MIDDLE-AGED WOMEN 40-60ish
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Yet another port question? Assuming my port heals up to where it no longer hurts...is it o.k. to have the bra strap go across it? That is right where my strap hits. I have been wearing a criss-cross bra these past few days (or none at home) and I don't know yet whether to go bra shopping or if I will be able to wear my regular ones once I heal up?
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Elimar....i know i shouldn't make statements like this but.....
Port was the best thing ever happened to me during my chemo......
I'm looking at the scar and honestly don't remember if i had any issues with my ELECTRIC OUTLET....
Yes I named it....
Is it still swollen or you can actually see the port?
Sorry...i can't come out with an answer....see how comfortable you are with the strip going over .
good Luck to you my friend.....♥
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Eli....how can someone so funny (LOL!) also be soooo wise!
Welcome Jabal! I hope your biopsy is B9!!!! But you will find the most incredible and encouraging ladies in this forum. I'm so grateful for the laughter when able, the encouragement when needed, and the information and wisdom so freely shared.
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I wonder how Sherryc is feeling today after having her 2nd recon. to fix the 1st recon.? How you doin', Sherry?
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Barsco (and Dianarose), My spirit came back stronger after my first go-round with cancer, and it's a good thing it did. I feel stronger heading into C/C treatment than I did for B/C treatment. 'Course they haven't poisoned me with chemo yet, so I may be changing my tune any day now. Anyone who has ever gone thru' an ordeal always comes out on the other side with a more accurate picture of their inner strength. Sure, it's all fine and dandy if you turn out stronger than you thought, but there is no shame if you find out the opposite. Then, you just have to be realistic about what you can handle and accept or ask for help. The GOAL is to GET THROUGH A TOUGH TIME, and don't be too comcerned how you do that. I like to apply the Malcolm X approach, to get to my goal "BY WHATEVER MEANS NECESSARY." (Although I'm sure he could never forsee that his words would be helping a middle-aged cancer lady thru' her treatment. Oh, the times, they are a-changin'.)
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Eli - my port was put in the same time as my MX, it was a little sore for a couple of weeks, and would sometimes get a little irritated, kind of achy feeling while I had it, but only now and then. My seatbelt and bra strap did cross it and would sometimes irritate it, but it was fine - and no more than they irritate my radiated clavicle on the other side. I was sooooooooo happy with my port, I'm know as the port advocate at the cancer center where I volunteer, I bring it up to everyone, especially those getting long term treatment or those that are hard sticks with IV's. It was a big blessing for me.
And Eli - CONGRATS on your results, I love the picture of the happy dance.
For the lady asking about rads, Lorall, there was nothing that was not tolerable about radiation, or chemo, it was all doable. Not pleasant or fun, but doable. And even though I was one that thought if I was diagnosed with cancer I wouldn't have chemo, I'm very happy with my decisions, including my decision to stay on the AI, even though it has caused disabling side effects for me. But for me, I was almost assured of recurrence or mets without treatments, and each treatment made a huge difference in my long term survival.
We each have to decide my quality of decision - I felt that the choices I made were the right ones for me at this point in my life. I might have made different ones if the the circumstances had been different.
I too have claimed that I was a medical professional to get access to some of the resources available!
Vanstrada - if you're still here, I don't think that anyone meant to put your down or offend you about your decisions, they were just honestly and completely, letting you know why they chose what they did and the feelings and emotions that they have about their decision. Best of luck, it isn't an easy decision to make.
Linda
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Okayyyyyy . Major deep breath here ! By the very title of our group here we are middle aged . With middle age comes a major roller coaster ride ! Just put my pouty little tantrum up to PTSD middle aged overwhelmed lopsider ! I do appreciate all the advice you give me . I have always loved Fords and if you were advising me to give up my Ford for something else You would REALLY have to convince me ! Lol What works for me is waht I need to learn . Grantham took all that away from me and having to regroup and start all over again with the added attraction on major memory loss in middle age makes for a very interesting ride ! When I was younger I enjoyed the ride nowadays I get travel sickness ! lol ,Thanks for your kind words . I was not offended just overwhelmed The journey continues .
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I am now 3 weeks to the day of surgery . Where the drain infected my wound site it is still sore ,down the side of my body it is still sore ! My back on that side is still sore ! I wore my lovely new bra yesterday for the first time and the trying to figure out the right combination was interesting to say the least ! My Libran sense of perfect balancing acts was definitely tested to the limits ! And I am still sore ? Are you catching the drift that I am still sore with painful areas ???? I am aware we are all different and I embrace that difference if it wasn't so SORE ! lol At what point does the soreness stop ? Is there a area of concern that I am not aware of ? searching for the Holy Graille of not being sore ! Waving from Gatton . Ouch !
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Van, I would definitely call your doc's office and talk with one of the nurses to describe "sore" ... there are many different ways that can be interpreted and they know most of them well enough to help calm your fears, or tell you come in for a visit. I'm assuming of course that most offices which handle BC have as wonderful a staff as my doc's office.
Eli, I was working during chemo so had to wear a bra. Don't specifically remember any issue with the port, so it must have been short-lived if at all. Mine was on left side, so car seatbelt hit it too. I was fortunate with my port surgery - truly didn't have any pain issues that I've heard others express. I found it "weird" cause I could see the sucker and feel it so close under the skin, but no pain. Just a little uncomfortable maybe for a couple days.
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Vanstrada, not sure which surgery you had, but after my double mastectomy, with nodes taken on both sides, I was sore for a long time. I was not in pain exactly, but uncomfortable on and off for what seemed like an eternity (6 months? 9?, really not sure). If you had any nodes out, I would strongly recommend seeing a PT as soon as possible. Some of that "sore" could be backed up lymph fluid, and if it is, you want to nip it in the bud.
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Thanks Marlegal! From the research I have done and the comments from others the soreness is all part and parcel of recovery ! I was just wondering how much is the normal process of healing . Thats why I love these places where we can hang out and learn and grow instead of having to wait for Drs to help .Don't get me wrong Drs do have their place in healing but they are not available 24 hours and for most of my life up until now ,the only time I saw a Dr was on my annual check up .
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Thanks Momine I have a appointment with the Physio in a fortnight . That is reasuring to know what I can expect . At least it is not agony like when the drain was in ! But even as sore it does limit me a bit . All part of the adjusting I guess !
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I was recommended to massage the wound area and surrounding rock hard areas . So am trying that as well .
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vans, If the areas are hard, it probably is a build up of fluid, and you are right, a gentle massage might help. Til you go to your Physical Therapist (PT) appt., and learn exactly how to do the "manual lymph drainage" massage, you might be interested to know there are instructional videos on You Tube. It's not like it is rocket science, but there is a bit of technique involved.
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Eli I am doing the happy dance for you right now!!! I am doing much better. PS was right that I would be much more sore this time than exchange. But I am off of pain meds and just taking Tylenol now. Still taking huge naps which is why I am still up. Gotta get that straighten out before I go back to work. Foobs look great and my underwire bra already fits better. Can't wait to get out of this surgical bra. I have quiet a collection of them now. hehe
Eli glad you have kept your humor so far. I always think it helps to get through the tough times. I do think I'd rather go topless than bottomless. IDK that's just me. I go back to the gastro guy on Thursday to have my hemorrhoid banding checked and the thought of dropping my drawers again is not a pleasant thought.0 -
Thanks for the good advice !It looks good on you tube .
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vans, I had my DH rub a non-scented cream into my wound site once the wound healed. He did this every night and he got used to my scars a lot faster than me! When the nerves started regenerating I was SO itchy!!! So he would rub fairly aggressive to kind of "scratch" the itch. I have supple skin now around my chest with no areas tied down by scar tissue. Instinctively, we did the right thing! I WAS diagnosed with mild truncal LE with swelling around the scar line on my back. A bra would put me out of my mind in misery!! So glad I go flat.
Elimar, your port must be like my pacemaker as I always know it's there. I got used to clothing and seatbelts on it after about 10 days but find myself still pulling the seat belt away without realizing it. I don't know if I do it because of habit or a soreness! I don't pay enough attention to myself to know...doi!
Marlegal, I do know what you mean by finally being relieved with your breast cancer diagnosis. I truly believe that anyone would get some sort of cancer the longer they live. Cells just get old. It's as simple as that. Once they start to break down it's a free-for-all as to what will happen. This had been my FOURTH breast lump biopsy over 30 years that finally diagnosed the cancer so it WAS a relief to get my double mast. My PCP thought I was being rash, but I'd had these rather large breast for a loooong time at that point and was glad to see them go. Now, with some of you getting a SECOND cancer, well, that's just not fair!!
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I have decide that cancer is a contradiction in very poor taste .As we all know there is no concrete agreement on why cancer is triggerred in some people and others it just by passes . But recent research seems to agree that Stress is one of the main ones ! Ironic thing about cancer is how stressful it is ! We can't win .Thanks for the idea about the cream . I have been able to use body creams and my actual wound is looking really good . My problem area seems to be where my drain wound is . Because of the infection I had there it seems to be healed but sore . And I have a couple of rock hard areas near my underarm pit . Being more aware of my body nowadays I am never quite sure what is ok and what is isn't ok .But we soldier on don't we ?
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Hi, My underarm was rock hard and swollen but It's about 8 weeks since surgery and now I just have a faint scar, but my arm is numb from shoulder to elbow and it really aches. Sort of like someone twisted it. My breast hurts some, the scar looks good, but I still have a rock hard rope type bump in there. I think they said it's a seroma or hematoma or scar tissue...Who knows??? Hope you are better soon.
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LorAll, A doctor should be able to tell the difference of what is causing your hardness. If it is scar tissue, PT can loosen that up. Your numb arm, don't worry, the nerves will need to heal some more and then the numbness will gradually go away. If you feel "rope-y" in the arm, some women get what is known as "cording" (also "axillary web syndrome) and it is a stiffening of connective tissue in the arm. PT can help this. If the "rope-y" feeling is in your chest, it may be that your internal stitches got encapsulated. This is more a "string of pearls" feeling. PT massage can help that also.
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LorAll, I don't want to alarm you, but in the interest of full disclosure and all that ... my underarm is still numb, and an area on upper/back part of my arm as well. I was told (7 yrs ago) that it would go away in 6 months! When it didn't, they said "oh, by a year" ... when it didn't, I found women in chat and on these boards who said theirs never came back either. It's not usual, but it's not unheard of either. The only time it really bothers me is when I itch from inside and want to scratch myself silly, to no relief!! In the overall scheme of things, and hearing the side effects which some others face over the years, I'm okay with it - I was just very surprised.
Sherry, good luck with your visit hon ... gentle healing hugs to you.
Eli - I keep forgetting to ask - the picture of all the women which is page topper right now - who are they/where is that?
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I still have some large places of numbness too, under arm (both on my side and my arm), upper quadrant of my back, and most of my MX/Rads area. Does anyone else feel like their milk is letting down or have and itching nipple on MX side?
Alot of the time my underarm feels swollen because of the numbness, but really isn't.And Eli I too wondered who that lovely group of women is?
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Don't be too disappointed that the group of women have nothing to do with B/C...I think it was something for the art museum in Seattle. Just looked like a nice group photo to me.
Sorry that some of you still have numbness in the arm, maybe due to having more nodes out than I did? I did have some numbness in my arm but mine resolved in 2-3 mos. I can only wonder what will go numb on me this time around. Uh-oh!
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waving from Gatton . I have decided I am not going to Hell after all ! Thought I was there for a while ! Can't stand this heat today and it is only 3 days into summer ! Hope you are all cool and comfortable !
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LorAll, have you seen a PT yet? The lymphedema PTs tend to have a better sense with this stuff than the docs (in my experience anyway).
A year out, I still have a couple of small areas, one on the back of my arm, and one just behind my armpit, that are half-numb some of the time.
It is, however, much, much better than it was in the first months after surgery. PT helped, as did exercise and, I think, eating well and taking some extra B-vitamins for a while.
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O.K., Who wants to jump into my pockets this morning? I have the first rads and the first installation of my "chemo carry-out." It's not that I need a lot of hand holding. It's just drudgery to troop around to this kind of stuff and it would be more fun if I had a few sistahs to keep me company. Also, remind me to ask my questions about what kind of diet I should be following during these 6 weeks and should I avoid all supplements or what? I hope they have something like that printed up in a handy guideline sheet, but I have a little tablet to jot it down in case they don't.
I have to be on a three hour fast and am drinking some tasty barium for this first rads, but please consume many delicious delights while you are hunkered down in my pockets. When I go up to the rads desk, get ready to grab some caramels out of their big bowl 'cause the pickin's are slim at the MO office (just some mints.)
Here's my fashion for today. I can totally rock this look AND I like tumbleweeds too!
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I could totally ROCK that look too!!! Good cover for no breasts. What is a chemo carry-out?
Here is another balloon buster. I am 4 years out and still numb under my arm where I shave. I have to be very careful when I have the razor in that area as I cannot feel it still!
Anyone with sore arms, please see a PT and ask about LE!!! Stop it early and it maybe will not consume your life....
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Eli, what an adorable dress! We can have a disco party in those pockets.
Barbe, I was told no more shaving of armpits after BMX. I use that cream remover stuff, which stinks.
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Eli: I'm with you this morning. I even promise not to peek when you have to drop your drawers.
All: I still have numbness on the upper outside of my arm from my surgery 6 months ago. It doesn't surprise me. I had my ACL reconstructed on my left knee in 1997, and I still have numbness from that. I had my ACL reconstructed on my right knee in 1993, and there never was any numbness from that surgery. So, it can go either way...
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Wow! So much to catch up on!
First...Whooppee!! Good news on your scan, Eli~.
Welcome to the newbies, hope you are not having too much difficulty sorting through the barrage of information.
I am now 9 years out from dx, and next month will be 9 years since surgery. The back of my arm and my armpit are still numb in most places. Shaving is something I do very carefully. An electric razor usually works best.
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