Lymphoedema after cancer treatment

Although it’s usually found in an arm or leg, it can affect other parts of the body. The most common places for lymphoedema to occur after cancer treatment are:

• in the arm after breast cancer treatment (surgery and/or radiotherapy) to the armpit
• in the leg if cancer or its treatment affects the lymph nodes in the groin area or the pelvis - this usually happens after surgery and/or radiotherapy to the lymph nodes in the groin for gynaecological cancers (cancer of the womb, cervix, ovary or vulva), or a type of skin cancer called melanoma.

Sometimes lymphoedema can develop in the breast or chest after breast cancer treatment. Rarely, if lymph nodes in the neck are affected, lymphoedema may affect the face.

Not everyone who has surgery to remove lymph nodes or radiotherapy to the lymph nodes will get lymphoedema.

There’s a higher risk if surgery and radiotherapy are given together in the same area.

It’s common to get swelling (oedema) after surgery but this usually settles down gradually. This is different from lymphoedema - if you’re concerned about any swelling always talk to your doctor or nurse.