After Radiation

Yup, ladies the WBC can stay low for some time and if you are taking Tamoxifen, then it may even be lower for longer.  That also means we are more at risk for serious infections and flu, pneumonia, etc.  Take good care, all.  Be kind and gentle with yourselves.

Mary I have had slow healing issues as well and problems with my pec which I am in PT right now for.  MY BS said that wherever I am at at 18 months is likely never going to get better than that. I am currently 10 mnths out.

My rad onc says she can still detect the effects of radiation 2 years out and implied that things could still be healing up even 2 years out from treatment.  (writing on the boards has really shown me what a lousy writer I am sometimes!  I try to express an idea and it comes out so oddly sometimes!)

sherry: what pec issues are you having?  I'm very swollen and my RO thought maybe my pec was inflamed.  I'm in PT because my shoulder is frozen and it is so tight through my pec.

I just wanted to say that a consistently red and swollen breast can be LE...sometimes (like in my case) it is mistaken for infection of radiation swelling.  I am now seeing an LE therapist and it helped almost immediately with swelling, pain and movement.  They are working on my scar tissue, which is deep, and may be blocking the lymphatic system (paraphrasing.) 

I was worried about LE of the breast.  I saw the lymphadema nurse and she said to give it some time to heal, so I guess I just wait and see.

Same thing here... I was diagnosed with lymphadema of the breast.  I had swelling, pain, and redness, went to LE therapist and am fine now (this was at the beginning of October).  I give myself self massages and do the exercises recommended to me and even my scar tissue feels better from the stretching.

Thanks are definitely looking brighter!

Susan

mamalou my pec muslce from my shoulder to deep into my breast has been tight since about 2 months post rads.  I mentioned it to the RO at my 3 month followup and he confirmed that rads really messes with our pec muscles and that sometimes it take 2 to 3 years for them to settle down.  I am very active in yoga so it was very noticable to me even though he thought my range of motion was ok and that I would be fine with continuing my yoga.  He did give me one additional stretch to use.  Anyway fast foward to 8 months post rads and my pec became some painful that I could not stand it any longer so I asked my MO to give me a script for PT.  I was also still having swelling in my breast.  Went to PT and I do not have lymphedema just swelling from rads.  PT has helped tremdiously, I have done 6 weeks and will continue on another 6 weeks.  I almost have my full range of motion back so I am sure I will after the next six weeks.  I am really starting to notice things that I can do and it does not hurt but I still feel the stretch.  I want to get back to pre rads and that is what my PT is trying for. PT also had me start icing again and that has helped.  I also get full body lymphatic massages every other week and the therapist works on my scar tissue as well.  In the beginning I thought I would come off the table, but it has gotten better has well.

Teklya, thanks for the answer on WBC. I did start tamoxifen this month, so I guess WBC may be with me a while. I am glad I didn't get that flu shot I was going to get, probably a good thing.



I had mx, rads and reconstruction, the trifecta! To tell you the truth, the reconstruction (flap surgery) was painful for a week or so after surgery, but other than that I have no lasting effects from it. So far, I can't say the same about chemo, mx or rads. I almost didn't do it, and I know it's not for everyone, but it may be the tx that causes no lasting se's.

Thank you everyone!! My mammo was all clear...yay!!!

Now I just have to get through my hyst/ooph on Friday....

You can all climb out of my pocket......I GOT AN ALL CLEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Apparently have a cyst on my right ovary I didn't even know about, but that's all the CT picked up! Amen and Hallelujah!

Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers.

Great news Gina! Thank you, dear Lord, for Gina's good news and mine!

Great news Gina and Barb--that's sure to put some happy in your holiday!

sharan--where do you get evolife products?  My skin is reacting to Tom's and I won't use aluminum any more...so I'm looking for a good alternative.