After having a double mastectomy and chemo,Being off work for six months im going back to work in a week.Im a school custodian with some heavy lifting and physical work.Im around alot of sick kids,do you think my immune system is strong now?Im so afraid i wont be able to do this type of work anymore.Have any of you gone back to work after mastectomies and was able to lift heavy things ok?Are there dissability laws for cancer survivors if they cant do their normal work?....Tammy
Lifting heavy items is a problem for lymphedema. Gail (postal2) worked at a post office and had to give up because of heavy lifting. You could try to go back to work and see how you do, but your doctor should be telling you about heavy lifting. Do you have disability benefits with your job? Many school retirement programs have such insurance. You need to check into everything before you mess up your arms with lymphedema. Also I can't remember if you had reconstruction or not, but if you had tram flap you really don't heal inside for a long time. Breast cancer does not alone qualify you for disability, but other factors can. Hugs MK
Hi Tammy! MK is absolutely right. You need to be very, very careful about the lifting. The lymphodema is not something that will go away. I think that you could probably do the cleaning part but I definitely would check w/ my onco about what you can and can't do. Have him/her write you a letter that you can give to your principal showing your limitations. W/having a double mastectomy and lymph nodes removed, you are a prime candidate for the lymphodema. Please, please be careful. Your immune system will be somewhat compromised for awhile. I know that having my 3 granddaughters living w/ me (2 in grade school) I am careful when they come home sick. Have your onco do a cbc and see how your counts are. You may be ok in that department. Our schools have both a day and evening custodian. Would it be possible for you to work the evening shift? That might preclude your having to lift so many heavy things.
Please let us know what happens.
Hugs..Deb
Post Edited (debbiR) : 9/26/2005 5:07:44 PM (GMT-6)
Do we have an HR specialist on this Board? What about ADA and accomodating you with your job. I, too, have been told not to lift over 20# and I do not believe that I could do it for 8 hours a day. Seems like they might have to taylor a work program to accomodate your "disability".
Hi Kathy! My understanding is that it doesn't matter whether you had 2 or 20 lymph nodes removed. The problem is that the lymphatic system is compromised. As I am sure you are aware, the arm will get very large. If you get lymphodema, then usually you have to wear a sleeve 24/7. There is no way for the fluid to drain if there is an infection. That is why we are told to be sure and wear a glove if doing garden work and keep the arm covered when out in the sun. I was also told to be careful w/ manicures and getting any scratches or bites on the arm. As for the lifiting, my onco told me 10lbs. If your onco is not concerned, then take it upon yourself to get the documentation you need. I can't believe that he hasn't warned you about this.
If you have had a "sentinel node biopsy" you are not as much at risk for lymphodema. However, if you've had an auxilliary node dissection, you are at a greater risk. The reasons may have to do with the number of nodes removed, and with the position of the nodes that were removed (if the nodes higher in the armpit are removed, there is a greater risk). I had 22 nodes removed, but my surgeon and radiologist both feel that the risk of lymphodema is slight. I'm praying that they are right!
ChantryThere are no wrong turnings, only paths we did not know we were meant to take - Guy Gavriel Kay
The only place I have heard about lymphedema is from this website. My doctors have never mentioned it. Maybe it's because I haven't had it - I don't know. I was never advised to cover up my arm or not get scratches. I do know not to have blood taken from that arm and not have blood pressure taken on that arm. Actually, I forgot about that last one. I saw my general practitioner last Wed. and he took my BP on that arm. I didn't think about it until much later.
Your doctor should have a warning on your chart for BP and injections, etc. just as they would for an allergic reaction, so the nurse would instantly see whiich arm to use. No one ever warned me specifically about lymphedema, either. It wasn't until I met some of the women here that I ever saw the results. Believe me, I saw and I learned that it was not something I wanted to deal with. Fortunately so far I have not, but I understand that it could happen at any time. So it is best to stay on the safe side as much as possible. I worked in schools for years. the first seven as a cafeteria supervisor. I lifted 65# USDA hamburger boxes. I lifted cases of #10 cans to put up stock and I know how heavy all that can be. Quite often our custodians helped us when an order came in. Be careful. Hugs MK
I discussed this w/ my chemo nurses yesterday during my treatment. They were amazed that there were so many women that had NOT been educated about lymphodema. My surgeon and onco both told me that I was NEVER to have bp or receive and injection in the arm that the lymph nodes were removed from. There is a great article in the new issue of "COPING" (Sept and Oct) regarding lymphodema on pg. 22.
Hi Ladies,i just heard back from my surgeon and she said i have no restrictions on lifting heavy items.This doesnt sound right because i had 6 lymph nodes taken out.Im waiting to hear from the onc.about his opinion...Tammy
I will be returning back to work on monday. Yikes!! I have no lifting restrictions either. I had 7 lymphnodes removed. I have full range of motions. They way I look at it I never had any muscles cut so figure I should be fine. I will have some lifting but not alot. Good luck going back to work it will we hard for us huh.. at times I can't wait to get back and than other times I wonder if I can do it... skeeter1
To chime in late....my surgeon had told me that it was dependent on what was cut and now how many nodes were removed. In the axillary node dissection, they cut more and deeper, compromising more nerves and tissue. The onc should be concerned, but I would encourage you to talk to the surgeon and the RN about the risks. This is more likely to fall under the surgeon's area than the onc.
Well my onc. said no restrictions on lifting and so did the surgeon.I get this wierd feeling that they dont know what their talking about because everyone i talk to says to be very careful for lympadema.I had muscles and nerves cut and i still have numbness and burning under my arm.I go back to work monday and im so nervous about the heavy lifting.Skeeter good luck to you on monday for your first day back to work....Tammy
Good Morning Tammy and Skeeter: I can't help but be concerned about your not having any restrictions what so ever on lifiting. Here is a suggestion that will perhaps give us all some new info as well as ease your minds. Why not contact a lymphodema group and ask your questions. They are the experts. I would imagine that your onco or local ACS could put you in touch w/ someone. Also, there are lymphodema therapist at most hospitals. They would be able to give you answers also. I believe that it would be worth a phone call.
Have a great day! It is cold here. 42 when we woke up (yesterday it was 72) High today is suppose to be 64 and high yesterday was 81. Go figure. lol..Only in Mo!