Breast Cancer Surgery..Do attend a Lymphoedema Info Session

Don't know about others but I have never been offered one of these ...

I use my health insurance for most of my cancer treatment. Got a session with the lovely lymphoedema nurse, who told me everything I needed to know. Strangely when I had my surgery for colon cancer under the NHS she was the colorectal nurse who gave me masses of info both pre and post op. She had changed jobs. Xx

Like i wasn't offered this either but i was told there is a lymphoedema clinic if i ever needed it.

Same hospital as but also told an 8-10 week waiting list if I needed the clinic . . . 

Hi 

Sorry but 8 to 10 weeks for lymphedema clinic is cheap. Interesting the name for manure and a type of toilet is changed to cheap! 

In the olden days when they took all the lymph nodes out as routine, waiting time for lymphedema clinic was days! In other words my arms swollen and painfully can I see someone? We have an appointment in two days can you manage till then? If not your BC nurse will visit and teach you how to do massage. Plus she will leave a DVD for you to follow

I know Tenovus have a mobile bus that does information sessions I am sure if you contacted them for information about Lymphoedema they would either tell you about the bus or send you some info on what to look out for and how to reduce chances of getting it. Or there  are also videos online eg www.medic.video/w-lymph

x

I have been shown how to do SLD by the Lymph therapists so doing this daily past weeks and its made a difference while waiting although still in discomfort. I am lucky they are nice and doing their best.  

I was told about the risks of getting lymphoedema before my surgery, but there was no information session. I developed lymphoedema immediately after surgery, surgery on the Tuesday, back to the hospital Friday - 3 days later, with significant lymphedema, so learning how to reduce the chances of getting it was pretty irrelevant in my case. Had instant referral to lymph clinic and got seen a few weeks later, after a bit of faffing about when I phoned to ask why I hadn’t got a letter with an appointment, and they replied saying they’d sent me one (they hadn’t) and were waiting for me to contact them. All sorted in the end though. Now I just ring up if I want an appointment and get one pretty quickly. I guess it varies widely depending on where you live, and the availability of a clinic.

Sorry to hear you have also got Lymphoedema. Glad you got an appointment so quickly and the waiting isnt so bad where you live. As you say they do their best but waiting lists are long in many areas. NHS cuts and under funding. 

Hi pat2

Hate to say this but waiting for an appointment for weeks really isn't good enough. Sometimes it is necessary to throw a few chairs around. Lymphedema is painful and life changing at its worst. It's also demoralizing  and depressing.

However nice they are you need it sorting.