Breast Cancer Treatment Side Effects Lymphedema

Learn more about lymphedema.

Breast cancer treatment side effects lymphedema.

The swelling commonly affects the arm and can include the hand and fingers. Swelling can also affect the breast chest shoulder or the area on the back behind the armpit. This can cause the fluid to build up in surrounding tissues. Removing lymph nodes under the arm means there are fewer nodes to filter the lymph.

A small amount of swelling even in your arm is normal for the first 4 to 6 weeks after breast cancer surgery. The risk grows with the number of lymph nodes affected. Lymphedema is a common chronic debilitating condition in which excess fluid called lymph collects in tissues and causes swelling in them. Lymphedema is a common side effect of some cancer treatments including surgery or radiation therapy.

Sometimes a cancerous tumor can get big enough to block the lymph system. Lymphedema can be caused by cancer or by cancer treatment. It is common after a mastectomy lumpectomy or breast cancer surgery and radiation therapy. Some women may also have redness or pain in the arm which may be a symptom of.

Some of the symptoms include achiness and feelings of fullness or heaviness in the hand arm chest breast or underarm areas. Some people develop lymphoedema after treatment for breast cancer. Radiation therapy to the lymph node areas after lymph node removal surgery can increase the risk of arm lymphedema. Lymphoedema is swelling caused by a build up of fluid in the body s tissues.

Breast cancer treatments that can cause lymphedema are. Surgery that removes lymph nodes. Surgery to remove cancer may also remove lymph nodes or some of the vessels that carry the lymph fluid. The resulting blockage prevents fluid from draining sufficiently causing it to collect in the fatty tissue under the skin most often in the arms and or legs.