@@BubbleBurster-nv1vl My apologies, I missed this comment earlier. My hospital gave me Proshield (a barrier cream) near the end of radiation and that was helpful. I used a fragrance-free water based cream that I already had at home throughout treatment before my skin got bad. I didn’t know at the time what other alternatives there were. Had I known I would have used Eucerin, Aquaphor or CeraVe (kit.co/BreastCancerRehab/breast-cancer-creams-for-radiation-post-surgery). I don’t think an SPF will help as a radiation burns aren’t a true sunburn.
I realise that this channel is very much for women and breast scarring issues from surgery, but as a male, who, 47 years ago at age 13, was diagnosed with gynecomastia and had both breast buds removed, I have suffered all that time with scarring issues, almost always on the left side, under and around the nipple... I was young, and am not sure what the operation involved - removal of anything else like lymph nodes or such, although I don't think so...I can feel the gristle and strands under the skin, extending under the pec muscle, around the side to the lat muscle, up into the arm pit, and down over a few ribs below the nipple... I had two theories as to why this one side was always troublesome, but my GP dismisses them, so I just literally bruise myself trying to relieve the feelings I get by applying pressure and rolling the lumps and gristle around - nothing ever shows up on an ultrasound, so I am left in the dark, on my own, outside the system that might otherwise be available to me if I was a female... I thank you for this video, and I will try a few of those techniques - I know I am an outlier (and outsider really to this breast care community) but it is my issue and I will seek to find relief from it everyday... I have had some relief with cupping along and over the scar too - seems to lift it up and help break the adhesions to any other structure or underlying tissues - castor oil is effective in softening the scar tissue and lightening or diminishing the appearance - I mix 1:1 castor oil and almond oil (Vit E) and a couple of drops of essential oil and use that. The castor oil is quite thick, and a little hard to use as a massage oil alone, but applied sparingly regularly even without the massage (like before bed) it seems to continue to work away at the scar tissue... I hope my castor oil tip is useful for others dealing with much bigger scars and adhesions than I am...
@davidking3699 Thanks for your comment and the details. Scar tissue or myofascial type pain never shows up on Ultrasound. Pretty frustrating because then it seems like there’s nothing wrong, even though there definitely is. I do make these videos to pay it forward to other breast cancer thrivers, but they’re also for anyone that can benefit from the information… hopefully that will be you. You didn’t mention about getting any type of hands-on release to the muscles or scars. If you haven’t already, I would definitely consider it as a practitioner will be able to get in there much easier and deeper than you can do on your own, especially given how long you’ve been having issues. Best of luck with your improvement!
Really appreciate your videos. My breast reduction doctor did not give me any instructions for massage and scar pain. I have under arm and under breast incisions and pain. Just a week of watching and doing the massage methods you suggest have really helped my range of motion and definitely reduced the pain and tension. Thank you so much. I highly recommend this.
I have been following your channel since August last year just days after I had my mastectomy with LAT Flap reconstruction. And I learned more from watching your videos than from talking to my doctors who always seem to be in a hurry. Your videos on post-surgery exercises were the ones that helped me gain my range of motion faster. Thanks a lot!!!
Thank you so much for the tutorial, I did not get much information from the doctors office on what to do after surgery. So I talked to my niece( who had implants who sent me your link, Thank God! My implants were put in after my bilateral mastectomy, my surgery was Oct 12 and they are very hard, I know now it is probably scar tissue and what to do. I really appreciate your video! It is an excellent tool for rehab and Thank you again!
You’re most welcome! Consistency is key to see changes especially if your implants feel hard. Doing some of the rehab videos can help with the tension too.
❤thank you so much! I have so much scaring and very uncomfortable. This is my second surgery after breast cancer and am trying to keep up with the pain by massage. Thanks for the new" tools" I can use
Glad you’re finding the new “tools” useful. If you haven’t seen a some of my rehab videos those may help too - ru-vid.com/group/PLALVgJH_QhhhxC3pzZ3JgkhpJhh_g6FCW&si=pj4T2bnhr3I3f1eN. All the best with your recovery.
Hi, Erica, you have an excellent channel and you are an excellent teacher! Every question about a topic I have, you address in your videos in a logical and orderly fashion! I found myself constantly going back to your channel for issues popping up in my recovery. You are a blessing to me!
Wow, thank you for the feedback! It’s actually been quite helpful for my own recovery to pass this information along to other women. I wish someone had told me all of this while I was going through treatment. Wishing you well with your recovery.
Love your video, After my mastectomy for breast cancer two years ago I will be following you My scar has always felt very tight, since using silicone strips it has felt a lot better
I’m glad you found this video. Scar massage will be really helpful for you after DIEP surgery. All the best with your recovery after such a big surgery.
Thank you for all this information as I wasn’t told about massaging so this is hopefully going to help the tightness and discomfort I feel from my double mastectomy
Just trying to do the massage and stretching exercises. Everything just seems so right on the left side and then when it gets tight across the chest the neck starts getting stiff and then the back aches too. Any other stretches you can suggest or massages
@@098horserider Reducing pain and tension will take time. If you haven’t done the rehab exercise series after surgery this can help - ru-vid.com/group/PLALVgJH_QhhhxC3pzZ3JgkhpJhh_g6FCW&si=K4pLDR-cHBzm7HjY. If your resources allow, seeing a physio/massage therapist for some hands-on treatment would help supplement the exercises/stretches.
The electric massage is likely too deep, especially with reduced sensation after breast cancer surgery. They’re quite non-specific too. The hands-on approach really does help! All the best with your recovery.
I do this all the time to keep it up and scar massages still because sometimes I still feel tight because of not moving my arm all the time because of not feeling well because of other reasons
Really helpful! My oncologist told me I should start massage. Unfortunately, I was never very comfortable touching my breasts before my cancer and now I feel a real heebie-jeebieness touching the scar area with the indent from my lumpectomy. Just feels so weird. Not sure how to get over this. Has anyone else had this difficulty? How do you overcome this?
You're definitely not the only one experiencing this - I've heard this from other women too. I was fortunate not to have this issue. I'm used to doing hands-on treatment for my work so I don't view releasing my scar/breast as being any different than releasing my shoulder. But I know this isn't the case for everyone. Baby steps can help. Try a minute of scar massage rather than 5 min. Also try one of the strategies rather than all of them - eg: circular pattern only. I have found that self-massage helps mentally with accepting whatever the new changes are to your breast after surgery. Good luck!
Hi good video. I had a question , but bot sure if you can answer it. Is the scar massage also alowed for other areas ,like ears. Cause i had surgery and radiotherapy there. Thanks in advance. Grtz
Great video and well explained.I have already shared this to my Sutherland Shire breast cancer support group.Thank you for good quality information.Even more powerful since you have been through it yourself and have proffessional qualifications and experience.
Wow you are soo helpful. i know your not a dr. but when we go thru stuff like this we learn. Maybe consider getting a job at a surgeons' office or obgyn's, office because you are so good. I love how you explain how to do the actually massage you show on yr arm. what is "cording"? is cording the scar tissue connecting to other tissue and muscles and pain associated? i am subscribing, to yr channel to help you reach other women thank you for helping us. I am so appreciative of you!
Great question! That's a normal process for scar tissue to fill in there as a response to healing. You can try the same pattern of scar massage on this area as covered in the video.
Hello. I have a few questions, can I complete the massages over a bra or other clothing? Or bare skin only? Also, is it recommended to keep the scars bandaged with medical tape? If so, will creams and massages be as effective? Thanks Kindly
You can do the scar massage over clothes, it just may not be as deep. Your surgeon will determine whether your incisions should be bandaged and for how long. If you’re at the stage where you incisions are bandaged, then it’s likely too early to do scar massage - you want to wait until your incisions are fully closed.
If it were me, I wouldn't use a hand help massager. Becuase your sensation is limited after surgery it will be hard to tell if you're putting too much pressure. Using your fingers will also be more effective.
My breast lumpectomy has a ridge of scar tissue but it don’t hurt. The lump you mentioned in the auxiliary scar is very tender. No cording or lymphedema that I can tell
Same, it’s still helpful to do the massage, I’m one month post op, but I could really feel it when I just had a bone scan that required me to have my arm over my head for 15 minutes. My scar got really sore, when normally it’s numb.
had my silicone implants removed 8 months ago and started fractional laser sessions to improve the scars. Will it help me in improving the shape of the scar?
Yes, massage and cupping will both be helpful. I did massage after my double mastectomy and reconstruction surgery and continue to do maintenance treatment. I did cupping for my scars in addition to doing cupping for cording and radiation fibrosis.
I removed my implants 4 weeks ago due to Breast Implant Illness and went with a flat closure. I still have quite a bit of fluid build up. Would adding the scar massage aid or hinder the healing and fluid absorption? Not sure when I should start. Thanks!
Melissa, I usually wait until 6-8 weeks after surgery for scar massage. Seeing a massage therapist who does lymphatic massage would help with the fluid build up. At this point you could also do general breast massage (the whole chest but not your incisions) to promote movement of the fluid.
Where are you located? I live in So California- I need someone like you to help me! I had bilateral breast cancer - and got lymphedema- surgery in 2019
I’m in Canada! See if your hospital has a list of practitioners that they refer to in the community. I had lymphedema too. It’s on my list of upcoming videos to make.
In general after your incisions are completely healed, which means fully closed. I started around 6-8 weeks after my double mastectomy. Check with your surgeon to see when it’s best for you to start.
Really great video. My doc didnt ask me to massage my scars the one on breast and other in armpit. Can you guide me when should i massage the scars as i am currently undergoing radiation treatment? Secondly the scar in my armpit is numb i dont feel anything but i do feel tenderness on my breast
You’ll want to avoid doing any scar massage during and for a few weeks after radiation until your skin isn’t as irritated. It’s normal to have numbness in your underarm scar.
My scar tissue from lumpectomy and lymph node removal is still painful and restricting mobility almost 4 yrs later, will doing your methods help even now? I have no way to travel to a PT for treatment. So need to do what ever I can at home. Thanks in advance for any information. I also had 35 radiation treatments and now have moderate lymphedema
Lisa - Yes, you can still see benefit even if it's been a few years! Improvement will be slower but it will still be worth the effort. This stretching series will help in addition to the scar massage - ru-vid.com/group/PLALVgJH_Qhhi6FUfIU3Dj7aRrt3hPUcC1
Lisa - you can also work your way through these rehab exercises even though they start after surgery. If you're still having issues 4 yrs post-surgery it would be good to start from the beginning. - ru-vid.com/group/PLALVgJH_QhhhxC3pzZ3JgkhpJhh_g6FCW
Sorry, just saw this comment now. You can try to get in there on your own to work on the scar tissue in that area, but you’ll likely see better results if a massage therapist does it. it’s an awkward area to get into on your own.
