Lymphatic Drainage Massage video.

Good video.

I have breast swelling too. Quite a bit. I have managed to pretty much get a handle on the arm, armpit, side and rib swelling. But the breast.... I have not been able to get that under control at all yet. I keep trying!

Thank you so much for posting this. Not only was it informative, it was very helpful to watch someone doing self massage while the therapist talked about what/why. I realized I was doing sometning wrong - massaging into the armpit, and learned that I need to go more slowly, longer, and massage more areas. I am experiencing lymphedema on the opposite side where lymph nodes were removed, 2/2 years after surgery. Initially swelling in R-arm 0.8 -3.6 cm larger than left arm. I wear a compression sleeve, do self-massage. At sessions, she manually massages as well as using a pump massage, and has given me a few exercises to do.

Exercise very regularly, if not at the gym, then walk/hike, weights, stretch, swim, x-country ski etc.

Supplements: GAIA turmeric-joint; glucosamine-chondroitin; magnesium glycinate; biotin; potassium-iodine; low dose calcium; C; B-complex ; D; Fish oil (but not now). For a year or so after bi-lateral used Juven Nutritional therapy for wound healing with 7g arginine, 7g glutamine for about a year. Often add turmeric to meals. Ran out of fish oil supplement that I liked, other brand caused fish burps, so have not taken for a while

2009 ER+ left breast. 52 yrs. Lumpectomy, Sentinel node removal, negative. – 1. Radiation 6 weeks, tamoxifen 5 years. Dense lumpy left breast, normal right. Acupuncture offered at facility as part of integrative medicine. It really helped with anxiety/stress during radiation treatment.

2016 ER+ left breast. Probably a new cancer, but unknown. 4 rounds TC Aug-Oct 2016, Bi-lateral (my choice) Nov 2016, no reconstruction. 2 sentinel nodes remove, negative. Cold Capping using Chemo Cold Caps (DIGNICAP not available). Anastrozole 1 mg starting May 2017. Joint issues noticed immediately. Stopped Anastrozole after 3-4 months due to joint stiffness in. After several months of no AIs, fingers were feeling better. Started tamoxifen March 2018

10/2018 noticed stiffness and some trigger finger again. Was eating meat a lot more (daily) than normal. Usually 1-2 /wk. Have cut way back on the meat, seems to help, but one finger still very prone to trigger finger. Trigger finger seemed to be getting better, but now 4/2019 seems worse, is it the break from added turmeric to meals?

7/19/2019 - swelling in R-arm, opposite side from where lymph nodes removed. Noticed 6/18/2019. Could have been swelling earlier but wearing long sleves. Trip to urgent care. They did ultrasound, concerned that there might be a clot, there was not. Started seeing lymphatic therapist 7/2/2019. Initial visit

Tomorrow I see the oncologist, see if she has ideas why on opposite side. Is it as unusual as the lymphatic therapist suggest? Probably more imaging, UGH, that does not help. I get measured for a sleeve and glove on Friday from a professional Prosthetics & Orthotics business. The Lymphatic therapist gave me a "loaner" sleeve & glove until I can get properly fitted. Have been using for several weeks. Today she wrapped my arm, concerned about the swelling increasing. It was going down, just a little, , but now seems to be back where it was 4 weeks ago. Yes, I did get more salt over the weekend than usual, smoked salmon, chips, and was having too much fun to wear the sleeve for a few days. Just before the swelling started, I had been doing heavy yard work - scraping out dirt/weeds, moving bags of bark and rck, painting. Has anyone else experienced something like this, where increased activity, especially lots of arm work seemed to bring it on? I am normally very active and do some weight lifting. I generally do not eat much in the way of salt, but have others been told to try and limit it Did that help?