How Cancer Survivors Can Decrease Their Risk Of Developing Lymphedema
Lymphedema is a condition involving buildup of lymphatic fluid that’s common among cancer survivors. It’s different from “normal” swelling because it’s a progressive, chronic condition.
Since lymph fluid is protein-rich, this can lead to complications like infections and skin changes. Lymphedema can develop anywhere in the body where the lymphatic system is affected – yes, even in the mouth and genitals.
If you’re a cancer survivor at risk for lymphedema, then it’s essential to be aware of its symptoms. Lymphedema symptoms include heaviness or achiness, swelling, numbness or tingling, discomfort or pain, decreased range of motion, pitting (indentation) of the skin, and decreased function (difficulty walking, using your arm, swallowing, bowel/bladder function, etc.).
If you notice any lymphedema symptoms, talk to your medical provider and get started with a Certified Lymphedema Therapist (CLT). These are specially trained healthcare providers who will assess and treat your lymphedema. To learn more about what to expect with lymphedema treatment, check out this OncoPelvic PT blog post.
Now let’s get into what you can do to minimize your risk of developing lymphedema and catch it early.
Monitor early and often. Get evaluated by a CLT before treatment starts so you have baseline measurements of your arm, leg, trunk, head/neck area, or wherever you are at risk of developing lymphedema. Regular check-ins and measurements will help detect any changes in the size of the affected area, which may indicate lymphedema. Although the risk of developing lymphedema after cancer treatment is lifelong, if lymphedema does develop, it’s often in the first 1-3 years after treatment. This means you should monitor for lymphedema more frequently early on.
Manage your weight. Higher BMI is consistently correlated to the development and worsening of lymphedema across many types of cancer. Work with your medical providers, including a physical therapist trained in lymphedema and oncology care, to determine an optimal weight and develop an individualized program. It should include dietary and exercise components.
Exercise. It’s crucial to stay active and move the affected area since this stimulates the lymphatic system. Work with a physical therapist with additional lymphedema or oncology training to develop a progressive exercise program.
Avoid skin injuries, including sunburn, infection, insect bites, and scratches. Now, this doesn’t mean living in a bubble and not living your life! It simply means you need to be a little more conscious about your activities and how to protect yourself. Use sunblock, stay in the shade, use insect repellent, clean any scratches and monitor for infection.
Avoid tight and restrictive clothing and jewelry. If you’re wearing items that are too tight, this can impede the blood and lymphatic vessels and potentially contribute to the onset of lymphedema.
Ask about compression garments. You may benefit from wearing compression garments, like a compression sleeve or stocking, during high-risk activities. These can include high-intensity exercise, traveling by plane, or doing activities in a hot, humid environment. Talk to your medical providers, including a CLT, to see if wearing a compression garment is needed.
Be careful with blood draws, injections, and getting blood pressure taken. If you can, try to get procedures done in the unaffected arm if you’re at risk for developing arm lymphedema (most commonly with breast cancer survivors). What’s good to know is a very large study looked at the risk of developing lymphedema with these procedures, and there was no significant correlation between the procedures and developing lymphedema. However, I have worked with some breast cancer survivors who developed lymphedema after a blood draw or injection on the affected arm. So try to avoid procedures being done on the at-risk arm, but if a procedure is done in that arm, don’t panic! Just monitor for any signs of lymphedema at that arm.
As you can see, there are many ways to reduce your risk of developing lymphedema! Although it can be overwhelming, the main things you should do consistently are monitor for any early signs of lymphedema, manage your weight, and have a CLT.
