All the
recent tests are finally in and everything looks very good. I’m back to doing laser treatments three
times per week to facilitate healing and reduce scar tissue along with
continuing the painful scar tissue release work with my Chiropractor. This is all an effort to be proactive and
reduce my chances of developing lymphedema (fluid retention due to the removal
of lymph nodes). I’m also starting continuing
education work to become certified to treat lymphedema since I have found very
few medical providers have any clue what to do.
We don’t even have anyone certified at Children’s.
Most women
who develop breast cancer related lymphedema (BCRL) will do so within three
years of treatment. Survivors not
developing near-term BCRL sadly retain a lifetime risk. The most recent study that I have found said
that of those who were affected, 80% developed lymphedema within two years and
89% within three years of treatment. And
for those survivors who make it to twenty years post treatment 49% reported
lymphedema. BCRL risk factors seem to be
additive – lucky me- I got the max treatment with chemotherapy, surgery, and
proton radiation.
The bit of
good news that I have found is all of this is that weight lifting has a
protective effect against the development of lymphedema. And if there is one
exercise that I love to do its lift weights.
So since today is photo Friday I did my workout, got good and pumped and
took the weekly photo. And as always, it's not the photo I'm posting. Everyone have a
great Thanksgiving, we love you all.
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| THIS is what lymphedema looks like |
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