Lymphedema what is it??

Lymphedema is a notoriously debilitating progressive condition with no known cure. The unfortunate patient faces a lifelong struggle of medical, and sometimes surgical, treatment fraught with potentially lethal complications.

The underlying problem is lymphatic dysfunction, resulting in an abnormal accumulation of interstitial fluid containing high molecular weight proteins. This condition underscores the tremendous importance of a normally functioninglymphatic system, which returns proteins, lipids, and accompanying water from the interstitium to the venous circulation near the subclavian vein–internal jugular vein junction, bilaterally. The normal and abnormal flow of interstitial fluid through the lymphatic system are demonstrated below.

The body quadrants of superficial lymph drainage.

(1) Normal lymphatic flow in (a) deep systems and (b) superficial systems. Note the small collateral vessels interconnecting the 2 systems. (2) Lymphedema develops from obstruction, dilation of valves, valvular insufficiency, and subsequent reversal of lymphatic flow.

Recent studies

In a randomized, single-blinded clinical trial, Torres et al investigated whether early physiotherapy can reduce the percentage of patients who develop clinically significant secondary lymphedema following breast cancer surgery. The study included 116 women (patients who did or did not receive early physiotherapy) who had undergone breast cancer surgery involving dissection of the ancillary lymph nodes. In the early physiotherapy group, treatment included manual lymph drainage, scar tissue massage, and progressive active and action-assisted shoulder exercises. At 1-year follow-up, the authors found that 25% of patients (14 patients) in the control group had developed secondary lymphedema, compared with 7% of patients (4 patients) in the early physiotherapy group. Torres et al concluded that in women who have undergone the above-described breast cancer surgery, early physiotherapy may help to prevent postoperative secondary lymphedema for at least 1 year.

Results from a randomized, single blind, controlled trial have suggested that in trying to prevent arm lymphedema, manual lymph drainage with instructional guidelines and an exercise program does not provide significantly better results than an exercise program and guidelines alone after axillary lymph node dissection for breast cancer. Researchers reported triple therapy (manual drainage, guidelines, exercise) was not likely to produce medium-to-large effects in reducing lymphedema of the arm in the short term.
#iamstillawoman #lymphedema #lymph #cancer #survivir

Comments

Kate Jackson Breast Cancer a flash back

THE MOST MOMENTOUS CHANGE IN Kate Jackson's life began early one morning in January 1987, during her fourth season on the hit TV series Scarecrow and Mrs. King. After a phone call informed her that the show's taping was canceled because costar Bruce Boxleitner had the flu, Jackson went back to sleep. When she woke several hours later, "It was out of the blue, but perfectly clear," she recalls. "I sat up in bed and literally said, 'You have to have a mammogram.' " She did, and two days later a biopsy confirmed her vague fears: A minute growth found in her left breast was determined to be malignant. "I was forced to face, squared up, my own mortality," says Jackson. "I had to decide whether I wanted to live or to die. And if you choose life, as I did, it's never the same." For three TV seasons 16 years ago, she was famous as Sabrina Duncan, a girl-next-door gone glamorous and the character critics dubbed the brainiest o

The four stages of breast development

In Stage 1 shows the flat breasts of childhood. By Stage 2, breast buds are formed as milk ducts and fat tissue develop. In Stage 3, the breast become round and full, and the areola darkens. Stage 4 shows fully mature breasts. (Illustration by GGS Information Services.) period begins. Usually these signs are accompanied by the appearance of pubic hair and hair under the arms. Once ovulation and menstruation begin, the maturing of the breasts begins with the formation of secretory glands at the end of the milk ducts. The breasts and duct system continue to grow and mature with the development of many glands and lobules. The rate at which breasts grow varies significantly and is different for each young woman. Breast development occurs in five stages: Stage One: In preadolescence, the breasts are flat and only the tip of the nipple is raised. Stage Two: Buds appear, breast and nipple are raised, fat tissue begins to form and the areola (dark area of skin that surrounds

"Hard nipples" - areola or nipple skin

Someone once wrote"... when i get really cold, or get goosebumbs all over my body, the whole things really scrunch up, like, my entire areola scrunches itself up into a wrinkled little mound. it looks really weird and ugly, and i haven't ever seen other people's breasts do it. what is wrong with my areola/nipples??" The answer: Well nothing is wrong. This is what my areola does too. It's a normal reaction to the coldness or to irritation / stimulation. The little muscles in the areola do a similar goosebump thing as your other skin can do. People often call this phenomenon "hard nipples". Also note that skin on areola has less feeling or sensation to it than other areas of your body. If the areola was very sensitive, then breastfeeding would probably be quite uncomfortable because the baby pulls and tugs it! The nipples are sensitive but the sensitivity changes with hormonal changes, such as occur at mestrual cycle or pregnancy. Also this v

I am still a woman - Confessions of a twice cancer survivor - my journey by Nina Ann McCurley

Search This Blog