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What Causes Swelling In Arm In A Breast Cancer Patient?
Question: My mom is a breast cancer survivor for 3yrs. She underwent mastectomy wiith removal of lymph nodes followed by chemo n radiation in 2012.
She is doing pretty well. Recently developed some swelling of right arm (mastectomy was fr right breast) is there anything to bother? She has been visiting her oncologist every 3months post treatment fr last 3yrs. No abnormalities reported so far.
She is doing pretty well. Recently developed some swelling of right arm (mastectomy was fr right breast) is there anything to bother? She has been visiting her oncologist every 3months post treatment fr last 3yrs. No abnormalities reported so far.
Brief Answer:
Lymphoedema
Detailed Answer:
Hi
The cause of your moms swelling of right arm after mastectomy and chemotherapy and radiation is lymphoedema.
Surgery and radiotherapy cause damage to the lymphatic drainage system which can result in an increase of fluid accumulating in the tissues.
Swelling develops when the lymph vessels cannot keep up with the extra demands on their drainage capacity.
I will advise your mom to use her arm as she normally does as much as possible, including when styling her hair, washing, dressing, and eating.
I will also advise her to lift the swollen arm that is right in her case higher than her heart for 45 minutes 2 or 3 times a day.
She must do this while she is lying down. She must place her arm on pillows so that her hand is higher than her wrist and her elbow is a little higher than her shoulder.
She must exercise her arm while it's higher than her heart by opening and closing her hand 15 to 25 times.
She must try to do this 3 or 4 times a day. This exercise helps push lymph fluid out of the arm through the lymph vessels that are still there and will gradually help to reduce the swelling in her right arm.
There is nothing to worry.
Regards
DR DE
Lymphoedema
Detailed Answer:
Hi
The cause of your moms swelling of right arm after mastectomy and chemotherapy and radiation is lymphoedema.
Surgery and radiotherapy cause damage to the lymphatic drainage system which can result in an increase of fluid accumulating in the tissues.
Swelling develops when the lymph vessels cannot keep up with the extra demands on their drainage capacity.
I will advise your mom to use her arm as she normally does as much as possible, including when styling her hair, washing, dressing, and eating.
I will also advise her to lift the swollen arm that is right in her case higher than her heart for 45 minutes 2 or 3 times a day.
She must do this while she is lying down. She must place her arm on pillows so that her hand is higher than her wrist and her elbow is a little higher than her shoulder.
She must exercise her arm while it's higher than her heart by opening and closing her hand 15 to 25 times.
She must try to do this 3 or 4 times a day. This exercise helps push lymph fluid out of the arm through the lymph vessels that are still there and will gradually help to reduce the swelling in her right arm.
There is nothing to worry.
Regards
DR DE
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Shanthi.E
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