Lymphedema: when lymph nodes have been removed

Breast cancer haunts a woman for the rest of her life, if, like me, she has had lymph nodes removed, which most women who have surgery have at least one or two removed. Even if they weren't cancerous, you MUST remember that they were removed and make sure ALL your health care providers know you have a NO BLOOD ban on that arm for the rest of your life from which the nodes were removed.

Seriously! Having your blood pressure or a tourniquet used on the same arm that lymph nodes were removed, now and for the rest of your life, you will you risk getting lymphedema. And lymphedema can easily kill you!

Lymphedema is an accumulation of lymphatic fluid causing abnormal swelling of the arms, legs, breast, abdomen, neck or head. Lymphedema develops when lymphatic vessels are damaged or lymph nodes are removed (secondary), or when lymphatic vessels are impaired or missing (primary). Lymphedema occurs when the impairment becomes so great that the lymphatic fluid exceeds the lymphatic transport capacity. Lymphedema becomes apparent when the protein rich fluid builds up and swelling begins.

Any invasive procedure should be done with care. Other potential problems to consider:

• Vaccinations in the affected arm
  
• Blood Pressure readings in the affected arm

What information should you include on your medical bracelet for Lymphedema? For Breast cancer survivors, Wearing a medical id alert bracelet is an important step you can take to increase their odds of remaining lymphedema-free, or to keep your existing lymphedema under control, while educating the medical community at the same time.

• The arm that's affected.
• Any emergency procedures that should be avoided.

Now, this is NOT an ad to get you to purchase a band. Quite the contrary. This blog intends to share any and all FREE and LOW COST options for Breast Cancer Patients.

Arm bands and alert bracelets are a great way to alert health care professionals to avoid using an arm for blood pressures, IVs, or blood draws. Peninsula Medical offers a free lymphedema alert band from their website (http://www.lymphedema.com/alertband.htm). The bands look like hospital ID bands and patients are usually allowed to wear them during procedures and other hospital visits.

Now for those who are looking for something a bit more stylish, the National Lymphedema Network offers a more traditional, medic alert style bracelet for $18. They also offer fashionable beaded versions of the medic alert for $22. These are both available on the National Lymphedema Network's website (http://www.lymphnet.org/). You can also find some really nice ones on eBay.

Please note: most hospitals will not allow the more traditional medic alert bracelets to be worn during proceedures. These bands are also most likely to be overlooked by health care providers since they look like jewelry, but if they serve as a reminder to you to tell your health care providers about your Lymphedema risk, then they have served their purpose -- especially if you don't want the neon pink or green bands offered free from National Lymphedema Network.

Just remember, if they don't look at your band because it looks like jewelry and you aren't able to warn amybody about your Lymphedema risk, you could be in serious danger. Neon pink or green bands may be the only thing that saves your life. Perhaps you could keep one discretely hidden...

Jalanne

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

I have breast cancer and am currently going through chemotherapy. I may well have had an enormous malignant cancer lump in my breast by the time my annual mammogram rolled around, if I had not been so obsessed with finding out exactly what that cyst (that's been around forever!) was up to.

I was biopsied, (quite by coincidence and good fortune) very early, just when my cancer was turning into malignant cancer (it was only .07mm). A month later, when I had surgery, my surgeon removed a 7mm (which is about 1/4 inch) lump of cancer. The mass removed was 10 times the size it had been 27 days before!

So instead of having a 1 and a half inch by 2 inch mass removed in June this year, imagine, at that rate of growth, how big that cancerous lump would be when I go in next April for my annual mammogram?

It is frightening to know how close I came to losing everything. Check your breasts often (by professionals and yourself), question everything and push your doctors to make sure, absolutely sure, that you don't have anything growing in you that could kill you!

Jalanne