Feelings about single mastectomy

@anniez1943 My chest wall felt tight and like a rock - hard. I started lymph PT (physical therapy) and what an improvement! The PT said by messaging the surgical area and the area around it, she was loosening adhesions and lessoning scar tissue build up and adhesion etc. The lymph PT was not originally ordered by my breast surgeon but i read about it on FB groups and asked for it. I recommend it. Best to you !

@lin5 You are a dear to help me. I plan to call my surgeon and get a referral for a PT that she uses to help with this darn tightness. This has been the worst of my problems since surgery last August 15, 2024 and the 30 rounds of radiation in December. Bless you forever.

I am 82 years old and quite active. I have a fiance and I would never, at my age, have reconstruction. I have a bra with a prosthesis that works beautifully. I prefer to not have added problems. I am still me, just without one boob. Actually, since bras are a pain to wear, I might have the other boob removed, especially if my surgeon deems necessary for my health. This is my second round of breast cancer. Same breast. Its so much easier and more comfortable to have the prosthesis for a flat chest rather than a small breast to mash in with the prosthesis. We are still beautiful Pink ladies with or without boobs. Blessings to you dear one. Just sharing my thoughts.

@anniez1943 Make sure you to to a physical therapist (PT) who is experienced in lymphatic PT and better yet if they are certified like CTL (Certified Lymphedema Therapist) Good luck!

@lin5 Youre the best! Wrote down PT info for my surgeon.

@anniez1943 agree 100%. I am thankful that I did Not have reconstructive surgery. I did talk to plastic surgeon and got info & decided against more surgery. I did not want to have the additional surgery and Complications! My prosthetic works great. I had single mastectomy when I was 66 years young. @lin5 - I did see a Physical Therapist that specialized in breast cancer patients. I’ve had scar tissue issues, but acupuncture treatments are taking care of that. It truly is a journey but life is always beautiful. Blessings

@sequoia Working on getting appt with Certified Lymphedema Massage Therapist. I will try that first, if that doesn't help, then acupuncture as you tried. Thank you for that information. If I have scar tissue, I'm not aware. I do have the tightness in all of area where mastectomy was performed, and thanks to lin15 (I think that's correct), she suggested the Lymphedema Therapist. I'm truly grateful for you gals and your ideas, which can steer us in the right direction. I love the networking. Blessings to all of you!!!!!!!!!!

@anniez1943 I’m sure the massage therapist will help. I didn’t know about my scar tissue but acupuncture Dr worked with me and I’ve gone from 5-7 days of excruciating muscle pain and spasms to Now ‘some’ days have like an overworked muscle. It was from top of shoulder blade to bottom of rib cage. Trapezius muscle. I take turmeric every day. It makes a difference. Please let us know how your massages go. Blessings to you and all that are on this journey. 🥰🙏🏼

@sequoia Hi Again. I was on Tumeric but since I take Verzenio, 100 mg 2 x a day, I had to stop Tumeric. Contraindication btwn the 2. I'm not happy about that but I want Verzenio to work to the best of its ability to kill any cancer that might be roaming around in my body. OMG, my symptoms are quite like your's. My rib cage is ALWAYS tender to the touch. As though I am bruised from "something". Some areas quite painful. So glad you explained your pain symptoms. TY.

@anniez1943 is Verzenio an AI? I ask, as a friend of mine is taking Anastrozole and found an herb supplement that worked wonders for her pain and stiffness. When she showed the bottle to her doctors, I think two oncologists- they said No, as it contains Turmeric and doesn’t allow the AI to work effectively. I was unaware of this until I research her product and then researched the contradictions of the two.
Just curious, does your rib area get inflamed/sore after you have used your arm? I have to be so careful either the forward reaching (window washing) movement. ((I don’t do windows. 😆)) I also did a food diary for a few weeks. Turns out every time I ate cheese I would have a rib/ shoulder episode. I now am dairy free & has made such a huge difference. You may research inflammatory foods. It’s worth a try. Please stay in touch. We can learn from each other. Blessings.