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The area that the radiation targets can be different depending on the case but it's typically done in the axilla area.

Thank you!!! I appreciate your comment.

I’m not exactly sure what you mean when you said “part of my prior breasts were kept for later“ I’m also curious if your expanders are over or under the muscle. I did have discomfort on my sides, but definitely not the intensity that you’re describing. I started getting treatment pretty quickly (at one week post-surgery) and realized how much of the pain that I was experiencing was compensation related. There was so much tension in all of the surrounding muscles so any pain that I was experiencing wasn’t just from the incisions or what was done in surgery. If you have the resources, it would be helpful to have an assessment and then treatment from someone who works with breast cancer patients. This could be a physiotherapist or massage therapist. I’m not sure if you saw my other video on tips to reduce pain with tissue expanders - ruclips.net/video/HiLAdzp_oOo/видео.html. Give these strategies a go and see which ones work best to settle things down. You’ll notice that movement is a common theme for the strategies. Since your medical team doesn’t have any concerns about you transitioning back to bed, you can take a more active approach. You definitely don’t need to wait until your exchange surgery to sleep in bed again! Hope that helps.

Did you see the full length video for cording strategies? - ruclips.net/video/fQvS8T9ICdI/видео.html. You could do the self-massage of the cord and focus on shoulder motion within the limits of your surgeon’s recommendation for this stage. Once you get clearance (few weeks?) you could add in the nerve glides, scar massage, and deeper stretches.

Love this…keep it up!

You’re welcome. Wishing you well with your upcoming surgery and the rest of your treatment. One step at a time!

@@breast-cancer-rehab Thank you!

@@breast-cancer-rehab Thank you!

Great, definitely give it a try. Thanks for watching!

Yes, it’s definitely easier to make decisions in retrospect! With DCIS a mastectomy would have changed the need for radiation. My cancer was stage 2 so I ended up having radiation even though I had a mastectomy. I didn’t really know what to expect with radiation fibrosis and the symptoms can be significant both short-term and long-term, which I’m assuming you’re experiencing.

You're welcome! Hope it helps.

You can do either. When you’re treating yourself it can sometimes be easier to go directly on your skin but it’s really personal preference. That’s great that you’ve been doing the other routine!

You’re most welcome! Hope it helps.

Good question! I don’t yet. I’ve been thinking about doing a video on strength training. Are you looking for a follow-along video (High Intensity Resistance Training for those reading the comments) or one that simply reviews what exercises to focus on for strength? I wasn’t sure how to do a video accommodating for all the different ranges of experience using weights. Given that you’re on an AI, my recent video on rucking for improving bone density would be a good one to watch and try - ruclips.net/video/Pmjnyj1CYtU/видео.html

@ I would love to see a 30-40 minute follow along video . I am fit, body aware, workout and move 6 days a week mostly I do moderate weights12-15 lb dumbbells, 25 lb kettlebell, 39lb barbells. I follow a RUclips- Heather Robertson. She has HIIT but I’m wanting to target my potential bone loss of 10-13% on Letrozole. I read about the Liftmor study and realize I need to go heavier, I did watch your video on rucking strapping a weighted backpack, I love the vest! Anything that you put out is So helpful, I’ve followed you since my diagnosis. Thank you for all you do. 🙏🏻🩷

@loriswan2556 I just realized you already commented on the rucking video! Thanks for the additional information regarding strength training. You’re right, it’s definitely beneficial to be lifting heavier weights. I may need to do a video on how to properly do the movements for those starting out weightlifting and then a separate follow along video.

Glad it was helpful!

So weird right! Curious if you were already lifting weights before your cording flared or are the weights are new?

@breast-cancer-rehab I've been lifting for about 3 years so not new but I have been going heavier the last few months and I think I must have tweaked something. I train with several professional coaches that have physio and strength and conditioning backgrounds and none of them have ever heard of cording which is so frustrating!

Thanks for the additional info. I had no idea what cording was before I had it. None of my colleagues at my clinic knew either. You often hear more from your medical team about lymphedema (which is common too) but not many talk about cording. Hope yours resolves quickly!

I’m here because I’m 16 months post surgery / treatment and I just developed cording and it correlates w me starting to lift heavier weights !!!! I was fine when I was doing dumbbells up to 8 lbs once I transitioned to 10-12 lbs the issues started !! The side of my breast and arm lit are so uncomfortable now. I had graduated from PT back in August so this is all new ( November ) .

Thanks for sharing! Try the strategies in the video and see what works best for you.

Glad it was helpful!

You're very welcome!

Yes, implants are an option if you require radiation. It's helpful that you already have tissue expanders as the issue with radiation is that you can't really stretch radiated skin. Good luck! Not sure if you watched any of the cording videos yet, but here's the playlist - ruclips.net/p/PLALVgJH_QhhifRJsWokB1kyuqT7ekD22D&si=ze7QgVldszeRDe7H

That’s great you got the stretching guide - hope it helps! Yes, I do weight training as a part of my maintenance program. I do CrossFit 5x per week. I was going to do a video at some point on strength training after breast cancer. To get an idea of some of the things that I do I made 2 videos of the exercises that I did after my double mastectomy - (0-6 weeks) ruclips.net/video/t8bCo8OFSTk/видео.html; (7-12 weeks) ruclips.net/video/OCvYl-llJ0o/видео.html. I’ve increased the weights significantly since then but it gives a general idea. I’ve heard other women say the same thing after flat closure - that their body contour looks different with different proportions post-mastectomy. Doing more strength training will help with body weight and changing your chest/shoulder contour.

@ Thank you for your input! Sounds like I’m on the right path! You definitely lift more than I would ever have thought of lifting! Kudos! Additionally, I never did Cross-Fit! I had the opportunity when I was n the military, but it looked like more of a “time commitment” requirement that I just didn’t have at the time! However, I have consistently done free weights, weight machines, TRX, resistance bands, which I incorporate into my cardio (tennis, cycling, golfing-riding & walking, and running-3 to 5 miles at one to two times/week). Nevertheless, looks like I need to add barbells now to my workout equation! Lastly, I must commend you for documenting your journey! I have “sort of” been documenting my journey, but not to your detail. I’ll follow your lead on this because I now see benefits, particularly for “looking in the rearview mirror” i.e., accomplishments, change up of workout routines (what’s worked vs what hasn’t worked). By the way, I’m 69 yrs old, and realize that working out is now a “forever regimen!” Do you think as you age that you will change your workout routine? Thanks again! Scipia

Scipia, it sounds like you’re doing lots of the right things! Every decade that we’re older weightlifting becomes even more important. You don’t necessarily need to workout with a barbell, dumbbells work great too. I do think that my routine will change overtime. I already make some modifications post-surgery and radiation to some of the movements we do in CrossFit. You’re right, I documented my journey in quite a bit of detail. The ironic thing is that I never planned on sharing it!

The majority of the radiation beams are directed from the front. In my case (not sure for others) there was also a small amount of radiation directed from back to front. It targeted the "supraclavicular lymph nodes". Hope that helps!

I was able to do most things with exercise too when I had tissue expanders. I had a similar size (275cc). All the best with your exchange surgery!

Thanks for sharing. It's interesting that we can have such different experiences. I would ask your surgeon if you would expect that same movement with implants or if there's something they do to reduce the movement.

I don't see why these exercises wouldn't apply to your situation. Self-care can help SO much with your recovery. This playlist includes more rehab exercise videos - ruclips.net/p/PLALVgJH_QhhhxC3pzZ3JgkhpJhh_g6FCW&si=pj4T2bnhr3I3f1eN

Thank you so much . I’m so pleased to have found your useful and informative videos . I’m all about self care and otherwise wouldn’t have realized I needed extra work on this area . Thank you

Pls explain more about how you're using K-tape for your implant. I'm curious and I'm sure others reading the comments are too.

@@breast-cancer-rehab I put the anchor to the middle of my chest, but so itdoesn’t show, and then I move the implant more toward the center of my chest and pull the strips over it almost to my axilla. If it’s summertime, I give it a little dusting of cornstarch and put on a soft cup bra to absorb sweat and help the tape stay in place. I hope this helps someone.

@tracy3812 Thx for clarifying - that’s exactly what I thought you meant. Curious if your implants are over or under the muscle? And, was your implant sitting more to the outside since surgery or it migrated gradually over time? Answer only what you feel comfortable with!

@@breast-cancer-rehab they are on the muscle & went in at time of mastectomy. The (R) implant has migrated bec I had 27 lymph nodes removed on (R). Eventually, the surgeon will put in a collagen “wall” to keep it in place. I think it’s also encapsulated again.

@tracy3812 Makes sense. Thanks for sharing!

Glad it was helpful!

You can start anytime after your skin heals from radiation.

Much appreciated! Hope the strategies help.

thank you so much!

Thanks for sharing!

I’m glad the video was so helpful! All the best with the rest of your radiation.

I didn’t have this, but I’ve heard other women describe this.

Wow, that’s amazing that you can see such a difference with radiation!