Flying and lymphedema

mruczko
mruczko Member Posts: 110
in Breast Cancer #1
Planning my first trip in 2 years! Flight time is approx. 2-1/2 hrs. Should I worry about lymphedema? I think I had some slight swelling, gone now, doctors say they saw nothing. 18 Lymph nodes removed. Should I wear a compression garment, just in case?
Thanks, Marlene

Comments

  • missrenee
    missrenee Member Posts: 2,136 Member
    #2
    Hi Marlene
    Yes, absolutely wear the compression sleeve and glove combo. I'm assuming you already have these. Mine were custom-fitted and I never fly without them. I don't have swelling in my arm or hand (but I do in my breast, trunk areas). I had 23 nodes removed, so I don't want to take any chances with the arm or hand swelling. Also, be sure to keep the garments on for a few hours after you land. Even if you do not have swelling, this is a good preventative procedure to practice.

    Good luck--you'll be fine.

    Hugs, Renee
  • Rague
    Rague Member Posts: 3,653 Member
    #3
    All compressions garments are not equal for all!
    I have issues with lymphedema that are fairly 'big'. I have not flown since surgery.

    All the time I hear people being told - get a compression sleeve and glove before flying. To get the right sleeve/glove for you is often not as easy as just walking in and saying I want t sleeve/glove - there are many different measurements needed to get the right fit and just because the 'measurements' say soomehing will fit does not mean that it will. All my day sleeves/gloves (night one too) are custom but it took a year for us to get the right fit on sleeves and are still working on getting a glove that really fits without hurting (my fingers are somewhat webbed). Compression level is also an issue for some. Though I have big issues with lymphedema - high compression only makes the problems worse - light is by far the best for me.

    We're all unique!

    Susan
  • mamolady
    mamolady Member Posts: 796 Member
    #4
    Marlene,
    When I asked the
    Marlene,
    When I asked the physical therapist about flying, she suggested the sleeve as a preventative measure. Most insurances won't cover unless you are diagnosed with LE, but you can purchase the sleeve by a certified fitter yourself.

    Cindy
  • carkris
    carkris Member Posts: 4,553 Member
    #5
    mamolady said:

    Marlene,
    When I asked the
    Marlene,
    When I asked the physical therapist about flying, she suggested the sleeve as a preventative measure. Most insurances won't cover unless you are diagnosed with LE, but you can purchase the sleeve by a certified fitter yourself.

    Cindy

    I had nevert heard of
    I had never heard of wearing a compression sleeve while flying and flew several times without one. No issues. Then I had the second surgery and talked to my rads onc and he said I should wear one, so I do on both arms. I will do what I need to to avoid this complication.
  • SIROD
    SIROD Member Posts: 2,194 Member
    #6
    Why would you be fitted for a condition you don't have.
    Dear Marlene,

    I have had two lymph node dissection. The first one with the mastectomy which removed lymph nodes from the 1st level of nodes. The second dissection was due to a good size tumor in the axilla which removed the 2nd level of nodes and some in the 3rd level of nodes. I did have radiation the 2nd time around since they were not able to cut out all the tumor that had wrapped around the large vein in the arm.

    I also had 4 bouts of cellulitis with that arm. Severe enough that only IV antibiotic will work and I was hospitalize each time.

    I have osteoarthritis in that shoulder, chronic bursitis and a torn supraspinatus tendon in the rotator cuff.

    I also have active lung tumors, good size ones in the upper lobe of the lung.

    I do understand that one can develop lymphedema at anytime. I have flown as long as 10 hours at one time. I fly several times a year. In 17 years of flying, I never developed lymphedema. Not one of my physicians ever told me to wear a compression sleeve.

    I don't own a sleeve or a glove. When and if I ever develop the condition, I will be fitted.

    There is no way of knowing who will develop lymphedema and who won't. Just bad luck on those who do.

    I don't believe in worrying about what if. There is an old quote that I was very found of that goes this way. "Worry never robs tomorrow of its sorrow, it only saps today of its joy!"

    My 2 cents worth.

    Enjoy your trip.

    Doris
  • missrenee
    missrenee Member Posts: 2,136 Member
    #7
    carkris said:

    I had nevert heard of
    I had never heard of wearing a compression sleeve while flying and flew several times without one. No issues. Then I had the second surgery and talked to my rads onc and he said I should wear one, so I do on both arms. I will do what I need to to avoid this complication.

    Even though I don't have lymphedema in my arm
    I do have it in my breast/trunk. Both my breast surgeon and onc. told me to get custom fitted for both a glove and sleeve to use for flying--as a preventative measure. They both said--better safe than sorry and I have followed their advice. They both said removing ANY number of nodes could bring on lymphedema at any time in my life (I had 23 removed) so I choose to follow their expert opinions. I don't feel that I'm asking for trouble or worrying about "what if"--just following the advice of my experts and helping to prevent any more trouble.
  • Megan M
    Megan M Member Posts: 3,000
    #8
    missrenee said:

    Hi Marlene
    Yes, absolutely wear the compression sleeve and glove combo. I'm assuming you already have these. Mine were custom-fitted and I never fly without them. I don't have swelling in my arm or hand (but I do in my breast, trunk areas). I had 23 nodes removed, so I don't want to take any chances with the arm or hand swelling. Also, be sure to keep the garments on for a few hours after you land. Even if you do not have swelling, this is a good preventative procedure to practice.

    Good luck--you'll be fine.

    Hugs, Renee

    If you have lymphedema, be
    If you have lymphedema, be sure and wear the compression garment. I am fortunate and don't have it, so, I don't need one when I fly.

    Good luck!
  • skipper54
    skipper54 Member Posts: 936 Member
    #9
    missrenee said:

    Even though I don't have lymphedema in my arm
    I do have it in my breast/trunk. Both my breast surgeon and onc. told me to get custom fitted for both a glove and sleeve to use for flying--as a preventative measure. They both said--better safe than sorry and I have followed their advice. They both said removing ANY number of nodes could bring on lymphedema at any time in my life (I had 23 removed) so I choose to follow their expert opinions. I don't feel that I'm asking for trouble or worrying about "what if"--just following the advice of my experts and helping to prevent any more trouble.

    You're right
    it can happen with any number of nodes removed. My firend only had 2 removed and she has real issues - wears sleeve and glove whenever traveling not just traveling by plane. I asked about it before flying in July and was told not to worry about it. Experts each have individual opinions based on what they've seen. I didn't worry about it and had no problems. Just my 2 cents too. Do what you feels right FOR YOU.
  • mruczko
    mruczko Member Posts: 110
    #10
    skipper54 said:

    You're right
    it can happen with any number of nodes removed. My firend only had 2 removed and she has real issues - wears sleeve and glove whenever traveling not just traveling by plane. I asked about it before flying in July and was told not to worry about it. Experts each have individual opinions based on what they've seen. I didn't worry about it and had no problems. Just my 2 cents too. Do what you feels right FOR YOU.

    Flying
    Thank you all for your input. I have a couple of weeks to go before I decide. In the meantime I'll visit a Boutique specializing in breast cancer garments and see what they suggest.
    Thanks again, Marlene
  • survivorbc09
    survivorbc09 Member Posts: 4,374 Member
    #11
    carkris said:

    I had nevert heard of
    I had never heard of wearing a compression sleeve while flying and flew several times without one. No issues. Then I had the second surgery and talked to my rads onc and he said I should wear one, so I do on both arms. I will do what I need to to avoid this complication.

    I never wear one when I fly,
    I never wear one when I fly, but, I don't have lymphedema. It can be quite serious if you don't if you have lymphedema.


    Jan
  • Motzart
    Motzart Member Posts: 1 *
    #12

    Having had all the nodes in my neck removed, flying is a semi nightmare. The compression garment for my neck makes me look like someone off the terrorist watchlist when you add the obligatory Covid mask. I am curious if the effects will ever lessen over time or not. I never curtailed my flying and now 10 years later, I still fly 7-8 times per year, have been tempted to fly without it once just to see, but not sure that's the smartest idea.

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