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Read more about research on breast cancer-related lymphedema
Dr. Michael Brennan notes in the 1999 article: "Complexity of Pain in Post Breast
Cancer Lymphedema":
individuals can experience pain as a result of infection, surgical trauma to nerves or phantom breast pain, deep vein thrombosis, arthritis and joint pain. He suggests that acute infection and venous thrombosis be treated before using pressure based forms of therapy.
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Lymphedema can occur as a result of cancer or after surgery or radiation treatment for cancer, particularly when lymph nodes are removed or damaged. Sometimes lymphedema doesn't show up until years after cancer treatment has taken place.
- In 2010 the U.S. National Cancer Institute noted, "Lymphedema can occur after any cancer or its treatment that affects lymph node drainage. It has been reported to occur within days and up to 30 years after treatment for breast cancer. Eighty percent of patients experience onset within 3 years of surgery; the remainder develop edema at a rate of 1% per year.
Upper-extremity lymphedema most often occurs after breast cancer; lower-extremity lymphedema most often occurs with uterine cancer, prostate cancer, lymphoma, or melanoma. A large population-based study supports the evidence that lower-limb lymphedema is experienced by a significant proportion of women after treatment for gynecological cancer, with the highest prevalence (36%) among vulvar cancer survivors and the lowest prevalence (5%) among ovarian cancer survivors.
There is no consistency in the data on the incidence and prevalence of lymphedema after breast cancer, probably because of differences in diagnosis, the different characteristics of the patients studied, and inadequate follow-up to capture delayed development of the disorder. The overall incidence of arm lymphedema can range from 8% to 56% at 2 years postsurgery."
- It is unlikely that the rate of lymphedema in individuals treated for breast cancer will be reduced any time soon. Recent research on the use of adjuvant use of radiation in the treatment of premenopausal women with breast cancer - in combination with chemotherapy - have indicated a reduction in reoccurance of cancer from 30% to 10% (Canadian study: Ragaz J, Jackson SM, Le N, et al. Adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy in node-positive premenopausal women with breast cancer N. Engl J Med 1997: 337:956-62; Danish study: Overgaard M, Hansen PS, Overgaard, J, et al. Postoperative radiotherapy on high-risk premenopausal women with breast cancer who receive adjuvant chemotherapy, N. Engl J Med 1997; 337:949-55)
- While many of the conventional treatments for lymphedema are used in these situations, there are specialized preventative measures and supports that are unique to lymphedema after cancer treatment. Prevention of infection in the areas in which lymph nodes have been removed is crucial.
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Saskatchewan researcher
heads up a cross-Canada BC
study on lymphedema
Compression prophylaxis may increase the potential for flight-associated lymphoedema after breast cancer treatment
National Lymphedema Network position paper on air travel and lymphedema
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Lymphovenous Canada: Cancer and Lymphedema![[horizontal rule]](hr_rdbk.gif){kind=small}
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