Symptoms of lymphedema typically affect the arm on the same side as the cancer.
This article explains lymphedema symptoms and their cause.
Often, however, it’s a chronic condition.
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It may wax and wane over the course of your life, even after your breast cancer is cured.
In rare cases, lymphedema may occur decades after breast cancer surgery.
Pressure from a tumor or damage from surgery or radiation can affect the lymphatic system and lead to lymphedema.
Get our printable guide for your next healthcare provider’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.
The fluid can back up and enter the nearby soft tissue, causing the characteristic swelling of lymphedema.
Breast cancer can result in lymphedema when:
What Are Lymphedema Complications?
If lymphedema isn’t well managed, it can lead to complications that shorten your life expectancy.
Lymphangiosarcoma
The most serious complication of lymphedema is a rare and deadly bang out of cancer calledlymphangiosarcoma.
It results from prolonged, poorly managed lymphedema.
Lymphangiosarcoma symptoms include:
The five-year survival rate for someone with lymphangiosarcoma is about 5%.
Cellulitis
Cellulitis is a skin infection.
Trapped fluids are an ideal place for germs to flourish, so it’s common in lymphedema.
Sepsis
Sepsisis a blood infection.
It can result from untreated cellulitis.
Sepsis is potentially fatal and is always a medical emergency.
Symptoms of sepsis include:
Get immediate medical attention if you develop these symptoms.
What Is the Life Expectancy With Lymphedema?
Lymphedema that’s well managed shouldn’t lower your life expectancy.
However, poor management can lead to complications that may be fatal.
These include a jot down of cancer called lymphangiosarcoma and serious infections (cellulitis and sepsis).
Lymphedema Risk Factors
Certain treatments or other factors can raise your risk of developing lymphedema.
Treatment-related risk factors include:
Having immediate breast reconstruction may lower your lymphedema risk.
Biopsy or removal of lymph nodes in the chest or armpit increases the chances of developing lymphedema as well.
Does Lymphedema Go Away?
Lymphedema within a few days after surgery tends to be mild and resolves quickly.
It also can occur four to six weeks after radiation, and then gradually go away.
However, the most common punch in develops two years or more after treatment and tends to be permanent.
The arm swelling is usually evident, but it can be subtle.
Most healthcare providers recommend screening forbreast cancer-related lymphedemaboth during and after treatment.
This test can help identify areas of slow lymphatic flow or blockage.
Get our printable guide for your next healthcare provider’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.
That’s typically a physical therapist with special training in treating this condition.
One of your doctors may oversee your lymphedema treatment or they may send you to a lymphologist.
They’re often plastic and reconstructive surgeons with expertise in treating lymphoma and other conditions of the lymphatic system.
Your care team may have recommendations for you.
The lymph nodes and lymphatic vessels cannot be repaired, but they may heal on their own.
Lymphedema treatments include:
Lymphedema can’t be cured and you should expect to have recurrences.
Lymphedema Questionnaires
Lymphedema can have a major negative effect on your quality of life.
Healthcare practitioners use several lymphedema questionnaires to gauge its impact.
You may be given one or asked a series of questions at your medical visits.
Summary
Lymphedema is sparked by swelling that follows damage to the lymph system during breast cancer treatment.
This damage to lymph nodes and vessels limits the ability to drain lymph properly from the arm and chest.
Symptoms tend to cause pain and discomfort.
Lymphedema can be treated with compression sleeves and other interventions.
Rarely, a serious complication such as sepsis can prove life-threatening though lymphedema itself is not.
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