Breast Lymphedema?

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CarolynVM
CarolynVM Member Posts: 137
edited June 2014 in Lymphedema

I'm midway through radiation (20/33) and my breast gets so sore in the course of the week!  Last Wednesday I rolled over in my sleep and the pain woke me up in agony.  I finished the night in a recliner chair!  My skin is fine but the breast gets swollen and hard and hot, hot, hot.  Over the weekend the swelling and pain recede.  My RO is sending me to a PT who specializes in lymphedema.  I'm optimistic this will all go away when radiation ends.  Did anyone have a similar experience?  Can it really just go away?

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  • Annette47
    Annette47 Member Posts: 957
    edited March 2013

    Haven't really had the hardness and heat as much, but the last week of rads (finished yesterday) my breast has been VERY swollen and tender to the point where the tattoos no longer lined up the machine properly as the size/shape of my breast had changed so much.   The RO nurses said it should go down quite a bit in the next couple weeks (although it may take longer to go away entirely).   If it's still bothering me by my 4 week check-up, I will as for a PT referral, but in the meantime I am just hoping that the cessation of rads will do the trick ... as I said it didn't really get bothersome until the last week.

    Sorry you're having such a hard time!

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  • kira66715
    kira66715 Member Posts: 4,681
    edited March 2013

    Breast lymphedema is very common, and it does tend to improve, with the end of rads and good treatment.

    Here's a link that may help:http://www.stepup-speakout.org/breast_chest_trunckal_lymphedema.htm

    Let us know how you're doing

    Kira

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  • Beachnut
    Beachnut Member Posts: 17
    edited March 2013

    I have lymphedema in my breast right now, 6 months after my treatments ended.  (It started a few months ago)...if I were you, I would definately see your p.t. now & get on that right away...I wish they would of got me going to one early on - its not fun.  I hope it gets better for you!

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  • CarolynVM
    CarolynVM Member Posts: 137
    edited March 2013

    I went to PT ths morning.  They measured my arm and there is swelling in my left arm as well as my left breast.  They used a laser on the scars and the sorest areas on my breast, the nipple and the cavity left by remoal of the tumor.  They used some kind of a vibrating thing that made the therapist's hand vibrate while she stroked my arm and then my breast.  It was very comforting and I'm grateful I didn't feel embarassed by it.  I go back on Friday.  I hope it helps.

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  • Beachnut
    Beachnut Member Posts: 17
    edited March 2013

    I was super shy when I first went to my pt - she immediately made me feel comfortable and at ease...then I just got so used to it and yes, it did feel good, although painful in some areas...I do hope it helps for you...mine didn't use a vibrating thing - just exercises and massage....xo

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  • MameMe
    MameMe Member Posts: 425
    edited June 2013

    It's June now, and I wondered how you, beech nut and Carolyn, were doing? I am a couple of months out of radiation tx, and have had a hardened area that is getting more pronounced, which the Onc said was lymphedema. It's under the scar area in the treated breast. I am two different sizes now, and had thought that was temporary Maybe it still is, but I am concerned about blockage of lymph and want that addressed. Hope you are doing well.

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