Hello, I wanted to ask what the first warning signs may be for Lymphodemia. I had a node clearance in Jan 2024 and have recently been having pain down that arm on the same side and the top of my hand looks podgy. It is also painful to touch.
Any advise?
Hi - you could ask for a referral to your local NHS lymphoedema service to check measurements compared to your other arm and hand and get advice on exercises to help lymph fluid drain.
There are also specialists you can find trained in Manual Lymphatic Drainage massage which may help you.
Also on YouTube there is an account called Cancer Rehab PT which has useful info on exercises you can do at home which may benefit you.
Take care - I know it’s a scary prospect and wondering whether it will develop is very anxiety-inducing. Always good to find sources of self-help as well as potential specialist help.
Best wishes and I hope you stay well.
X
Hello mlp24,
Thank you for posting.
It is understandable that you are wondering whether the pain down your arm and the swelling on the top of your hand may be a sign of lymphoedema.
Pain and swelling can be early symptoms of lymphoedema and as @roxie1 says, it may be appropriate for you to be seen and assessed in a specialist lymphoedema clinic.
If you are still under the care of the breast team, you may wish to contact the breast care nurses who can discuss this with you further. The team may wish to see you in clinic to assess your arm to determine what is causing the swelling. They can then refer you to see a lymphoedema specialist.
If you have been discharged from the hospital, you may find it helpful to make an appointment to see your GP. They can examine your arm and decide whether to refer you to back to the breast clinic as a first step or to a lymphoedema specialist.
If you notice any redness of the skin on your arm or hand, this can be a sign of a skin infection called cellulitis, and we would advise you to see your GP or contact your breast care team as soon as possible.
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