I had WLE and ANC on my right side in Sep 2013 followed bit Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy. Obviously I had all blood tests and Chemo in my left arm as it was not my at risk arm. I finished Chemo at the end of Feb 2014 and since then have developed little dents in my left arm, starting with one in the lower arm, and gradually developing more. My arm is only slightly swollen, about 1 cm larger than my right arm. When I went for my final oncology check in May the oncologist didn’t know what it was (she wears the registrar and I wish she would have called in the consultant to ask), but sent me for a ultrasound scan to rule out a blood clot. She said it could be lymphoedema, but I didn’t think you could get it in the wrong side. I have asked 3 nurses since who said they don’t know, and been to my GP twice. He has referred me to a lymphoedema nurse and I have been waiting for the appointment for about 3 weeks now. Does anyone know if you can get lymphodema in the wrong arm, and what could cause it? I am worried that there may be something untoward in my lymph nodes?
Does your hospital team have access to an L-DEX machine or could you be referred to somewhere that does?
It’s s simple painless test. An electrical signal travels through the fluid surrounding the cells which make up the muscle and tissue of the arm. Increased fluid means the electrical signal will travel more easily through the arm. Patients who have had ANC at the (NHS) hospital where I was treated are tested periodically to monitor whether they are developing lymphoedema.
Just a thought - might be worth asking,
Apparently there is a small risk of getting lymphoedema from the chemotherapy itself.
You did the right thing by having it in the other arm as the risk would have been much higher if you’d had it in the arm with the lymph nodes removed.