Lymphedema is  an unfortunate side effect of breast cancer. If your lymphatic system is struggling to do its job effectively, the result may be a swollen arm or hand. In the case of breast cancer it is most commonly because of removal or damage to lymph vessels or pathways from surgery or radiation.  Sometimes lymphedema can show up well after cancer is gone or years after lymph node removal.  It is so important to be aware of the signs of lymphedema and also some ways to keep your lymphatic system working its best.

September is ovarian cancer awareness month. I am mostly aware of this because my mom died of ovarian cancer when she was 67. I remember getting the life changing call in January.  I wanted to vomit. My questions came… what? When? How? Where?  I remember hoping it was breast cancer. But it came back as ovarian cancer and I then learned things about Ovarian cancer in 1997. It is difficult to detect. It is a silent killer, the symptoms are vague….. When she was diagnosed, she was at stage IV.

I taught myself the warning signs: bloated, feeling of fullness, frequent urination, fatigue. I KNEW the signs and 18 years later, I HAS  those signs. I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer 4 years ago. Here is what I realized, that list of symptoms was not what I felt. Yes, I felt tired a lot. I made a lot of trips to the bathroom, my back hurt, I felt full.  I had felt all those feelings before and each one of them I could discount.  Don’t discount those symptoms. They are sneaky. If you are peeing all the time or it hurts when you poop or If you have to lay down during the day cause you are so tired or if your back has a slow dull ache that is there all the time… dont think it is aging or stress. Don’t think you can just take some Tylenol and you will be ok. Be proactive. Get checked out. 

Unfortunately, a possible side effect of ovarian and other gynecological cancers is lower body lymphedema. Diagnostics, treatment and side effects can disrupt the normal route of lymphatic fluid from the legs and/or abdomen and result in  swelling of these areas that does not go away. Those with lymphedema benefit greatly from a therapy technique called complete decongestive therapy (CDT). CDT addresses skin care, manual lymphatic drainage, compression and exercise to  reduce swelling and minimize symptoms. If you think you  may have lymphedema, speak to your doctor and use this as a resource if your doctor is unfamiliar with lymphedema. 

A blocked lymphatic system can result in swelling, pain, and discomfort.  Surgical procedures like a tummy tuck, breast augmentation or liposuction can disrupt the natural pathways of the lymphatic system causing it to be injured or blocked and not performing is functions as well as it should. In your research before your plastic surgery, you might have come across the terms lymphatic massage or manual lymphatic drainage. This can be a useful tool in your recovery to help  with swelling and achieving your best result.

1. The Lymphedema Podcast…

Betty Westbrook is a CLT based in Texas who began a podcast all about lymphedema. Some of the topics include: What is Lymphedema?, Pregnancy and Lymphedema and Fashion for Lymphedema. She  is easy to listen to and explains information clearly. It  is an excellent resource for those who want to learn more about lymphedema but wish to listen to information rather than read it. To access podcasts, use the podcast app on  apple devices or an alternative podcast player such as Stitcher.

Fluid Running®  

A few months ago, I started noticing Fluid Running popping up on some of the lymphatic instagram accounts I follow.  Coincidentally, I knew of fluid running from my local pool. It is a local business and Jennifer Conroyd, the founder lives in the same town as I  do. She was kind enough to connect with me since it seemed that we were reaching the same kind of people. I learned how Fluid Running can be an excellent exercise option for those with lymphedema It gives a great cardiovascular workout while also providing the compression so beneficial to a compromised lymphatic  system. It involves stationary running in a pool using a flotation belt. An app guides you through the workout. Check out the Fluid Running website for more details.

Swollen, Bloated and Puffy

by Kathleen Lisson CMT, CLT

Kathleen sent me this book about a year ago and I have finally gotten to reading it from cover to cover. It is an excellent resource for those who are looking for helpful tips “from proven to CRAZY to reduce swelling and boost the lymphatic system”  The topics include: What to put on and in your face and body to reduce swelling; how to have a happy lymphatic system and how to improve your immune system. There are ideas to help with inflammation that you may not get from your traditional medical provider. Her book is available for purchase on amazon. To stay updated with author Kathleen Lisson, follow her on Facebook, and YouTube.

YOUR LIST OF RECRUITS:

Physician:   The primary doctor on your team may change over time. It is important that you always have a doctor who is able to oversee care, treat infections, and provide scripts for therapy .   Someone may initially have a wound doctor diagnoses and recommend lymphedema treatment but may not continue to them once the wound has healed. In the same way, an oncologist may initially give a script for therapy and other treatment but over time  an Internist or GP may be needed to call in the case of an infection. If you are having trouble finding an appropriate doctor, ask some of your other team members for recommendations. CLICK HERE for information on how to talk to your doctor about lymphedema..

THERAPIST:  You need a certified lymphedema therapist (CLT)  you can see regularly. It is important that this person has completed a  135 hour certification course in Complete Decongestive Therapy. The therapist should have the initials CLT after their name.  This stands for Certified Lymphedema Therapist. The initials LANA stand for Lymphology Association of America. A therapist who has these initials has passed a comprehensive examination demonstrating knowledge of the lymphatic system and lymphedema management. There are weekend classes that can be taken and even lymphatic massage classes that give an introduction to lymphedema therapy however you want a CLT to be on your team to help manage your lymphedema. After you identify someone who is a CLT, it is important that this person is someone who is easy to learn from and  communicate with.Ideally, this relationship will be a long one so finding a person who is both good at what they do and also easy to communicate with is important. I recommend having a therapist who fits into the regular insurance world (in the US) and also someone who you can go to every once in a while to help you with maintenance of your lymphedema.

Click here for a pdf to help find a lymphedema therapist  

Click Here to schedule a phone consult with me

A Certified Fitter. This may also be your therapist or it can be someone different. Everyone has their areas of interest and it may be that your therapist is not as interested and therefore not as up to date on all the latest in terms of compression and garments that are out there.  Compression is one of the main treatments of lymphedema management so again, having someone who you can get a hold of and communicate well with is very important. A poorly fitting garment may be worse than none at all. Check your local DME shop as many of them have a fitter or  Click Here to find a fitter

 An advocate: As humans, we are meant to live in community. We are meant to help each other out when we need it and rejoice in the good times. I strongly encourage you to find a person or many people who can be there for you. They can be an extra set of ears during appointments, help you wrap yourself when it is difficult, encourage you and provide accountability. They can lift your spirits when you are discouraged and celebrate your victories.  Find that person and talk to them about what you may need.  Need help figuring out what to say? Click Here  

or Here

A support group: It is important to find people further along in your journey and over time also be that person to someone else. With lymphedema, there are so many practical questions like shoes and clothes, opinions on pumps, lotion  and garments as well as if things like success of alternative medicine. It is great to have a place to learn about things as well as share your life knowledge. Additionally, no one knows exactly what you are going through but people who share a lymphedema diagnosis are more likely to have gone through the same thing as you and are easier to vent to .  There are online facebook groups and in person support groups. Local hospitals may have a support group or you may be able to find one on the MEETUP app. The important thing is to find the support.

Fitness Accountability Partner: Fitness is a very important component to managing your lymphedema. Your lymphatic system works best at a normal weight. Keeping as close to a normal BMI as possible will help to keep your lymphedema symptoms under control. Additionally, muscle contraction which happens in exercise is necessary to help move your lymphatic fluid. Your fitness routine may involve group classes, an online program, a fitness buddy or a personal trainer. One thing is for sure…. Having accountability helps consistancy. 

The symptoms of cellulitis are skin that is red, swollen, warm  or tender. You may also experience fever, chills or fatigue. At times people also have leaking of  clear fluid or pus in the swollen area. If any of these symptoms occur, call your doctor to develop a plan of attack.