As a matter of fact, my one year annniversay of my chemo start date passed Aug 7th and I didn't think about it until earlier this week.  From what I understand each anniversay gets better, in the meantime (((hugs))).

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  • Pure
    Pure Member Posts: 1,796
    edited September 2010

    Thanks Guys! My husbands dad is about to pass. He is on a feeding tube and they are taking him off tommorow so it's just a matter of time. Figures his death will coincide with my annivesary so everyone in my house is a mess:) Sigh...But100 things to worry about 1000 to be rateful for.

    Thanks for all your support and words of encouragement!

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  • AnacortesGirl
    AnacortesGirl Member Posts: 1,758
    edited September 2010

    I'm sorry about your father in law.  Knowing the time is coming doesn't make it any easier.

    I like that "100 things to worry about and 1000 to be grateful for".  It fits my life and way of thinking.

    I had a doc tell me last week that it can take up to 3 years for the surgical area to stop changing.  I thought that was an awfully long time but I guess that was her way of telling me I'm going to continue to feel pains and swelling changes in that area while the nerves continue to rebuild.

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  • Octobergirl
    Octobergirl Member Posts: 334
    edited September 2010

    I'm so sorry about your father-in-law.  You and your family will be in my thoughts  as you go through this hard time.  I passed my 1st year surgery anniversary and I worry too....that 2 year recurrance threshold is always in the back of my mind.

    May your father-in-law pass peacefully and surrounded by love.

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  • lkc
    lkc Member Posts: 1,203
    edited September 2010

    Hi Jen, I am very sorry to hear about you FIL. Anniversaries are a hard time, and ie harder for you with yr FIL's illness. You're fine, and your feelings are normal.

    GB and how;s baby K?

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