Dealing with Breast Issues: Before and After

Many of my blog posts come closer to home and deal with emotional recovery and growth; but today I want to touch on something that might be even more personal.

Breast health.

When should a woman (or even sometimes a man) pay more attention to her breast tissue? And at what point is there something to be concerned about? What about how people respond to your choices for your breast health? Here are a few things that can point to an issue with breast tissue, especially if one has dense breast and arm tissue.

1. Trouble with visible veins: these can be a sign of congestion or compression of the vessels and can lead to toxic levels in the lymphatic system.

2. History of mastitis: If you had mastitis when breast feeding your munchkin, you know what it feels like to die a little. Even the antibiotics required are specifically timed. The swelling and inflammation caused some of the most excruciating pain ever, and only the very gentle stimulation of the milk ducts in a very specific way can bring any relief. But what causes the mastitis? Saying "poor care of breast tissue" is a little vague, but concise. Between chapped and cracked nipples getting infected, and too much bra constriction, it is easy to see how mastitis developes. Just not enough proper lymphatic care of the breast tissue. Fighting infection in the breast tissue requires free flow of plasma in and lymph (dirty plasma) out. Even something as simple as wearing tank tops instead of bras can make the difference. There is more benefit than shame in going braless no matter what our parents taught us.

3. Damaged muscle: yes, it happens. In fact, I have a post- preventative-mastectomy client I am currently working with that had some pretty intense trauma to her left breast tissue and it led to the need for surgical drainage from under her implants. Aside from putting in more cadaver tissue or fat transfer to help protect her skin on the outside of her breast, what's a person to do? Shit happens. Which leads me to another scenario-

4. Infection in the breast tissue: It is scary. The redness, fever, and pain are beyond compare. Whether it is infection in an incision or in the ducts, breast tissue is a horrible place for an infection. If you are running a fever after a breast surgery, contact your doctor. It won't take itself away and it will only spread.

5. Abscesses: Occasionally one might feel a pea-sized bump in your arm pit or the breast itself. Get it checked. It could be an abscess or something more serious. Dr. Google will not have all of the answers. Call your doctor. If it is simply an abscess, an antibiotic will do the trick. However, I would advise changing your razor and deodorant as well as doing self massage on your arm and sides of your ribs.

6. Unexplained Rashes: whether it is psoriases, shingles, or stress, a rash on the bra line is stressful. Always wash your hands before and after handling it. When I had shingles at 10 (which my sister gave me after her stress level caused a break out), Dr. Mitra suggested neosporin and frequent airing. It took forever, but it worked. Some rashes are not easily explained, though. I have a post-op client who randomly gets a streaky rash in multiple places all over her body. If it looks like contact dermatitis but you have not done anything new, do a gentle stroking away from the rash. If it goes away, you are looking at something lymphatic. I'd recommend going in for biofeedback to see if there is something internal that is causing a stir.

7. Chording: What is it? I see clients all day every day who have undergone trauma and undergo limited ROM (range of motion) afterwards because something is pulling. Chording and pseudo chording are usually the cause. While recovering from injury or surgery, the lymphatic and integumentary systems are busy carting off dead cells and furnishing nutrients for the healing process. If the capillaries or veins get congested, chording forms- a ropey area that might be painful. If the ropeyness is not vascular but from scar tissue, some gentle S-curve or C-curve massage techniques are in order. DO NOT cross-fiber.

8. Self-image changes: Let's face it- no pair is perfect, with or without tissue issues. No matter the size; shape; spacing; placement; or even nipple size- our boobs can be one of the biggest concerns of a woman's body. But after irregularities, everything we think about our perceived issues can be magnified. We notice every pain; every color change; and every bump. Even the "normal" stuff like the ridge from cadaver tissue that forms the pocket from our implants is strange. The numbness can be hard to get used to and can affect the usual fun stuff. In spite of the lack of control of the situation, some have even said they feel guilty for the changes in their body after treatments for cancer. Negative emotions come with the territory, but you should be able to be PROUD of your body. You are alive and you can still enjoy what is around you without stressing about your body. You are fearfully and wonderfully made, and you deserve to be happy. Find your support, and fly!

9. A change in people's perspective: This is the fresh part for me to write about, because even today I was giving a listening ear to a friend. She fought breast cancer and has been cleared. She underwent treatment and scared her loved ones mindless on multiple levels. This woman was weakened, in pain, and fought through every icy room and every tortured thought. She made choices for recovery that she will see through- but possibly without the loved one beside her that she counted on the most. Why? Because he is afraid she has become too body-focused to accept herself. That is a hard one. You see- no matter what the part of the body that one has to give up for health reasons- being HEALTHY is the goal. Noone diagnosed with cancer CHOOSES their diagnosis, so why punish them. Recovery from treatment is NON-NEGOTIABLE. If a person you counted on choses not to support you, let them go. Sure, it sucks to lose that relationship, but YOUR HEALTH (emotional, spiritual, and physical) is NOT something to compromise just because that person's support is no longer there. If they can not support your goals for YOUR recovery, they have chosen to stop being part of your support. Their perspective could become a problem instead of part of the solution. Getting a skin graft or breast implant or even prosthetic limb can involve tissue rejection and infection, but it is part of the process. How they view your chosen changes is their problem. It's all part of recovery from a treatment that was non-negotiable, so keep what is healthy and let go of that which is not part of the solution.
   

That principle of keeping to the solution and cutting loose that which could compromise your recovery should be the goal. Make the healthy choice and surround yourself with the tools and people you need to become healthy and STAY healthy.