Hi, I was wondering if anyone has any idea about scuba diving if effects the arm, would it cause any lymphoedema? I am going on holiday for a week for scuba diving. I had my operation lumpectomy and 13 lympe nodes removed in February , completed radiotherapy in May, any advice please.
Thanks
Normally swimming, etc is good for both existing lymphoedema and the risk of developing it , but it might be worth checking with your oncologist about how they feel about the scuba - from the radiotherapy viewpoint.
I dont have lymphoedema and i dont know what treatment you are on but my onc told me i couldnt go scuba diving if i was on Tamoxifen, she said it would be ok when i was on Femera. Sorry i know its not answering your question but thought it might be worth mentioning it.
Hope you are not on Tamoxifen so you can enjoy your scubering!
I asked my lymphoedema clinic about long haul flights, and they found me an article in a journal about it - there is possibly increased risk of lymphoedema due to the reduction in air pressure. The article stated that the converse is also true - ie increased pressure is good for lymphoedema, and so scuba diving is a good thing to do.
Yes, that’s my understanding, too. That’s why I think (and I believe this view is becoming more common) a prophylactic sleeve is a good idea, as a preventative measure, when flying, especially long-haul.
As it’s name suggests, it is concerned with using Hyberbaric Oxygen Therapy (ie, what’s breathed by divers) to repair some of the damage caused by radiotherapy (for various sorts of cancer, not just breast cancer).
A lady called harpi has just posted on another thread that her oncologist told her that
I did a PADI Open Water course last year, 5 years after my initial dx and about 18 months after a recurrence. I also have mild lymphoedema. My onc didn’t think there would be any problem at all (and I’ve had extensive rads both times), and the only thing my lymphoedema therapist advised was for me to use my sleeve when I dive. But we’re all different, so it might be an idea to double-check with your team before you start blowing bubbles, just in case… Happy diving!
I went scuba diving 5 months after my op (lumpectomy & 21 lymph nodes removed) and 2 months after radiotherapy. I was on tamoxifen. Was told it would be ok by my consultant as far as they knew - at the time (4 years ago)-seemed to be a hard question to get an answer to.
I had no problems what so ever. And it gave me a sense of getting a bit of my old self back too
Hi Ladies, thank you very much , I think I have already made my mind up and go for it. I will see my onc 21st July , I will ask him but I made my mind already and looking forward to my holiday.
I went scuba diving and got my Open Water and Advanced qualification - go for it you wont regret it. I am fine and had no problems and feel so happy that I have achieved it.
Thank you Wisps, I will , I am really looking forward to this summer as my last summer I was booked in for diving course and it was my 2nd day arriving to my destination, I wore my bikinies and heading to beach in the morning found the lump and end it my holiday there went to hospital instead of the beach…it was very sad I hope this summer everything will go smooth and no more lumps :))