The lead author is Electra Paskett, an epidemiology and biostatistics professor at the School of Public Health at Ohio State University.
The study included 580 diagnosed with breast cancer in the United States. Participants were recruited from 1989 through 2001. The data for these women was examined every 6 to 12 months for a three year period. The women ranged in age from 18 to 45 at the time of diagnosis. Over HALF developed lymphedema. The women were either Stage I, II or III. 319 women developed some hand or arm swelling. 168 women reported persistent swelling within the follow-up period.
Although researchers can not pinpoint why some women develop LE, the condition seems to occur more in women who had a larger number of lymph nodes removed during axillary dissection. Usually the swelling occurs on the same body side as the affected breast. LE can be painful -the body area involved (usually an arm) becomes filled will lymph fluid and is heavy, stiff and the skin becomes hardened and tight. In severe cases, normal clothing does not fit over the affected limb.
The sad fact is that women still are not told about LE as a routine part of post breast cancer treatment. LE has nothing to do with a cancer recurrence. Physicians are still not well versed in diagnosing LE. Manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) conducted by a certified LE therapist and the use of meticulous skin care, self-massage and compression garments often relieve the worst symptoms.
Paskett has a great way of explaining the incidence of lymphedema: "The lymph system is like a freeway. If there is construction or a wreck, all of the cars back up. That's sort of what happens with lymphedema - there is a traffic jam, and the fluid gathers in the arm, hand and fingers." Although more unusual, LE can affect the torso, neck, breast, back and axilla.
The study was conducted in conjunction with Jill Abbott (program manager at Ohio State's Comprehensive Cancer Center), Michelle Naughton and Thomas McCoy (Wake Forest University School of Medicine), Jeanne Petrek (Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Ms. Petrek passed away this year.
For details, check http://researchnews.osu.edu/archive/cans...
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