It’s now close to two months since my surgery and I’m doing pretty well. However, when I went to physical therapy to help me regain range-of-motion in my arm and prevent lymphedema, my therapist noticed that my left arm was a bit swollen. That indicated that lymphedema was in fact beginning. She said that I needed lymphatic drainage massage to help my lymphatic system move the fluid out of my arm. I was both disappointed and surprised because until now, I had been doing so well and I was very proud to be able to carry my own groceries, sweep, mop and basically go back to being a normal housewife. I know it‘s not a glamorous job, but when you’ve had cancer, you stop taking the little things for granted and even learn to appreciate mindless chores.
Because of the results of some recent lymphedema studies that I’ve read about, I was under the impression that I could lift heavy things (in moderation) without risk. But I was told by my physical therapist that these new studies on lymphedema and the benefits of weight lifting are still controversial. She said that everyone is different and that lymphedema can strike at any point, even years after a mastectomy, in patients who have had underarm lymph nodes removed. The good news is that lymphedema can be controlled and treated. Unfortunately, it can’t be completely cured. The key, as with breast cancer, is catching it early and getting treatment.
This brings me to another controversial issue that was in the headlines recently. What is with the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommending that women wait until age 50 to begin having mammograms and then having them every two years? I can’t tell you how many women in their 40’s I’ve met, who, like me, would not be alive today if they had waited until age 50 to have a mammogram. I’m concerned that many insurance companies might start following the task force’s lead and stop paying for routine mammograms for women in their 40’s. So I urge all of you to speak out about this outrageous and disturbing recommendation. Breast cancer organizations, hospitals and doctors have made great strides in getting the word out about early detection and this sets them back. My fear is that some women will now ignore breast cancer symptoms because they’ll think it unlikely that they’ll get breast cancer before age 50 or because they might have to fight with their insurance company to pay for a mammogram. This is just wrong, so please speak up.
Lymphedema is the collection of fluid in the arm that may occur after breast cancer surgery that includes the removal of lymph nodes under the arm. The more lymph nodes removed, the more likely lymphedema is to develop. The surgery disrupts the normally free flow of lymph fluid and can cause it to accumulate in the soft tissues of the arm. This leads to swelling and discomfort.
The goal of treatment is to control the swelling and other problems caused by lymphedema. Treatment may include the following:
Light exercise
Wrapping the limb with bandages
Massage therapy by a trained therapist that lightly kneads, rubs and strokes the affected area.
Skin care to prevent infection
Combined therapy that uses massage, bandaging, exercises and skin care managed by a trained therapist.
Pressure garments, or compression sleeves, made of fabric that puts a controlled amount of pressure on different parts of the arm.
Compression devices which consist of a pump connected to a sleeve that wraps around the arm and applies pressure on and off.
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