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Arm Lymphedema - A Side Effect of Breast Cancer Treatment

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Arm lymphedema can be a side effect of breast cancer treatment

Treatments for breast cancer may be effective in most instances, but they are also invasive, and as such they can put a significant strain on the body in many different ways. Both surgery and radiation therapy can cause a side effect known as lymphedema, which is a medically-problematic swelling that can occur on the side of the body where the cancer is located and the treatments are concentrated. When mastectomies are performed on breast cancer patients, more than just the breast is removed. In order to see if the cancer has begun to spread, at least one or two lymph nodes are also surgically extracted. Metastasized breast cancer always moves into the lymphatic system first, and doctors need to remove lymph nodes from the area close to the site of the mastectomy to see how advanced the cancer really is. Unfortunately, lymphedema frequently develops in the aftermath of this surgery, and it often manifests most severely in the arm since the lymph nodes and attached vessels taken out often come from the underside of this area. Radiation treatments can also cause or increase the intensity of lymphedema because of the damage they can do to the lymphatic system when used to treat breast cancer that has begun to spread.

Why Lymphedema Develops
The lymphatic system is made up of a network of tiny vessels that carry bodily fluids to the lymph nodes, which function as filters for the removal of harmful impurities, bacteria, and toxins that threaten to contaminate or infect the body. Lymphatic fluid is rich in nutrients, and it is therefore subject to bacterial infection itself, in which case it must go through a process of self-purification that increases the amount of fluid flowing through the lymphatic vessels. Lymphatic fluid normally flows up and down vessels in the arm, constantly being replenished from the blood stream as it performs its duties of purification steadily and efficiently. But when lymph nodes and their connected vessels are removed in breast cancer surgery, the reduced capacity of the lymphatic system to carry fluid can cause blockages to occur, especially when fluid volume becomes elevated because of infection. These blockages can eventually result in swelling in the arm, which will become progressively more reddened and painful as time goes along – although in some cases the swollen areas can become numb rather than sensitive if the swelling is extreme enough. The retention of fluid in the lymphatic system keeps that system from functioning properly, and if infection occurs the problem can become really severe. Arm lymphedema can be tolerable when it is mild to moderate; but when it becomes more severe it can cause high levels of discomfort and even disability, as extreme swelling in the arm can result in a significant loss of mobility and flexibility.

Preventing Arm Lymphedema
Because lymphedema of the arm or other surrounding areas is a known risk of breast cancer surgery, precautions can be taken to help ensure that lymphatic fluid blockage and buildup do not occur. Some of the risk factors that should be avoided include:

  • Infection: Cuts, scratches, torn cuticles on the fingernails, flu shots or vaccine injections, IV insertion, and burns of any type (including sunburn) are just a few of the ways that bacterial infections can occur in the area of the arm. In part because of the risk of lymphedema, breast cancer patients who have had mastectomies and/or radiation treatments should try to protect themselves from infection at all cost.
  • Constriction: The arm should be kept free from anything that can cause constriction of or pressure against the lymphatic vessels, including purse or backpack straps worn over the shoulder. If blood pressure has to be taken, it should always be taken on the other arm opposite the side of the body where breast cancer occurred.
  • Obesity: Weight gain causes greater fluid flow and retention throughout the body, including inside the lymphatic vessels.


Treatments for Arm Lymphedema
Physical manipulation is the preferred method for clearing the lymphatic system of accumulated fluid. Women suffering from lymphedema are often given a form of physical therapy known as complex decongestive therapy, or CDT. This form of medical treatment relies on a combination of massage, exercise, skin care, specialized bandaging, and the use of a device called a compression sleeve, which applies gentle but steady pressure to the part of the arm that is red, sore, and swollen as a result of fluid retention in the lymphatic system. This kind of treatment may take anywhere from a few days to several weeks or even months to eliminate lymphedema by opening up the lymphatic system so fluid is free to flow again. Nevertheless, arm lymphedema is almost always responsive to physical therapy, and the prognosis for women who develop this condition after surgery and radiation treatments for breast cancer is excellent.

Paying Attention to the Signals of the Body
Arm lymphedema, as well as lymphedema in other parts of the upper body, will cause physical symptoms in even the earliest stages that are not difficult to recognize, as long as women know about this condition and know what to look for. Any breast cancer patient who begins experiencing swelling, redness, and either an unexplained sensitivity or a numbness in an area close to a site of surgery or radiation treatments should make an appointment with their doctor immediately. If caught at the beginning, it may be possible to treat lymphedema before it can cause any real suffering or do any lasting damage to the body, which needs a healthy lymphatic system in order to protect itself from illness and infections of all types.

Related Articles: 
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Current Medical Treatment in the US for Stage III Breast Cancer
Radical Lymph Node Surgery: Overused Treatment for Breast Cancer?

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