Treating lymphoedema in other parts of the body

As with treatment for arm/leg lymphoedema, good skin| care is essential. Exercises|, keeping to a healthy weight and taking good care of yourself |also important. Your specialist will explain the best way of managing and treating your lymphoedema.

Breast or chest lymphoedema Back to top

Clothing, bras and prostheses

Clothes that are too tight (bras, vests, anything with a tight waistband, etc) can act like a tourniquet and may prevent lymph from draining.

If your bra is too tight around the chest or if the straps dig into the shoulders and under the arm, this can block the flow of lymph out of the chest. Try wearing a bra that has wide and flexible shoulder straps and bands around the chest. It’s also important to make sure you have the right cup size - your lymphoedema specialist can advise you about being correctly measured.

Some breast prostheses are very heavy and can apply pressure to the chest area, making the shoulder straps on a bra dig in. If you need to wear a prosthesis, try to get a lightweight one. Your lymphoedema specialist can advise you about bras and breast prostheses.

Compression bras and vests

Compression bras and specialist vests are available for breast or chest lymphoedema. They often need to be made to measure to make sure they fit properly. You can also use a sports bra. Your lymphoedema specialist can help you get the right garment for your situation.

You may also need to wear a compression sleeve to stop the fluid moving from one area to another, and to help to improve drainage. Compression bandaging isn’t often used to treat lymphoedema of the breast or chest area.

MLD and SLD

Manual lymphatic drainage (MLD)| or simple lymphatic drainage (SLD)| is an important part of treating breast and chest lymphoedema. Your therapist can give you more information about this.

Lymphoedema taping (Kinesio® Taping)

This is a special taping technique| that’s applied directly onto the skin. It gently lifts the top layer of skin, which allows the superficial lymph fluid to flow more easily.

Genital lymphoedema Back to top

Looking after your skin and keeping it clean is particularly important as skin infections can be more common in the genital area. Genital lymphoedema is usually treated with MLD or SLD.

Women may have compression garments specially made, which can be padded to protect swollen areas. Sports clothing or underwear containing lycra may also help, depending on how much swelling there is.

Pelvic floor and tummy (abdominal) exercises combined with deep breathing exercises| can help reduce swelling. Your lymphoedema specialist can show you how to do these.

In men, a scrotal support or specially made compression garments can be used to help to control swelling. Close fitting lycra shorts (cycling shorts or some types of underwear) can also be useful depending on how much swelling there is. Padding can also help to protect swollen areas. Bandaging can sometimes be used if the penis is swollen.

Your specialist can advise which products might be helpful in your situation. Occasionally, surgery| may be used to treat genital lymphoedema.

Head and neck lymphoedema Back to top

Lymphoedema of the face, neck or head is usually managed with MLD and SLD. Occasionally, special, low pressure compression garments can be made for use here. But compression should never be applied to the neck area. Surgery is occasionally used to treat lymphoedema of the eyelids.

Any condition that affects the appearance of the head and neck area can be hard to cope with. It’s important to get support from professionals and those close to you if you need it.