Lymphedema, a little-known side effect of breast cancer

Once you overcome breast cancer, life won’t always be a bed of roses. Many survivors of these types of tumors experience lymphedema, a little-known but devastating side effect of their treatments.

This is a complex complication that can occur after treatment for breast cancer, causing swelling of certain parts of the body, especially the arms. This inflammation or swelling occurs because the lymphatic system, which normally removes fluid from the body, may not work well after cancer treatment.

The problem is that in addition to the physical symptoms, lymphedema also affects the way women feel about their bodies.

Cancer is successfully treated, but sometimes new complications arise

Concerned about its effects, a team of researchers from the European University decided to conduct a study to understand how lymphedema changes the way these women see their bodies and how it affects them on a daily basis. The results were recently published in Breast cancer research .

To better understand the problem, the researchers conducted a study with twenty women who had gone through similar experiences. We have also included the opinions of doctors with in-depth knowledge on this issue. We collect all this information through interviews, notes and letters from victims.

The study led to two main findings. First, lymphedema after breast cancer surgery is considered a new disease by these women. And secondly, facing this new situation can lead to radical changes in your life. Women learn to take care of themselves differently and see their bodies differently.

Look in the mirror and you won’t recognize yourself

Although medicine has advanced greatly, living with lymphedema is a serious challenge. For one, it affects the ability to properly drain lymph fluid from the area, causing swelling and hardening of the skin, which can cause recurrent infections.

But it affects not only the body, but also the well-being of these women, and can also affect their personal, social and work areas.

“It’s very difficult to look in the mirror and see yourself disfigured and not recognize yourself” or “to feel like your body is limiting you in simple things like washing or getting dressed,” one victim said.

“You feel inflated like a balloon,” “when I see myself in a photograph, I don’t recognize myself,” or “I’m obsessed with sleeping with my arm raised so it doesn’t swell anymore” are other testimonies from these women. . These are situations that can be extremely difficult.

The study also concluded that these women typically learn to take care of themselves in new ways, demonstrating greater adaptability. In the new situation that lymphedema presents, you need to adapt, seek help, and find ways to feel better.

But beyond personal resilience, it is important that lymphedema and its possible treatments are known to both healthcare professionals and affected women. Today, comprehensive decongestive therapy based on manual lymphatic drainage, restraint measures, hygienic-dietary measures and exercise is considered the most appropriate treatment with the greatest scientific support.

This is why it is so important for people to know about lymphedema, to better support women who face the ongoing challenge of living with it.