Hi
Breast cancer survivor of 4 years. No signs of recurrence.
I had full mastectomy with wide margins, delayed reconstruction. They only removed 4 lymph nodes - all were clear. 18 months post mastectomy I had DIEP reconstruction and recovered quite well. Discharged from oncology and plastics for just about 2 years.
I don't have any signs of swelling in my arm. No redness.
I have always removed my wedding, engagement and eternity ring each night and put them on when I leave the house. About a year ago I had occasional tightness when wearing the rings. In March I had to remove them mid morning as my finger was turning a funny colour. Now I can't even get the rings over my knuckle. Bit upset about not being able to wear them.
I lost two and a bit stone since I stopped treatment (a lot of which I'd gained through treatment). My rings fit me even when I was at my heaviest. I've gained back about half a stone, but that shouldn't affect me wearing my rings. Rings still fit on non surgery side.
I have ever changing blotches on my back near the mastectomy sight. The seem like faint red bruises or made up of tiny pin pricks - these patches blanch when pressed. I saw the clinic who said these were not cancer or surgery related but probably pressure sores, even though they were not where my bra was sitting. They also said that I had too few nodes removed to be lymphoedema.
Does anyone have any thoughts? As I say, the symptoms are petty vague and extremely subtle.... maybe they're non existent..... you know how cancer makes you view everything as a symptom!
I've been back to the clinic 3 times in the last year to be checked out, fit it to be nothing. If hate to bother them with something so subtle. Happy if you want to comment
Thank you
Edit: given the progression from occasional tightness to not even being able to put my rings on, will this just continue to get worse? If so is there any point in getting my rings resized? Will I only end up having to resized them again?
Hi Snookie1971
I’m Anne, one of the Community Champions here on the Online Community and, although I don't have any experience with lymphoedema, I noticed that your post hadn't had any replies yet. Responding to you will 'bump' it back to the top of the discussion list again.
You may have already looked at this but Macmillan have information on the signs and symptoms of lymphoedema. You could also post your question in the ask a nurse section of the online community if you don't get any replies here.
Best wishes
"Never regret a day in your life, good days give you happiness, bad days give you experience"
