Cancer-Related Lymphedema Treatment
Risk reduction, regular monitoring, and effective treatment
CDT TRAINED 16 years
Although advances in treatment approaches have reduced the occurrence of lymphedema, it is still estimated that one in six people diagnosed with cancer will develop cancer-related lymphedema in their lifetime*.
Though it’s never too late to treat cancer-related lymphedema, early detection and treatment offer the best outcomes. This is why I use a prospective surveillance model* to help you reduce your risk, identify lymphedema early and intervene quickly.
What Is Lymphedema and What Causes It?
Lymphedema is a condition that creates a build-up of lymphatic fluid in the tissues, leading to progressive swelling and tissue changes over time. In the context of cancer and cancer treatment, lymphedema is caused by physical changes and blockage to the lymphatic system. This can occur as a result of:
- Surgery (lymph node dissection or sentinel node biopsy)
- Radiation therapy
- The cancer itself (if blocking or pressing on the lymphatics)
- Infection
Most often, lymphedema develops in the arms and legs, but it can occur anywhere in the body, depending on what lymphatic structures have been impacted in your body. Though lymphedema most commonly occurs within the first 3 years after treatment, it can develop at any time, even years later.
Common Signs and Symptoms of Lymphedema Include:
- Feelings of heaviness, tightness, aching, or itching in the affected area
- Clothing fitting more tightly than usual
- Jewellery and rings not fitting
- Visible swelling
- Pitting edema (your fingerprint stays behind after pressing on the body part)
- Skin thickness or hardness (fibrosis)
Early Detection of Lymphedema
Though it’s never too late to treat lymphedema, the sooner you take action, the more responsive it is to treatment.* This is why if you’re at risk of developing lymphedema, it’s important to understand how to both reduce your risk and be aware of the early signs and symptoms so you can identify it early and access treatment quickly.
This is why I created the Lymphedema Smart Program, so you can access accurate and high-quality information about lymphedema risk reduction and monitoring from the comfort of your own home. This is an invaluable resource for anyone at risk of developing cancer-related lymphedema.
Lymphedema Treatment: Complete Decongestive Therapy
If left untreated, lymphedema is likely to progress over time. This progressive swelling can have a negative impact on your tissue health, cause pain and discomfort, impact your ability to move with ease and have a significant impact on your quality of life.
Thankfully as a Certified Lymphedema Therapist (CLT), we can work together to improve your lymphedema symptoms using the gold standard of treatment: Complete Decongestive Therapy (CDT). The 5 pillars of CDT include:
- Compression Therapy
- Exercise Prescription
- Manual Lymphatic Drainage
- Skin Care Guidance
- Education
In addition to the above, understanding the multiple tools that are within your control to independently manage your lymphedema is crucial. As a result, I also incorporate discussions about self-care strategies, nervous system regulation, and pacing and lifestyle modifications (if required) into all treatment approaches.
Cancer-Related Lymphedema Pathways
Comprehensive In-Person & Online Options to Reduce Your Risk or Treat Your Lymphedema
Lymphedema Smart
Learn everything you need to know about cancer-related lymphedema: what it is, how to reduce your risk, how to monitor & detect it early, and where to access skilled treatment if you think you’re developing lymphedema.
Virtual One-on-One Physiotherapy
Your virtual video appointments will be booked specifically with me. Treatments are personalized to your specific needs to improve your well-being and quality of life. (Available to residents of Ontario, Canada only)
In-Person One-on-One Physiotherapy
Your in-person appointments will be booked specifically with me. Treatments are personalized to your specific needs to improve your wellbeing and quality of life.
The Cancer Rehab Physio Experience
What people are saying
Cancer-Related Lymphedema FAQs
You cannot prevent lymphedema but you can reduce your risk.
Lymphedema prevention implies that you are in complete control and can stop it from happening, which is absolutely false. For example, you cannot control how many lymph nodes you had removed during cancer surgery or whether or not you had radiation therapy (both of which impact the lymph system.)
However, there are factors that you CAN control to both reduce your risk and monitor for early and subtle signs that lymphedema may be starting. This proactive approach sets you up to access treatment quickly when and if it happens. Taking part in the Lymphedema Smart Workshop will give you all the information you need to take action now.
There is no cure for lymphedema, but it can be well-managed with the right treatment. However, a few studies have shown that we MAY be able to reverse stage 0 lymphedema for some individuals, if the right treatment is initiated quickly. The best way to both reduce your lymphedema risk and identify lymphedema early is by participating in my Lymphedema Smart Workshop.
Though most studies say that lymphedema is painless, it has been my experience that many people DO experience pain, a sense of tightness or discomfort with lymphedema. Though we currently don’t have the studies to explain why this happens, I suspect that it has to do our individual body-awareness as well as the sensitivity of our nerve endings to tolerate the pressure created by the tissue swelling.
Lymphedema can develop anywhere in the body, but it is very dependent on what part of the lymphatic system has been damaged. In the case of cancer treatments, knowing where your lymphatic system was compromised is crucial for knowing where you are at risk of developing lymphedema. This information (and more) is covered in detail in my Lymphedema Smart Workshop.
Studies on breast-cancer-related lymphedema have shown that lymphedema most commonly develops in the first 3 years after cancer treatment.* However, we know that the risk of developing lymphedema is lifelong. So, even if your cancer treatments were more than 3 years ago (and you haven’t yet developed lymphedema), you are still at risk and it’s important to be aware of the early signs and symptoms so you can detect it early.
In Phase 1 (the “intensive/decongestive phase”) the goal is to reduce the volume (size) of the affected area and any other related symptoms. The use of a layered compression bandaging system, called Coban2, will be used during this phase. In order to maximize swelling reduction, Coban2 is worn 24/7, with the exception of when it is taken off for our treatment together. (Note: there is an additional cost for the purchase of Coban2.)
We transition to Phase 2 (called the “maintenance phase”) once maximum volume reduction has been achieved. The goal in this long-term phase to is maintain this new “smaller size” as effectively as possible. You will be referred to a compression garment fitter so you can obtain day (and possibly night) compression garments, which are to be worn on a daily basis.
Note: If you’re lymphedema is relatively mild, you will likely not need to receive Phase 1 treatment and will therefore begin with Phase 2 treatment instead.
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