What is lymphedema?
Lymphedema is a condition in which the lymphatic system is damaged, resulting in poor circulation in the lymphatic system, causing protein-rich lymph fluid to accumulate in one part of the body, producing swelling.
Why do breast cancer patients tend to develop lymphedema after treatment?
When breast cancer patients undergo surgery or radiation treatment, the lymphatic tissues in the armpit will be inevitably destroyed. Surgery will remove some or all of the lymph nodes, while radiation treatment will cause fibrosis of the lymphatic tissues. Therefore, patients who have undergone breast cancer treatment and are affected by the disruption of the lymphatic system are at high risk of developing upper limb lymphedema.
Possible symptoms of lymphedema
1. Swelling and heavy feeling in the limbs.
2. Thick and dry skin or a feeling of tightness.
3.Decreased flexibility of joints and difficulty in limb movement.
4.The appearance of the limb becomes thicker and swollen.
5.The skin resistance becomes poor and easily breaks the skin.
6.The affected limb has discomfort.
If these symptoms persist for one to two weeks, please make sure to inform your doctor.
Prevention and care of lymphedema in breast cancer patients
On average, 10% of post-operative breast cancer patients have experienced post-operative lymphedema. The time of occurrence is not certain; some people have swollen for no reason soon after surgery or radiation treatment, while others have swollen only after a certain event for several years, which may be caused by a wound inflammation or infection in the affected limb or a mosquito bite.
How to avoid lymphedema?
Reduce the factors that interfere with the return of lymphatic fluid
Because of the partial interruption of the lymphatic system, the resistance to the return of the lymphatic system is greater. Therefore, the first thing to do is to avoid the factors that will affect the return.
1. Avoid jewelry, clothing and accessories (including rings, bracelets or watches, etc.) that can compress the lymphatic flow path.
2. Do not wear tight-fitting clothing or hooks on the affected upper limb.
3, the weight of the patient’s breast prosthesis should not be too heavy, the elasticity of the underwear should be properly adjusted, not to have steel wire is preferable.
4. Do not measure blood pressure on the affected side, as the air bag for measuring blood pressure will exert excessive pressure on the affected limb.
Two, limit the production of lymphatic fluid
Lymphatic fluid is the body fluid that must be returned through the lymphatic system, lymphatic fluid, relatively, lymphatic fluid from the microvascular expansion of the behavior are to be avoided.
1. Avoid overexerting the patient’s upper limbs or doing repetitive movements, especially those that cause limb pain or discomfort. Because soreness can cause local inflammation and increase the burden on the lymphatic system.
2. Avoid dilating blood vessels, including sunlight, steam baths, infrared rays and hot compresses on the affected side. Many patients who experience upper limb swelling and discomfort want to use hot compresses or hot springs to solve the problem, and many patients have also used hot water to wash the affected limb in the shower, which are very risky behaviors because the local heat effect will increase blood flow and thus increase lymphatic fluid, and lymphedema may arise in the state of poor lymphatic system recovery function.
3.Tui na or massage are mostly intense deep massage, such massage will cause vasodilation and increase the production of lymphatic fluid, which is likely to be the cause of swelling in patients with damaged lymphatic system return path. Some patients have sought general massage to relieve pain or to push the fluid from the swollen upper limbs back to the trunk because of the discomfort in the pre-swelling limbs or the distress caused by the swollen limbs, but they do not know that lymphedema massage is very different from general massage, which focuses on slowing down, gently and shallowly. It is recommended that if you have discomfort in the affected limb or trunk after breast cancer treatment, please go to the hospital to seek help from doctors and physical therapists, and be sure to explain to the medical staff about the treatment after breast cancer surgery in order to receive the right treatment.
When traveling, avoid reaching airplanes or climbing high mountains as much as possible. When traveling, you should wrap the affected limb with bandages and try to elevate the affected limb during the trip because the low air pressure at high altitude is one of the factors that may cause lymphedema.
Protect the skin from wounds or infections
Any wound may cause infection and increase the burden on the lymphatic system, which in turn may become the cause of lymphedema. In addition, the lymphatic system is responsible for the immune function, so patients with damaged lymphatic system have poorer immune function and are more prone to infection than the average person. The skin care of patients is very basic and important, including.
1.Patients should consult a dermatologist immediately if their skin is red, painful, has a rash, an increase in temperature or a change in color.
2. Scratch the skin strictly and never perform blood draws, injections, acupuncture, bloodletting, etc. on the affected side, as these can create tiny wounds on the replacement side.
3.Don’t trim your nails too short when trimming.
4, engaged in activities that may be injured try to wear gloves to protect hands, and be careful of mosquito bites.
5.If the skin on the affected upper limb is dry and cracked, it is recommended to use lotion to apply after bathing.
Although these are very small actions, they are important keys to avoid lymphedema.
4. Pay attention to body changes and maintain overall body health
Lymphedema of the limbs is never caused in one day, and the treatment effect of early detection is the best. Therefore, it is important to observe whether the affected limb is swollen after surgery. Some patients may first experience discomfort in the affected trunk or upper limb, such as tightness, swelling or soreness, etc. If you experience any of the above, please contact your doctor or physical therapist immediately.
In terms of nutrition, patients should take care of weight control and eat a balanced diet with low-salt or high-fiber foods. In addition, although lymphedema is the result of excessive protein accumulation, reducing the consumption of protein-rich foods can weaken the connective tissue and worsen the lymphedema, so it is recommended to consume moderate amounts of easily digestible protein foods and to avoid smoking and alcohol.