Pain under arm in the crease

Wish I'd something to tell you.  Others that know more on this will pipe in at some point.

Jubby, it's very common to get raw and sore in the area under the arm during radiation. If it starts to break down, ask for burn cream--usually sulfasilvadene.

Some women get a lot of pain with radiation and need stronger pain meds than anti-inflammatories, just for a while.

The fact that you're swelling could just be in reaction to the inflammation of the radiation, but you'd benefit from meeting with a qualified lymphedema therapist---they'll be limited in what they can do right now, as a big part of treatment is massage, but they can help you

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

You really shouldn't wear a sleeve without hand protection, like a gauntlet, as you don't want to push fluid into the hand. Maybe your doctor doesn't want you to wear the sleeve as they think the top band may irritate your armpit area.

We have things to do while waiting for an appointment, and a lot of the suggestions should help:

http://www.stepup-speakout.org/How_You_Can_Cope_with_Lymphedema.htm#while%20waitingWhat to do While Waiting for Your First Appointment with a Qualified Lymphedema Therapist

DO NOT try and treat this yourself!!! Proper professional treatment is essential to getting control of lymphedema and preventing its progression. Treatment can be expensive and inconvenient, but this condition is life long, potentially disfiguring, disabling and possibly life-threatening (if you get an infection known as cellulitis) so professional evaluation and treatment as soon as possible is essential.

1) Get evaluated promptly by your doctor to rule out other causes for the swelling in your hand/arm, and get a referral to see a well-trained lymphedema therapist;

2) Drink plenty of fluids -- staying well hydrated helps dilute lymph fluid and keep it moving freely;

3) Elevate the swollen arm or hand as much as possible during the day and on pillows at night; support the arm well so that it doesn't tire;

4) Several times a day pause and do some deep breathing -- this helps stimulate the largest lymph vessels in your body;

5) Raise hands over head as high as is comfortable for you, three times a day, and pump fists 20 times;
6) Call for medical help immediately if you have severe pain, redness, fever or feel ill;

7) You can try mild compression gloves by either Sammons Preston or Isotoner® Fingerless Therapeutic Gloves if your hands and/or fingers are swollen until your appointment with your lymphedema therapist. Be sure to bring them along to your appointment;

8) Do NOT use ACE wraps or any other wraps without the advice of your lymphedema therapist after your evaluation and your treatment plan is scheduled.

Let us know how you're doing

Kira

Hey thanks for that I didn't know about the rads doing that to your body, you learn something every day.

I have one more chemo to go then surgery & rads, I'm dreading it all but I'll get through it.



Hope you feel better soon



Alison

When you have rads does it feel hot? I ask this because I have solar urticaria and I'm worried rads will have the same effect.

Midnight - do you have to do a mammo, or do you have other options, like an MRI or an ultrasound?