I was diagnosed with Lymphodema in the breast and underarm two weeks ago. My hospital is a two hour drive from my home.
I was given an A4 page on massage and told to look at YouTube. Having looked at the YouTube massage advice, I see that the A4 sheet I have been given is probably one given to women post-surgery to avoid developing lymphodema, not for women who actually have it, as the affected breast and armpit are not massaged.
I was told I would be contacted at some point by a lymphodoema team, but that it had been removed from my own breast cancer unit and split up, and I could be contacted by another of two hospitals or even a travelling one.
My main problem is finding a suitable bra. Nobody appears to make compression bras. I have tried mail order sports bras (4 so far) without success as the fit is either too large in the cup or because there is no way of adjusting the straps (I'm tall), or because they are difficult to get on and off with a stiff shoulder. The cancer research shop doesn't do bras for lymphodema of the breast, even though 20% to 40% of women who have radiotherapy for breast cancer develop this.
I'm a size 40A and this is an added problem. Some brands do sports bras only up to a size 38 - how weird is that? Most don't do an A cup.
I live in a very rural area, over an hour from the nearest Marks and Spencer or Tesco, etc, so I can't just pop into somewhere and try some on.
I have two more on order. Mark's and Spencer this time. which I'm waiting for. Have you any suggestions, please, because I've no-one to help me.
Many thanks.
