Last week, my physical therapist took one look at the swelling in my left hand and sent me to the hospital's breast-cancer support facility. I was fitted with a compression sleeve and glove to help reduce the lymphedema which I now have developed, thanks to the surgery and the radiation.
The compression sleeve and glove are ugly. The packaging depicts smiling young women (who obviously have nothing wrong with them) seeming to delight in wearing these beige wonders. The reality is an old lady who can barely stand to look at herself in the mirror.
Then this week, my underarm area became red and painful… the radiation burn I had been warned might happen. And I still have ten more radiation treatments to go!
The radiation oncologist assured me that the "burn" is not bad by his standards, but told me it might get worse. He wants to see me again tomorrow.
And today I see the physical therapist again—this time for manual lymphatic drainage. This is a massage technique to move fluid to where it can drain. I hope it works.
Meanwhile, my neuropathy and leg cramps continue to be a problem.
Cancer treatment is so hard on the body. I just hope that I can gradually recover from the treatment… and that it has rid me of the disease.
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