October 2018 Surgery Support Group

Dani444, good luck! 💓 Let us know!

Star, it wouldn't hurt to check with your doctor. I have had several laparoscopic surgeries, including what you just had and it's easy to irritate those incisions. (Just looked back and saw you checked w Dr.)

Anxiouslady, I didn't have those issues after surgery, but during radiation I was encouraged to use Aquaphor and aloe, particularly in the armpit area which was very sensitive. I also switched to an all natural deoderant (Tom's) during that time. Perhaps some of those products will help? I think the Aquaphor in particular could help with the irritation and help protect your skin.

What do your doctors recommend?

LilyCH: Hi! Actually I feel perfectly fine. Other than having a mild to moderately painful tennis ball under my arm 24/7 that is. And the slight discomfort of wearing compression clothing round the clock to keep it from getting bigger lol. I got it drained yesterday (again) and so far so good. I had to admit to my doc that I probably went back to work too early, now I've got a week to do only what's critical at home. Which is practically nothing. My DH has gotten used to the day to day chores I did back in the good ol' precancer days. This is just a small setback.

I have an appt. on the 29th for initial consultation with the RO. As of now I'm largely clueless what to expect but I'll be glad when it's over.

I hit the 6 week mark today and I am just now beginning to feel somewhat "normal". These tissue expanders are still uncomfortable, but they no longer hurt. I still tire easily.

bookworm - I have been going to physical therapy (cancer rehab) and it has made a world of difference in my rom and strength. I really feel it has also aided in my healing. You might ask if your cancer center has that option.

Dani444,

Good luck with your upcoming appointment. Keeping fingers crossed for good news. The feeling is usually once the area is pressed on or hits something. Maybe just sore from overuse.

Trishyla,

I was afraid it could be that. At this point I'll take a little bit of pain if it can reduced the constant pain and let me move my arm. I do have an appt with a specialist, but they cannot see me until December 3rd.

Dreya711,

The Cancer Center here does not have it's own physical therapy section unfortunately. I was referred to a Lymphedema specialist, but they said they will not do therapy there so now I have to try to get referred to another office that does physical therapy. Sure would be helpful to have the Lymph. and therapy at the same place and time. Those expanders do take some getting use to. Glad you are feeling better.

Hey everyone, I got the official word, I would not benefit from chemo! So I got my Rx for tamoxifen but don't start it until after Rads, and I don't meet with the RO again until the end of the month. Thanks to everyone for their support through this part of the process, I appreciate all of you!!!!

I also had a lumpectomy, Oct 18th. I had a serum drained twice. I wanted to get it drained a third time. The nurse said she could feel the lump but she couldn't get any liquid out of it and she thinks it's clotting. I've been wearing a 'veronique' with gauze and I hate the constant reminder. Whatever it is, it's pushing on my nerves and I don't like it. She wasn't at all worried though.

I had my surgery on a Thursday, went back to work the next Thursday. I'm a teacher so work is relatively active and I commute by bike, otherwise I think I could've gone back a day or two earlier, because that's when I started to able to be out of bed all day and have a clear enough head to really start worrying about the tumor pathology!

What's still getting me is the tiredness and mental limitations! I don't know how to attribute it, how much is due to the accumulation of all the stress of waiting for this result and that result and wrapping my head around this whole thing, and how much of it is my body still recovering from surgery. I have never been a napper but twice in the last week I made it home and went straight to bed and cat napped for 1-2 hours.

I keep thinking I'm going to take a longer leave, but I don't know when. I think my brain just isn't really up for things and it's taking all my will power just to make it to and through work.

Salamandra,

This is alot for us to take in especially if everything moved along fast. While moving forward fast is nice for the treatment, maybe sometimes it just takes a bit for our brains to catch up on what is happening to our bodies. I would take it easy when you can and whenever you're body says you need to rest. I hope the report comes in quickly for you as that can be be nerve racking, and that the news is as good snow possible. Best wishes to you

Bookworm and Salamandra, YES to everything Bookworm wrote. We are on a conveyer belt of tx and it's moving too quickly for our bodies and minds to catch up.

Bookworm, you had a lot of lymph nodes removed - you could be having cording (axillary web syndrome). I'm pretty sure you'll need physical therapy if this is what it is. A lady in my chemo group had it after she had two levels of lymph nodes removed during her surgery. Here's a BCO article about it: https://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/side_effects/aws Good luck!

Yay, Dani444! Congrats on no chemo!

Oh, star I hope everything's ok! Let us know.

star2017,

I hope The pain gets better and the surgeon can help you.