After Treatment

Follow-up Care
You should be visiting your physician a few times over the six months after treatment is over. The primary reason for these follow-up visits is to be sure the cancer is gone—that all the cancer was eliminated, spread to other parts of your body, or that it hasn't recurred.

There also may be side-effects from the treatment that need to be addressed.

Lymphedema
Whenever the normal drainage pattern in the lymph nodes is disturbed or damaged (often during surgery to remove the lymph nodes), swelling of the arm may occur. Radiation and chemotherapy may also cause swelling of the arm. This swelling of the arm, caused by an abnormal collection of too much fluid, is called lymphedema.

When the lymph nodes under the arm have been removed, a woman is at higher risk of lymphedema. Lymphedema may occur immediately following surgery, or months or years later. Not every woman who has a mastectomy will experience lymphedema.

There are several types of lymphedema. The acute, temporary, and mild type of lymphedema occurs within a few days after surgery and usually lasts a short period of time. The acute and more painful type of lymphedema can occur about 4 to 6 weeks following surgery. However, the most common type of lymphedema is slow and painless and may occur 18 to 24 months after surgery.

Education and Support
There are several community programs that help women with breast cancer support, education and advocacy. For more information about these, contact the Clinical Navigator at University Community Hospital's Breast Care Center at (813) 615-7120.

The American Cancer Society
Toll Free: 1-800-ACS-2345
www.cancer.org

Services:

I Can Cope
Look Good … Feel Good
TLC Tender Loving Care
Hope Lodge

Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation
Toll Free: 1-800-462-9273
www.komen.org

National Cancer Institute
Toll Free: 1-800-4-CANCER
www.cancer.gov

Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization
Toll Free:1-800-221-2141
www.networkofstrength.org

Encore Plus Program of the YWCA
www.ywca.org/site/pp.asp?c=djISI6PIKpG&b=297532

National Breast Cancer Coalition
www.stopbreastcancer.org

What's Your Plan?