If you have had surgery for removal of lymph nodes in the armpit (in conjunction with mastectomy or lumpectomy), then you may develop some degree of lymphedema. Irradiation of axillary lymph nodes and chemotherapy may increase this risk.
If you have after treatment for breast cancer do not have lymphedema, it means that your body is yet to cope with the pressure he feels. However, in any case, it is very important to avoid the causes of which are described below.
Researchers argue about what percentage of the risk that after treatment for breast cancer lymphedema occurs in the patient. According to some estimates, this risk may reach between 5 - 10% and even reach up to 25%. The more interventions you have had, the higher the risk of lymphedema.
The risk of developing lymphedema after mastectomy is the same as after lumpectomy and radiation after irradiation of the breast.
One of the "innovations" in the method of removal of lymph nodes in cancer surgery is the removal of so-called signaling nodes. This method is an alternative to standard axillary lymphadenectomy. It is believed that this operation is to avoid serious side effects inherent in the traditional technique of removing the lymph nodes. Unfortunately, this type of intervention is not indicated for all patients suffering from breast cancer. With this technique, the surgeon removes only those nodes that are truly amazed. This avoids damage to the whole and healthy lymph vessels, and thus greatly reduce the risk of developing lymphedema.
In some cases there may be an increased risk of developing lymphedema.
Factors influencing this:
Too much weight the patient. At the same time limited the rate of outflow of lymph from the arm area.
Abuse of smoking.
Diabetes mellitus.
Any conditions under which a disturbed blood circulation and lymph flow in the upper limbs.
Surgical interventions in the armpit area to treat cancer.
Lymphedema can occur a week after surgery or years later. trigger it could be trauma, infection of the hand, or it can develop without any obvious reason.
The main impetus for the development of lymphedema can serve:
Injury to soft tissue hand (skin, muscles), which leads to infection. These include all kinds of scratches, abrasions, insect bites, sunburn, cracked skin due to dryness, cuts, etc.
Weight gain after breast cancer treatment. This may worsen the conditions of the microcirculation in the soft tissues.
Fever. At high temperatures, marked dilation of blood vessels, resulting in a greater flow of fluid in the soft tissue and increases the risk of edema.
Thrombosis. Blood clot in a vein in the armpit area may cause the outflow of blood from the upper extremity, which is accompanied by the appearance of edema.
Long flights in an airplane. This factor is very rarely the cause of lymphedema. In this case it is due to pressure drops during the flight.
Lymphedema is a different effect on the patient's emotional state. For some women, this condition negatively affects their mood. They see themselves as it were flawed. Moreover, in order to lymphedema, if possible, passed, you must constantly take care of this by hand. It takes time, new capabilities. Lymphedema is not something dangerous or fatal. It is not cancer, it is only a side effect of his treatment. However, the disease affects your self-esteem, the daily activity on the choice of clothing and constantly reminds you of the illness that you suffered. The hand is heavy, and it seems to be no longer yours.
When lymphedema arm may ache a little. It can be arching pain, or as if a feeling of heaviness in her, or discomfort. Your friends or acquaintances may ask you what happened to your hand. A hand injury leads to additional complications.
In most cases, lymphedema does not cause such a pronounced discomfort. But, if lymphedema still appeared, it has a tendency to chronicity and recurrence. Sometimes lymphedema may take itself, or if the reason that caused it, easily removable.
Episode lymphedema may take several days or weeks. If the swelling persists for several months, then probably you have this will remain constant. But it is important to remember that even in the most severe cases, lymphedema can occur improvement with appropriate treatment. In severe cases, lymphedema occurs a thickening of the skin, the arm becomes heavy and dense, and at the slightest injury occurs outflow of fluid - lymph.
