Oedema in the upper extremities after breast cancer surgery is mostly due to the destruction of lymphatic vessels during surgery and usually recovers gradually with functional training.
The most common cause of edema in the upper extremity after breast cancer surgery is the destruction of the lymphatic vessels that drain the lymph in the upper extremity during axillary clearance, resulting in edema due to impaired lymphatic return to the upper extremity, mostly on one side. Lymphedema of the upper limbs after breast cancer surgery can be prevented and treated in several ways: 1. Strengthen the functional training of the edematous upper limbs. Once the patient is awake from anesthesia after surgery, he/she can perform wrist and elbow exercises, but do not move the shoulder joint for a week to avoid affecting the healing of the axillary skin flap. Seven days after surgery, the patient should gradually start to move the shoulder joint, but not too vigorously, with the intensity of the shrugging motion. It is important to avoid the abduction of the upper limbs during the activity to avoid increasing the tension in the axilla and chest wall, which may affect the healing. The intensity of the activity should also be controlled, not too vigorous, to prevent damage to the few remaining lymphatic vessels, but to exacerbate the degree of edema in the upper limbs. 2. Local hot compresses. Local hot compress can promote lymphatic reflux, improve lymphatic circulation and blood circulation, and help to eliminate the edema of the upper limb. If the edema of the upper extremity cannot be eliminated by the above two methods, surgical treatment with lymphatic tract reconstruction can be performed.