Im a massage therapist by trade and scared of lymphedema

CCL · May 2011

I would love to hear from other massage therapists out there that have done radiation and had good results and also that have developed lymphedema. I am a single mom and this is my income. Im about to start radiation, after chemo, lumpectomy and 20 lymph nodes removed in L arm. The thought of getting LE is making me question whether i should do it or not. Can i still massage if i have it? Side note.... how long till hair starts growing back and the weight the steroids put on come off? I still cant believe this happend to me. Freaking out and trying not to lose it emotionally every day.

karma · June 2011

Hi CCL. I'm a massage therapist and have been recently dx with DCIS. I will have to have a lumpectomy followed by radiation, no lymph node involvement. Though I prob won't have to deal with lymphedema, I too worry as this is my income and I will be out of work for a while. So I just wanted to lend my support and wish you well with your treatments. Take one day at a time. Stay blessed.

Binney4 · June 2011

FrenchV, welcome to bc.org! So sorry for the reason you're here, but glad you found us.

Here are a couple of sites with reliable information on lymphedema risk reduction, so you can take some actions to protect yourself:

http://www.stepup-speakout.org/riskreduction_for_lymphedema.htm

http://www.lymphnet.org (see their Position Papers on risk reduction, air travel, exercise, and breast cancer)

Wishing you smooth sailing through all your treatment, and nothing "swell" about it!
Binney

kathleen1966 · June 2011

I would say that having 20 nodes removed is enough risk in itself to develop lymphedema and that having radiation is not going to increase this chance by much. Radiation was not recommended for under four lymph nodes for me. As I had four, I needed the radiation. I hope that you do not get lymphedema. I would think that, yes, it would interfere with your career as a massage therapist. My lymphedema is mild but any usage of it seems to make it worst. I like to garden and am having a lot of trouble with this arm every time I do anything with it. What are your stats? I am five months out from chemo and I have almost an inch of hair now. It is growing very slowly. But I am on herceptin still and I have heard this can slow growth. Good luck!

jancie · June 2011

I can't answer the LE/Radiation question but I agree with so many lymph nodes removed then you are at risk.

My hair started growing back when I was on Taxol. It grew at the rate of 1/2" per month and now is past my shoulders and I do get trims every 8 weeks to help with the growth. I am still taking 10,000 mcgs of Biotin daily. I do believe this has helped with my hair growth as before chemo it only grew 1/4" per month.

As far as the steroid weight - I gained 30 lbs. I also was put into chemo induced menopause. I tried walking 1 hour every night for over a year and didn't lose a lb. I then put myself on a non-sugar strict diet of only 1,000 caleries per day and have lost 11 lbs in 5 weeks.

I remember going to the specialist at the cancer center and asked about diet pills. She told me that the only way to lose the weight was to not put in more than 1,000 calories per day. I ignored her for almost 2 years and then decided that I could do it. I had been carrying this extra weight since May 2009. I went from a size 4 pre-chemo to a size 10 to 12 post chemo. With my 11 lb weight loss I have gone down one size already.

Steroid weight is the hardest for me to lose. I went on steroids in 2006 and had gained 15 lbs and it took me working 8 hours a day hard labor to get that weight off - it was about 9 months of hard work to lose those 15 lbs. But then they always say losing that last 10 lbs is the hardest!

CCL · June 2011

Thanks FrenchV. My naturopath/oncologist put me on CDG EstroDIM, its an estrogen blocker, and it has helped level out my emotions. Radiation started this week and so far so good. I think I was more stressed out about not being able to work than i was the cancer. I wish you the best of luck with surgery and radiation and getting by while not working.

CCL · June 2011

Janice, we have similar stories. I too was size 4 and now a size 10 after chemo. I think gaining the weight was worse then losing the hair. Thanks for the Botin tip. I will look into that.

jancie · June 2011

CCL - you can get biotin at major grocery stores, vitamin stores, Rite Aid, Walgrens, Whole Foods, etc. Just be careful and get the pills that are 5,000 mcg and take 2 a day. The other ones you can get are only 1,000 mcg and you would have to take 10 pills a day. With all of the other meds I am on - the last thing I want to do is add 10 pills to my nightly routine.

I got the tip from other ladies on BCO and asked my oncologist when I could start taking them and he said as soon as I was done with Adriamycin/Cytoxin. In other words, I could start taking them while on Taxol without it interfering with the chemo.

sam1 · June 2011

hI CCL, I also a massage Therapsit, I had a lumpectomy with nodes removed, I did the exercises every day that were recommended and got the full use of my arm back, I am still working. You just have to give yourself time to heal. I know it is a worry when you need to work, but you will be back massaging just like me.

karma · July 2011

Thanks Binney4! CCL it's great to know that u r doing great just keep the faith . I had my lumpectomy 3 weeks ago and have been out of work since. Yes it's been hard but I am managing. I plan to start up next week. Not sure what my plan of action is now as my pathology report came back showing DCIS in the left breast as well as the right breast (surgery was to remove dcis in right and a benign lump in left) so that was a surprise. Go to see my oncologist tomorrow for the 1st time wish me luck!!

Im a massage therapist by trade and scared of lymphedema

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