Limbs affected by lymphedema require specialized care, but during months where temperatures can be extreme, a little extra effort is necessary.
BY Bonnie Annis
PUBLISHED January 14, 2019
Bonnie Annis is a breast cancer survivor, diagnosed in 2014 with stage 2b invasive ductal carcinoma with metastasis to the lymph nodes. She is an avid photographer, freelance writer/blogger, wife, mother and grandmother.
Anyone treated with surgery for breast cancer is at risk of developing lymphedema. This uncomfortable side effect usually begins with a slight, uncomfortable swelling in or around the armpit area. The condition of lymphedema can develop immediately after surgery to remove breast cancer or it can appear many months later. It may even appear years after the initial breast cancer surgery.
Often, the swelling moves from the armpit area into the rest of the arm causing discomfort. It may feel like a tightness or heaviness and can seem to grow worse throughout the day. Normal daily activities can exacerbate the swelling, that’s why it’s important for anyone with post-surgical swelling to pay close attention to symptoms and report them to a doctor.
Often, the swelling moves from the armpit area into the rest of the arm causing discomfort. It may feel like a tightness or heaviness and can seem to grow worse throughout the day. Normal daily activities can exacerbate the swelling, that’s why it’s important for anyone with post-surgical swelling to pay close attention to symptoms and report them to a doctor.
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