As of today, I have 5 more radiation treatments - hallelujah! On Friday, I will have undergone 25 radiation treatments. Although radiation has been "easier" on me than chemotherapy, it has still been VERY difficult and painful.
When I started this blog, at the beginning of my cancer treatments, it's purpose was to be educational. As awkward as it is, here is a photo of my breasts from last week (it's worse this week). As you can see, I have extreme swelling from the lymphedema in both breasts, I have an extreme sunburn from the radiation and I also have extreme brusing under my left armpit. I also have trouble swallowing, at times, also because of the radiation - making it feel like I am swallowing glass. I am also pretty exhausted. There are days that I could sleep ALL DAY!
You've probably heard of women having lymphedema in their arm due to breast cancer treatments. I am the rare example of a woman having lymphedema in the breast. Lymphedema is a potential side effect of breast cancer surgery and radiation therapy that can appear in some people during the months or even years after treatment ends. Basically, lymph is a thin, clear fluid that circulates throughout the body to remove wastes, bacteria, and other substances from tissues. Because of my breast surgery, I had many lymph nodes removed from under the arm. The lymph nodes they removed, had a primary function of removing "bad things" from my tissues. Radiation is now cutting off and/or damaging some of the remaining nodes and vessels through which lymph moves. Over the last few weeks, the radiation has overwhelmed the remaining lymph pathways, resulting in a backup of fluid in my left breast. The lymph fluid is also finding its way off to right breast because my body doesn't know what to do with it. To help alleviate this situation I see a lymphedema therapist that uses special massage techniques to move fluid into working lymph nodes. This type of therapy isn't going to work overnight and I have do the massage techniques 1-2 times a day at home but we are trying to "retrain" the body to take the lymph fluid to different pathways to get out of my body.
Before a few weeks ago - I never thought of my lymph fluid or the effects of radiation and now I pretty much think of it 80% of my day and wish there was an easier process. I am in constant pain because of radiation but people can't tell because I try to put a smile on my face and live a "normal" life. I'm being strong and courageous amidst the pain of radiation.
On a positive note, my hair is regrowing! I've got a punk look and it's so easy to take care of! My eyebrows are s...l...o...w..l...y regrowing but I've had some eyelashes fall out (bummer). Also, after a deer totaled our car last month, we think we have found our replacement car. We were blessed to have 20 people at our house for Thanksgiving and are now looking forward to celebrating Jesus' birth during this Christmas season. God's blessings to each of you.
Hugs from Wichita Kansas my sweet friend and fellow PW! Love you girly. Those kiddos are so blessed to have you as their momma and Dan very blessed to have you as his partner in crime/ I mean ministry. God has such big plans for you.... your mess Him message... your trial His triumph... your vice His victory! To Him be the glory!
ReplyDeleteI can only imagine how painful and distressing the lymphedema must be, from a much milder experience when I had first started nursing, and from one day to the next had overstimulated and changed three bra sizes. Your situation is of course much more psychologically upsetting (and I already wasn't happy with this surprise).
ReplyDeleteI hope that the massage shows its effects earlier rather than later - but it really does work. Apparently, if unpleasant, compression therapy in addition might help once the worst swelling goes down, in order to maintain the better state, as does of course trying to keep your salt intake as low as you can and drinking more water than you want.
Do you know if you can use something like Osmogel? It's a topical gel for swelling and tissue infiltration whose principal components are lidocaine, for the discomfort, and magnesium sulfate, for the swelling. I had to goop it on under compressive bandages for a few weeks when I had sprained my ankle. I don't know if it's appropriate in post-chemotherapy, but it's a major component of Epsom bath salt. On the other hand, the evidence isn't really there that magnesium sulfate can draw water out through the skin. If you'd like a chuckle, read this person's attempt to find out whether or not a bath with Epsom salt really can help, and don't miss footnote 31. https://www.painscience.com/articles/epsom-salts.php
Finally, a thought about that warm bath with or without Epsom salts - perhaps it's not a bad idea, but from a different perspective - with the capillary dilation, perhaps a massage after the bath would be an effective way to mobilize the lymph back into the collecting ducts? Of course, it might backfire if more liquid comes out of those capillaries into the tissue than can be worked back in.
Just wanted you to know I was thinking of you.