Understanding Lymphedema

Lymphedema is a potential side effect of some surgeries and cancer treatments. It can also occur in childhood, called primary lymphedema, and in these cases is unrelated to a cancer treatment. Preventing and managing lymphedema is key to maintaining the quality oflife you desire and reducing potential infections that can arise from it if left untreated. Lymphedema can occur any time after your cancer treatment, even years later.

It is believed by many that lymphedema is largely undiagnosed and untreated the United States. European therapists have devised most of the existing therapies and many of the products used to treat the condition were developed there. The American Cancer Society reports the risk of upper arm lymphedema after breast cancer treatment is 15-20%.

Early prevention and aggressive treatment can reduce the degree of swelling and complications but Lymphedema is a chronic condition and must be managed throughout a patient's life.

What is Lymphedema?

The Lymphatic system is a network of small vessels that carry lymph fluid through a system of nodes. The nodes filter waste and store white blood cells. The lymphatic system helps fight infections and assists in fluid removal. The protein rich Lymph fluid is comprised of cellular waste. The job of the system is to carry this waste to the nodes for processing. The presence of protein is key in determining whether swelling is due to Lymphedema or another form offluid build up (edema).

The definition of Lymphedema is the "abnormal accumulation of protein rich fluid." If left untreated Lymphedema can cause chronic inflammation and reactive fibrosis of the affected tissue. The swelled limb will feel firm or "woody" to the touch and may feel heavy to the patient.