Post-surgery resources

March 22nd, 2007

This page will house absolutely everything we’ve found to be useful after mastectomy. I’m particularly hoping to find exercises just for bilateral, since I haven’t yet.

Thanks to embrook for her fantastic web-scouring! She found some awesome links for managing pain, stiffness, swelling, etc. after breast cancer surgery.

from Cancer.org
from Oncolink
and I saved the best one for last: from Cancer.ca

More on all of that: here’s what my various medical robots (I mean, doctors) have told me.
1. Post-surgical swelling is different from lymphedema and from seromas. Post-surgical swelling can take 8 months, 10 months, or even a year to go away.
2. True lymphedema requires following the rules about physical activity, no matter how annoying they are. The alternative is annoying swollenness. So, the big rule: if you’re tired, stop whatever you’re doing. Right now.
3. It doesn’t really matter what you put on scars, as long as you put something on them. Vitamin E cream, pyncnogenol cream, mederma, etc….the whole idea is to keep the scars moist and flexible.
4. Pulleys are your friend for regaining your reach, and breaking up your scar tissue (Doesn’t this sound like you don’t want it to happen? You’d think: no! My scars are holding me together, what are you talking about? But actually scarring can be thicker and tighter than it needs to be, and certain, supervised exercises can help you heal up and feel flexible again.
5. Ask your doctor, RN, etc. about all of this stuff. While I’m a mouthy surgery veteran, I’m no doctor, and don’t claim to know what they do. If you’re ever in doubt about the care you’re in, try emailing one of the major cancer centers (M.D.Anderson, and Johns-Hopkins are my first choices)…they can let you know if you should seek a second opinion, or even if you should get your butt on a plane or bus and get a second opinion from them.

That’s it from me. As always, comment if you’re curious about upcoming breast cancer or thyroid cancer surgery or treatment stuff, one of us will be able to give you some info to get you started on a helpful web search, etc.