Lymphoedema and breast cancer treatment

Lymphoedema is a swelling of the arm that sometimes happens after surgery| or radiotherapy| to the lymph nodes in the armpit. It can develop months or years after treatment. Women who have had all or a large number of lymph nodes removed| are more at risk, but more so when radiotherapy is also given to the armpit. If you’ve only had a sentinel lymph node biopsy| the risk of getting lymphoedema is small.

There are things you can do to help reduce your chances of developing lymphoedema. Good skin care and protecting your arm and hand are important. Any break in the skin can increase your risk of getting an infection, which may trigger lymphoedema.

Here are some tips:

• Keep your skin clean and moisturise every day with unperfumed cream or oil to keep it supple and in good condition.
• Wash small grazes and cuts straight away and cover them if necessary.
• See your GP immediately if you develop signs of infection around the cut, for example, if it becomes red, hot or swollen.
• Avoid needles (blood tests, injections, drips or acupuncture) and having your blood pressure taken in the affected arm.  
• Wear gloves and long sleeves when doing any household tasks, DIY, gardening or when handling animals.
• Use nail clippers to cut your nails and never push back or cut the cuticles – use cuticle cream instead.
• Use an electric razor if you shave under your arms.
• Avoid getting sunburn by covering up in the sun and using a suncream with a high sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15.

If you notice any swelling in your arm, hand or chest, always get it checked by your doctor or nurse. The earlier lymphoedema is diagnosed the easier it is to manage and treat successfully.