The "C Team"

Having cancer means seeing a lot of medical professionals. The past week has involved a second visit to the physical therapist and appointments with the radiation oncologist, the surgeon, and the naturopath. 

During my second PT visit, I received targeted massage on my arm, and was taken to the medical-supply shop to be fitted with a "compression bra." This is easily the ugliest piece of underwear I have ever owned, but it supposedly will help reduce a fluid-filled area in my breast that could cause problems with radiation therapy.

When I met with the radiation oncologist this week, I learned that area is called a "seroma," which for some reason triggered the memory of the song "My Sharona," which is actually kind of a creepy song… but I digress.

The physical therapy has helped a lot with restoring the range of motion of my left arm and reducing the slight swelling. The exercises that I do four times a day are deceptively simple and cause no pain… but they are evidently quite effective. I also have been using the elliptical machine in our apartment building's fitness room. Because there is a little TV on the equipment, I get to watch reruns of "Law and Order," cooking competitions, and sometimes even the news… which is my least favorite show.

Anyway, the radiologist and surgeon decided to delay my "simulation" (radiation planning session) until next week to give the seroma more time to shrink.

It is interesting that in all the talk of radiation treatment, there has been little information volunteered about the long-term effects. The naturopath told me that since my tissues are basically "cooked" during the process, cording, lymphedema, and loss of range of motion can be a problem weeks or months afterward. The best defense against this is exercise to keep the lymph system moving. So it looks like I will be spending a lot more time watching TV in the fitness room.