Being this is breast cancer awareness month, this is a good time to take a look at lymphedema. Dr. Bates has taken the time to do a very extensive write up on the condition. It can be associated with radiation and breast cancer, but there are other cases not associated as well. A picture is worth 1000 words, so you get the idea of what it looks like with swelling, etc.
Very good and detailed article and worth reading. BD
Lymphedema is a very debilitating and progressive condition with no known cure. The unfortunate patient faces a lifelong
struggle. Frequency: * In the United States, the highest incidence of lymphedema is observed following breast cancer surgery, particularly among those who undergo radiation therapy following axillary lymphadenectomy. Among this population, 10-40% develop some degree of ipsilateral upper extremity lymphedema.
Worldwide, 140-250 million cases of lymphedema are estimated to exist, with filariasis being the most common cause.
In the United States, it commonly results from damage or removal of regional lymph nodes through surgery (ie axillary dissection), radiation, infection, or tumor invasion or compression.
All three forms of primary lymphedema likely originate from a developmental abnormality that is present, but not always clinically evident, at birth. Some cases may become evident later in life when a triggering event or worsening of the condition causes the lymphatic transport capacity to exceed the volume of interstitial fluid formation, causing the patient to be unable to maintain normal lymphatic flow.
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