Making the Most of It:
New symptom management program helps patients get back to their lives, con't.
Melissa Kenney
Goals: Relieve depression, reduce pain, improve mobility, lessen
fatigue
Before surgery for breast cancer last November, Melissa Kenney
played softball, golfed and bowled. She was an active 32-year-old.
But Kenney developed blood clots after surgery. Although they
were successfully treated, she continued to experience swelling
and shooting pains from her neck down into her arm. Doctors
prescribed Vicodin, but were hesitant to refer her to physical
therapy because of her high risk for clots.
"I kept thinking I should be feeling better. I thought, 'I'm 32;
I can't live like this,'" Kenney said. "I know it takes time, but it's
so hard to go from being able to do everything to being able to do nothing."
Kenney was referred to the Symptom Management & Supportive
Care Clinic, where she received a new prescription for a stronger
pain medication -- which has been more successful in relieving her
pain. The team suggested she track in a diary when her pain worsened
so that they could help to fine-tune her medication regimen.
The team also referred Kenney to a physical therapist trained
to manage lymphedema, the condition causing Kenney's symptoms.
The therapist showed Kenney exercises to help improve her range
of motion and re-fit a compression sleeve that began to loosen as
her arm circumference shrank two centimeters.
Kenney also met with social worker Claire Casselman to help
manage emotions that were starting to become overwhelming.
Casselman encouraged her to expand her journaling to include
her feelings.
"I thought I could handle things on my own because I'm a
strong person," Kenney said. "But it's nice to talk to someone who's
not a family member or a friend who will say, 'I know,' or try to
console you. You think that you're not supposed to have bad days
once the pain is under control. But it was great to talk with
someone who said, 'Well, yeah, you're allowed to feel like that and
you're not crazy.'"
Visit the Symptom Management
& Supportive Care Clinic's web page.
To make an appointment in the Symptom Management & Supportive Care Clinic, call 734-232-6366.
