Eileen was a six-year breast cancer survivor, and she knew what I needed. Before I had surgery, she brought me a little pillow – a sweet little 8" x 11" yellow gingham pillow – and it just fit under my arm. Through the next year of treatment, I hung on to that pillow, and it went everywhere with me – to the clinic, to the hospital, on short trips, to church, and certainly to bed! The little pillow gave me comfort and reminded me that someone cared about my breast cancer journey. Here are 10 ways to use those little pillows!
1. Safety Belt Pillow
Illustration © Pam Stephan
After a lumpectomy, mastectomy, breast reconstruction, or cardiac surgery, your chest area will be tender anywhere you have incisions. Use a small square or rectangular pillow to place between you and that upper-body seat belt. This comfort pillow will protect you from chafing, and will distribute the pressure on your chest. Add a Velcro loop on one side of the pillow, if you want to secure it to the seat belt while you travel in the car.
2. Armpit Comfort Pillow
Illustration © Pam Stephan
Your lymph node status is important – and will be determined by a sentinel node biopsy or an axillary lymph node dissection. Those procedures, while critical to your diagnosis and staging, leave tender scars in an area where you have plenty of nerves. Having a little pillow between your arm and chest can ease the pain of axillary and mastectomy incisions. Use a rounded or rectangular pillow to cushion your armpit area. You can add a shoulder strap to this pillow, so you don't have to carry it all the time.
3. Arm Rest Pillow
Illustration © Pam Stephan
These are often called chemo, bar, or bone pillows, may be used several ways. If you're going to be sitting still for a long chemo infusion, it can ease your arm to rest it on one of these forearm pillows. You could also use this pillow while lying down, to support your arm over your chest. Elevating your arm while resting may ease lymphedema symptoms. Use a bar-shaped pillow under your neck while resting or traveling, to ease muscle strain.
4. Breast Support Pillow
Illustration © Pam Stephan
After a lumpectomy or breast reconstruction, your breast may feel very tender. Having breast surgery changes the balance of weight on your chest muscles. Until you adjust to your new architecture, you might like to use a crest-shaped pillow to support your breast or your reconstruction, until the incisions heal and your muscles adjust. You can also use a crest-shaped pillow to comfort any underarm incisions.
5. Between Breasts
When you've had any kind of breast surgery, your balance changes, and you really feel that change on your chest. If you sleep on your side, the weight of your breasts on your chest muscles may feel different than it did before surgery. I found that tucking a small rectangular pillow between my reconstructed breast and my healthy breast while I slept helped relieve the muscles being expanded for my breast implant. You'll gradually get used to your new balance, but that little pillow sure helps you get through that transition.6. Knee Pillow
Just adding a little pillow between your knees as you sleep on your side can ease your lower back. When your back is comfortable, you'll too and turn less, and may get to sleep faster. Try using a square or rectangular comfort pillow for your knee pillow. Having some space between your knees might even make sleeping a little cooler when a hot flash hits.7. Neck Pillow
There are so many shapes for neck pillows! These come in bolsters, wrap-arounds, contoured, and even U-shaped pillows. Find or make one that works for you – a good neck pillow should make sitting and sleeping more comfortable for your neck and shoulders. If you're going to be sitting for a chemo treatment for more than an hour, or resting on your back for a good while, use a neck pillow to keep your head, neck and shoulders properly lined up.8. Lower Back
Illustration © Pam Stephan
Here's another place to tuck that little rectangular comfort pillow – behind your lower back! When you're going to sit or ride for a while, having a little pillow between your waist and the chair will ease, and may prevent back tension and muscle strain. When your lower back is properly aligned, you can avoid leg pain (sciatica) from sitting down for long periods.
9. Comfy Seat Cushion
Illustration © Pam Stephan
Sit on a donut pillow if you have pain on your tailbone (coccyx). The donut hole allows the bottom of your spine to avoid pressure. This little round, hollowed pillow is also good to use if you're having hemorrhoid pain as a side effect of chemo-induced constipation. Donut pillows are even good for hip pain, anal pain, and prostate inflammation. If you have a solid cover for your donut pillow, nobody else will even guess that it has a special purpose!
