Become a member and receive career-enhancing benefits
Our top priority is providing value to members. Your Member Services team is here to ensure you maximize your ACS member benefits, participate in College activities, and engage with your ACS colleagues. It's all here.
Become a member and receive career-enhancing benefits
Our top priority is providing value to members. Your Member Services team is here to ensure you maximize your ACS member benefits, participate in College activities, and engage with your ACS colleagues. It's all here.
Lymphedema may occur after breast surgery or treatment. It is swelling in the arm, hand, breast, or torso. Lymphedema is caused by a buildup of lymph fluid. This can occur when lymph nodes are removed or damaged. Nodes are removed by surgery and damaged by radiation therapy. Lifelong monitoring is important to recognize any signs of swelling or lymphedema early and notify your doctor. Below are some guidelines that may be recommended.
Practice good hygiene. Clean with soap and water. Moisturize to keep skin soft.51
Maintain a healthy weight through exercise.
Keep moving your body.
If you feel heaviness, call your provider. This is an early sign of lymphedema.
Use your surgical arm like normal. Use it for daily tasks such as eating and combing your hair.
When you walk, let your arms swing by your side as you normally would.
Ask when you can start arm exercises and return to normal activity. See the exercise and stretching guide. You may have to wait until drains and sutures (stitches) around the wound are removed.
Treatment for Lymphedema
Swelling or heaviness in your surgical arm are signs of lymphedema. Tell your surgeon if you notice these. Ask for a referral to any of the following:
Physical therapist
Occupational therapist
Lymphedema specialist
Swelling may go away as the body begins to heal. Long-term treatment is sometimes needed. This includes but is not limited to the following:
Lymph-draining massage
Wearing compression bandages or sleeves
Exercise
Stages of lymphedema range from mild (Stage 1) to severe (Stage 4). Image Credit: Upper limb lymphedema, by DocHealer, is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Regular Exercise
Exercise can keep or improve your strength and decrease muscle loss due to inactivity. It can also help with balance, reducing falls, and your overall energy level. Fitness and weight loss may even help lower the risk of some cancers coming back. Review the American Cancer Society Exercise guidelines for cancer patients. Discuss what type of exercise is best for you with your health care team.
Your ability to exercise will depend on:
The type and stage of cancer you have
Your cancer treatment
Your stamina (endurance), strength, and fitness level39
Returning to Work/School
Many factors affect when you can return to work or school. These include:
The type of job you have
Your cancer treatment
The extent of your surgery
Your surgeon will work with you on a safe time to return. Know how much time you can take away from your job. This includes sick time, short- or long-term disability, or unpaid leave.
Keeping You Informed
In 72 studies of 29,612 women, arm lymphedema occurred in 17 percent of breast cancer survivors.19
After lumpectomy, the risk for lymphedema ranges from 0 to 3 percent. After a modified radical mastectomy, this risk is up to 70 percent. Lymphedema risk is increased by the following:
Axillary lymph node dissection
Removal of many lymph nodes
Radiation
Chemotherapy
Higher body weight
Diabetes
Older age
No reconstruction
Risk is also increased by an insult to the arm where nodes were removed or damaged. This could be from an insect bite, infection, or injury.35
