LYMPHEDEMA AWARENESS

RE

Wanted to share a few papers my oncologist gave me when I developed lymphedema. I hope they are not out of sequence, as most of you realize I am new at this document posting thing. :-)

cruf

Lymphedema
Thank you Re for all this info. It's very interesting and informative. HUGS!! Cathy

Christmas Girl

Thanks so much for sharing, RE
This is very important info, and you've done a very good & beneficial thing by posting it here for all to review. Promoting lymphedema awareness & prevention is a cause I work hard at, along with - of course - BC awareness & fund-raising efforts to help discover a cure (and on a parallel path, better treatments). Not long after diagnosis & before surgery (lumpectomy), I became a volunteer participant in a national clinical study regarding the effectiveness of Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD), a self-massage technique as a means of prevention. This occurred almost six years ago now; and, each participant was enrolled for two years (which involved many, many frequent appointments in addition to all those that were BC-related, which is exactly why it was extremely difficult to enroll patients already overwhelmed by diagnosis & treatment plans). I practice ALL of the precautions described in your post, and continue the MLD daily. I have a compression sleeve & gauntlet, which I wear per the recommendations.

Lymphedema is regarded as a "condition" - for example, like arthritis. Once it takes hold, it can be treated/managed, and - hopefully - minimized. However, there is no real cure for it (sound familiar, unfortunately?)

I do not have lymphedema. And am grateful to be able to state so.

For anyone interested to learn even more, I can highly recommend the book: "Lymphedema - A Breast Cancer Patient's Guide to Prevention and Healing" by Jeannie Burt and Gwen White P.T. ... Jeannie Burt is a lymphedema patient, and Gwen White a physical therapist. The MLD technique is clearly described in detail, along with diagrams, within the book.

Also, the ACS provides a bevy of lymphdema info right here on its website. Just start at the ACS homepage: click on the ACS logo at the very top left here, simply type "lymphedema" in the search bar and - voila!

Thanks, again, RE. Hope you don't mind that I added my "two cents" worth here...

Kind regards, Susan

RE

Christmas Girl said:

Thanks so much for sharing, RE
This is very important info, and you've done a very good & beneficial thing by posting it here for all to review. Promoting lymphedema awareness & prevention is a cause I work hard at, along with - of course - BC awareness & fund-raising efforts to help discover a cure (and on a parallel path, better treatments). Not long after diagnosis & before surgery (lumpectomy), I became a volunteer participant in a national clinical study regarding the effectiveness of Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD), a self-massage technique as a means of prevention. This occurred almost six years ago now; and, each participant was enrolled for two years (which involved many, many frequent appointments in addition to all those that were BC-related, which is exactly why it was extremely difficult to enroll patients already overwhelmed by diagnosis & treatment plans). I practice ALL of the precautions described in your post, and continue the MLD daily. I have a compression sleeve & gauntlet, which I wear per the recommendations.

Lymphedema is regarded as a "condition" - for example, like arthritis. Once it takes hold, it can be treated/managed, and - hopefully - minimized. However, there is no real cure for it (sound familiar, unfortunately?)

I do not have lymphedema. And am grateful to be able to state so.

For anyone interested to learn even more, I can highly recommend the book: "Lymphedema - A Breast Cancer Patient's Guide to Prevention and Healing" by Jeannie Burt and Gwen White P.T. ... Jeannie Burt is a lymphedema patient, and Gwen White a physical therapist. The MLD technique is clearly described in detail, along with diagrams, within the book.

Also, the ACS provides a bevy of lymphdema info right here on its website. Just start at the ACS homepage: click on the ACS logo at the very top left here, simply type "lymphedema" in the search bar and - voila!

Thanks, again, RE. Hope you don't mind that I added my "two cents" worth here...

Kind regards, Susan

happy happy joy joy
Hi Susan,

No I truly am glad you chimed in the more the merrier. I do have lymphedema and know how it can sneak up on you. Acutally, that is the reason i wanted to know how to post a photo so I could post this information for everyone. THanks for the additional information.

RE

rjjj

RE said:

happy happy joy joy
Hi Susan,

No I truly am glad you chimed in the more the merrier. I do have lymphedema and know how it can sneak up on you. Acutally, that is the reason i wanted to know how to post a photo so I could post this information for everyone. THanks for the additional information.

RE

Thanks Re
I do unfortunately have mild lymphodemia, and have a compression pump. I am getting worried that radiation will make it worse..and during rads i'm sure i won't probable be able to do much about it besides keep it elevated. My compression sleeve has the fingers out of it and it acts like a turnacut on my fingers. I will be looking for one with fingers but omg i hate to wear gloves and sleeves all the time. Thank you for your info Re.
hugs
Jackie

RE

rjjj said:

Thanks Re
I do unfortunately have mild lymphodemia, and have a compression pump. I am getting worried that radiation will make it worse..and during rads i'm sure i won't probable be able to do much about it besides keep it elevated. My compression sleeve has the fingers out of it and it acts like a turnacut on my fingers. I will be looking for one with fingers but omg i hate to wear gloves and sleeves all the time. Thank you for your info Re.
hugs
Jackie

Pressure sleeves
HI Jackie,

Here is a site where i get my pressure sleeves and hand gauntlets, hope this helps.

http://www.discountsurgical.com//Juzo_Gloves__Gauntlets.html

RE

ladybug22

cruf said:

Lymphedema
Thank you Re for all this info. It's very interesting and informative. HUGS!! Cathy

thank you
thank you re for the info