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Lymphedema in the chest wall

Breast Cancer | Last Active: Dec 7, 2022 | Replies (27)
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@katrina123

jdriver,
Oh my gosh you have had this for seven years. I am so sorry that you have endured this for so long. I had a lumpectomy but I didn't have my lymph nodes removed but they were radiated. It sounds like ours might be similar. My arm is not swollen but I have some swelling in my breast and terrible pain in my chest wall. It hurts to lift my arm and I finished radiation in the end of April. I will have an ultrasound and a mammogram in a few weeks to make sure that nothing else is going on.

I have a difficult question to ask. Have your doctors said that the lymphedema is permanent?

Thanks for all of the information. I am appreciative that there is a place I can go to ask questions.
Katrina123

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Replies to "jdriver, Oh my gosh you have had this for seven years. I am so sorry that..."
jdriver | @jdriver | Sep 3, 2020

Let me make clear that this has not been a constant problem for 7 years ! Initially right after I finished radiation it got pretty bad and very painful. After I did lymphedema clinic it got much better very quickly. I have flare ups especially when I over use my arm as in yard work etc. I would say that I go weeks w/o any problems at all and then there will be a spell of discomfort but nothing like I experienced at first. Have learned to notice symptoms early on and get back to self massage and using my lymphepress machine. Usually clears up again in a day or so. BTW my insurance covered most of the expense for my machine. BCBS You might look in to that. Has been a life saver for me. Takes about an hour and I usually go to sleep, lol

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jdriver | @jdriver | Sep 3, 2020

So this is what my lymphepress looks like. I only have the problem on my left side. It is very comfortable and I usually watch tv while I do this. Takes about an hour. Hope this explains better.
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