Some patients experience edema during radiation therapy, especially breast cancer patients. So is this a normal phenomenon and does it need to be treated? Edema is a complication of radiotherapy. Some of them can go away on their own, but in severe cases, treatment is still needed, such as lymphedema. Learn more about what lymphedema is by asking the following questions What is lymphedema? Lymphedema is a series of chronic diseases such as tissue edema, chronic inflammation and tissue fibrosis caused by the retention of lymphatic fluid in the tissue spaces due to functional disorders of the lymphatic system. There are two types of lymphedema: primary lymphedema and secondary lymphedema. Lymphedema that occurs after radical mastectomy is secondary edema. It is usually caused by lymphatic system damage caused by surgery, lymph node dissection and other trauma, or by radiation therapy, after infection, malignant tumor treatment or metastasis. Is lymphedema treatment complicated? Lymphedema treatment is generally divided into surgical treatment and non-surgical treatment. The most applied and most effective method is: pressure therapy management with manual lymphatic drainage. The treatment is divided into two phases, as follows: (1) Reduction phase Objective: To reduce the edema and soften the skin as quickly as possible, so that the volume of the affected side is as close as possible to the relatively healthy limb. Methods: Compression bandage with drainage and reduction effect, accompanied by manual or mechanical lymphatic drainage. Suitable for: Patients with moderate or severe lymphedema. Difficulty: general, requiring simple training of patients or family members by health care professionals in the early stage and completion by patients and family members at home in the later stage. Reminder: If the patient does not participate in treatment early, the affected limb will be at risk of losing function or becoming disabled. (2) Prevention and maintenance phase Purpose: Patients experiencing the reduction phase are transferred to the maintenance phase when the enlarged limb is reduced to a satisfactory level. The edema is stabilized by constant pressure effect. This phase is of great significance for patients with mild edema. Patients who have just developed edema can go directly to this stage. The edema is stabilized by constant pressure action to avoid continued enlargement of the affected limb. Method: Wearing a constant pressure sleeve accompanied by manual or mechanical lymphatic drainage. Suitable for: Patients with mild lymphedema, patients with the completion of the reduction phase. Difficulty: simple, without any impact on working life. Tip: Early intervention is very important! Starting interventions at the beginning of the patient’s edema (the golden dry period) can effectively control the disease How long can lymphedema be cured? Lymphedema is an international medical diagnosis and treatment problem for which there is no fundamental cure. Once the disease develops, it is lifelong, and if left uncontrolled, it becomes more severe with time. How to avoid lymphedema? (1) Avoid temperature extremes (hot springs, saunas, burns, smoking, traveling in extreme heat or cold); (2) Avoid infections (insect bites, nail trimming, piercing or acupuncture on the affected limb, pet scratches, etc.); (3) Avoid blunt trauma (heavy lifting, strenuous workouts, overly tight bras and heavy prostheses, ring watch bracelets); (4) Reduce weight in obese individuals; (5) Careful skin cleansing (6) can walk, swim and sing; (7) use hypoallergenic cleaning products; (8) low salt, less fried foods, fresh fruits and vegetables.