after radiation

It's about two months, maybe three?, since I completed my five weeks of radiation for breast cancer.
At the time, it had barely any impact. Not even on my skin initially. "It's your healthiness (sic)," said the radiation oncologist, a non-existence word (I think) which I now love to quote.
Well, two months or whatever it is down the line, the burn marks that did appear below my neck have disappeared but it's still damn itchy there. And even as I sit and write this, on a Friday evening, I have thick white E45 cream on the area (ok, at home, so no-one can see). I did use a cortisone-acqueous cream mix but apparently it thins the skin so doctor would not prescribe any more.
And worse than that, am in pain. Not all the time, but often and it's fairly extreme. Well, it's sore. Under my arm, above my boob, below my upper arm.... and so on.
None at the moment so it's difficult to remember where exactly.
Anyway have decided the only thing to do is to exercise twice a day, 10 minutes a time. I had to beg the radiation practice for those exercises (they are supposed to be post-operative exercises and I did not have any surgery) but need to do them if don't want to have restricted movement. Or so I say, and so do some websites.
The trouble has been that the radiation also caused swelling - funny that I did not mention that earlier in this posting cos it's damn serious - but luckily that is now under control although I am doing lymph drainage massage twice a day, for about 30 minutes a time, plus seeing an expert for it once a week, and it's do time consuming that have not had time to do arm and shoulder exercises, or write much on this blog.
But not complaining. Hell, the massage has become part of my life. Hopefully not forever though. And, as I said earlier, have to now add 10 to it in the morning and night and surely that cannot be too difficult. Ten minutes is after all only 10 minutes, even if it does mean i now have to wake up at 6.20am and not 6.30am on the days I have biokinetics.

beware the stiffening fingers

At first thought I was imagining it. So cancelled the message I had left for the doctor. Then phoned again a day or two later. It's true. My fingers are swelling during the night and at about 5am/6am, my rings are so tight. Then they gradually loosen.
Now going to see a lymph drainage expert on Monday. Been reading on the internet and although the specialist physio (let's call her J) said on the phone it sounds like after she has done one session, I might be able to massage it on my own, and maybe it's just a temporary reaction and good to catch it early and nip it in the bud... blah-blah (I finished radiation only on Monday), I am terrified as it sounds like I have lymphedema.
Also, went shopping today - for clothes - and realised in the dressing room mirror how burnt my skin is. Both on the area below my collarbone in a large section and also below the armpit above where the bra goes. It's deteriorated a lot since Monday.
So so much for not having major side effects. Well, that's one side of it. The other is: have miminal side effects except my fingers feel stiff (was saying earlier, thank goodness I am not a concert pianist) and also, have acted quickly on the swelling. It is so slight it cannot be seen and am seeing specialist person on Monday (only got message on Friday from doctor that I should phone J). so no need to panic yet. I refuse to have lymphedema (if only it were that easy but damnit, I should have been properly briefed re what to do and what to feel.)
more re lymphedema