It’s been a busy two weeks post-surgery. They say “rest and recuperate” and then give you a shit ton of appointments to attend. My first outing in the car back to Malaga felt like a gym workout.
Firstly, let’s talk about Derek the Drainage bag. He wasn’t a particularly welcome house guest. Quite frankly he was annoying, a bit clingy, got in the way, and kept me up all hours. Crunch came after I’d snagged him on my kitchen door handles a couple of times and he started malfunctioning so after an impromptu trip back to the hospital it was deemed he had served his purpose and it was time to cut him loose. Adios Derek I hope we never meet again.
My friend Lisa was disappointed. She suggested I acted suspiciously in the supermarket so the security guard would think I was shoplifting and check my tote bag – only to be faced with a container of my bodily fluids. Tah-Dahhh sucker!
So how am I healing I hear you ask? Well, my right boob feels like it’s been pummelled by Tyson. Wearing a sports bra is a must at the moment as ‘floppage’ when you turn over in bed can be a tad painful unless managed correctly. It’s like flinging a carrier bag of shopping onto the countertop, but forgetting you’d bought a few kilos of spuds hidden at the bottom of the bag. The armpit area is equally as tender, although mobility is slowly returning even if the top shelf is still out of reach.
On the plus side during yesterday’s appointment, the surgeon said they had managed to scoop out all of the nasty tumours during the op although radiotherapy is a must to ‘hoover’ up anything still lingering.
A friend once said: “Take the small wins” and this is absolutely a win. And a relief. But equally the operation stage also feels deflating. It’s like going on holiday to the Bahamas at an all-inclusive 5- star resort. Only to find out it’s hurricane season and the roof blows off.
If the side effects of chemo weren’t damaging enough to deal with, the fact they whipped out all my lymph nodes during surgery means I am a prime candidate for lymphedema.
Cancer – the gift that keeps on giving.
In the space of two weeks I have had three appointments with a new rehab/physio department in Malaga that was set up a year ago to help patients with lymphedema after breast cancer – this has involved an informative talk and a demonstration of exercises for arm/shoulder mobility and strengthening.
For those who don’t know, breast cancer treatment is one of the most significant causes of lymphedema and is often called ‘cancer’s dirty little secret’ due to the fact it can still often be a sudden side effect that patients aren’t really warned about.
Basically, as the cells in our body create waste, these are shuttled along the lymphatic system, which is a network of narrow tubes draining fluid from around the body. The fluid is then processed by the lymph nodes which act as the recycling plant clearing out the rubbish.
When the lymph nodes are compromised (blocked, damaged or removed) it’s like the bin men have gone on strike and the rubbish starts piling up. This can cause a chain reaction of problems from swelling to infections.
The main lymphatic nodes are located in our armpits (axillary) and groin area (inguinal) and if you divide your body into four quarters down the centre and then left to right at the belly button then each cluster of nodes serves their corresponding quarter.
So the right armpit covers the right arm, right back, right chest areas etc. Not only can the removal of some lymph nodes affect the lymphatic drainage process but scar tissue from surgeries can block the route like a fallen tree across a river and let’s not get started on the damage radiotherapy will also cause…
As I have had all my lymph nodes removed in my right armpit I am at the front of the queue to develop lymphedema and as such I am now a key guinea pig and part of a rehabilitation programme which will monitor and treat me for the next 6 months. A one-on-one session this morning involved an evaluation of my current state of play and then brutal physio on my arm.
I see a love-hate relationship developing with this lady. Wanted to hug her for helping alleviate some tightness in my arm but punch her on the nose for the pain in doing so.
Saunas are a no-go and it’s advisable to avoid extreme heat or cold. How I laughed at that one and the prospect of long Spanish summers.
To avoid inflammation or infections I also have to be careful of bites, scratches or cuts in that ‘quarter’. Basically, if there’s an incoming insect invasion I must offer it my left side or it can feast freely on my legs.
I now feel the need to create some kind of Avenger-style protective body armour for my right top quarter and rename myself something like Lympho-Girl (not to be confused with a similarly sounding name that conjures up entirely different images I am sure).
two steps freelance 