What Is It?
In a word, swelling. Extra fluid builds up in your tissue when your lymphatic system isn’t working well, usually because your lymph nodes were damaged or removed. It’s often a side effect of cancer treatment and can show up years later.
What Happens
The lymphatic system is part of your immune system. It moves fluid through your body, picking up waste, bacteria, and viruses. Your lymph nodes filter out the waste and flush it from your body.
When something goes wrong, the fluid backs up in your tissue. Most often, your lymph nodes got damaged. Sometimes the vessels get blocked. But lymphedema can also happen without a clear reason.
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Symptoms
It can happen anywhere in your body, including your chest, head, and genitals, but it’s usually in just one arm or leg. The swelling might be so minor that you barely notice, or so severe it makes it hard to move that part of your body well.
A limb that feels full or heavy, skin that seems tight, and jewelry and clothes that are suddenly snug can be from lymphedema. You could be achy or have hardened skin in the affected area.
Who Is Likely to Get It?
Many people with it had surgery to remove lymph nodes to check for the spread of breast cancer, or treated their cancer with surgery or radiation. Being older, overweight, or having rheumatoid or psoriatic arthritis raises your chances.
You could also get it from an infection while traveling in certain tropical countries. Rare disorders passed in families can affect the development of the nodes and vessels in the lymph system, too.
Prevention
After surgery or radiation involving your lymph nodes, keep the affected arm or leg above your heart.
Don’t apply ice or heat to it. Skip tight clothing and jewelry. Don’t cross your legs while sitting …
