Feb 21, 2009 8:16 am US/Eastern
Lymphedema After Cancer Treatment
(CBS4)
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Lymphedema is a side effect that can begin during or after breast cancer treatment.
AP
Often after doctors detect breast cancer they remove lymph nodes under the arm to see if cancer has spread beyond the breast. If breast cancer is found, it may be necessary to remove more lymph nodes through a lymph node dissection. As a result, there could develop side effects of that procedure including lymphedema, a condition that may require life-long treatment.
Lymphedema is the buildup of lymph, a fluid that helps fight infection and disease, in the fatty tissues just under the skin. The buildup of lymph causes swelling usually an arm or leg. Lymphedema is a common complication of cancer and cancer treatment.
Years ago Edith Cowan had a lymph node dissection and radiation as part of her treatment for gynecological cancer. Later, she started to notice changes in her leg.
"I noticed that the left foot became increasingly larger inside my shoe and my calf was becoming more swollen," explained Cowan. Her doctor confirmed that she had lymphedema.
Cowan went to a support group meeting where she discovered that she had a lot in common with other survivors. "We all had the same kind of issues whether it be an arm because of breast cancer or whether it is a leg due to gynecological cancer," Cowan added.
Liz Olivas teaches the lymphedema class that Cowan attends at Ruth Rales Jewish Family Services.
"Lymphedema is a side effect of cancer treatment and it can be caused by the removal of lymph nodes and/or radiation treatments that damage the system. And it interrupts the flow of waste removal in the circulatory system," Olivas explained.
The class helps participants learn how to prevent lymphedema.
"For example you wouldn't want to use a blood pressure cuff on the effected limb, or take injections on that affected limb. Or you might want to protect your hand when you're doing gardening so that you don't get pricked by thorns," said Olivas.
For Cowan the support is perhaps the most important aspect of the group meetings.
"It's a nice feeling to know that somebody understands what you're going through on a daily basis," admitted Cowan.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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