Lymphedema, in response to breastcancer.org, is a persistent situation which causes swelling — usually within the arm or hand on the facet of the breast most cancers remedy — because of a buildup of lymph fluid when the lymphatic system is broken or disrupted. As a result of this situation can develop progressively and tends to progress over time, you will need to concentrate on the danger of lymphedema.
March serves as Lymphedema Consciousness Month, a month which is devoted to rising understanding of this situation and the way it impacts sufferers, in response to the Northeast Georgia Well being System web site.
In an interview with CURE, Dr. Sheri Yolanda Prentiss sat down to talk with us on the subject of Lymphedema Consciousness Month. She expanded on what lymphedema is, the signs of this situation and what steps sufferers can take to make sure they’re being screened previous to beginning their breast most cancers remedy.
Glossary:
L-Dex Testing Utilizing a SOZO Machine: a way that measures extracellular fluid ranges to evaluate lymphedema threat.
Prentiss presently serves because the chief medical and fairness officer at Tradition+; chief resilience officer at ENOUGH International; president and chief government officer at S. Phillips Consulting LLC; and an adjunct assistant professor on the College of Illinois College of Public Well being, in Chicago.
Transcript:
Lymphedema is a buildup of lymphatic fluid that may happen when lymph nodes have been broken. They are often broken by the most cancers itself, surgical procedure, chemotherapy, radiation, or a mixture of those components. This buildup of lymphatic fluid results in swelling.
Lymphedema happens in levels, starting from stage zero to stage three. Within the first two levels, zero and one, swelling will not be seen, and the situation is reversible. Nevertheless, by stage two, lymphedema turns into irreversible and develops right into a persistent illness that requires lifelong administration.
Right here is the factor. Sufferers are actually in a world the place they have to advocate for themselves. Physicians, nurse practitioners, and doctor assistants [are managing] an rising quantity of sufferers whereas dealing with in depth documentation, all whereas navigating their very own lives. I admonish each affected person to advocate for themselves and guarantee they’re screened. The primary query it’s best to ask your self is: What am I doing to make sure the very best survivorship? Upon getting been recognized with most cancers, your care group’s main focus is eradicating most cancers cells. Nevertheless, in that effort, different circumstances — corresponding to lymphedema — could also be missed if you’re not proactive. These circumstances can considerably impression survivorship.
To make sure correct monitoring, it’s best to ask your care group three key questions at your very first appointment, no matter whether or not you’re seeing a surgical oncologist, medical oncologist, or radiation oncologist. All three ought to have the ability to reply these questions:
No.1. Do you have got a lymphedema administration program? If not, the place can I am going for lymphedema care?
No.2. What instruments do you employ to watch for early detection of lymphedema? Particularly, do you provide L-Dex testing utilizing a SOZO gadget?
No.3. How lengthy do you monitor lymphedema sufferers?
These three questions are important to make sure correct lymphedema monitoring and administration.
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