Lymphedema in the chest wall

Posted by katrina123 @katrina123, Sep 2, 2020

I just got back from my oncologists office and I found out that I have lymphedema in my chest wall. I was surprised because I had always thought that breast radiation lymphedema was only in your arm. I will be starting physical therapy shortly.

I was just wondering if any of you have had this and I was curious as to what your symptoms were and what treatment was used to get rid of it. I would really like to hear from anyone who has gone through this.
Thanks
Katrina123

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thseabreze | @thseabreze | 4 days ago

Katrina. What was done for your lymph in the chest wall? I believe thats what I have. What typeDr diagnosed you with it?

anatomary | @anatomary | 3 days ago

I haven't had treatment yet, but I had a visit with a lymphedema OT/PT to learn about lymphedema and how to control it before I have a bilateral mastectomy. They also did LDEX reading and took baseline measurements on my arms - and my thorax/chest. There's does seem to be a focus on our arms because our breast tissue extends into the axilla (armpit) but since it all drains back to the thorax, it makes sense that we could get lymphedema there too. That's probably why they took a measurement of my chest. The pre-surgery exercises I was given seem to focus on the arms but they also gave me a couple of neck ones to move lymph toward the chest and some abdominal ones to move fluid toward my center/belly button. I would be interested to know more about treatment for lymphedema as well.

I'm curious, and if you don't mind answering, were you given an lymphedema exercises to do before your procedures?