Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesComplicationsRisk FactorsDiagnosisFind a SpecialistTreatmentCoping
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Complications
Risk Factors
Diagnosis
Find a Specialist
Treatment
Coping
Lymphedema(swelling) occurs whenlymph nodesor lymph vessels are damaged or blocked. It occurs in about 20% of people treated forbreast cancer, though the number can vary depending on specific therapies (radiation as part of care, for example).It is a common complication of breast cancer as lymph fluid fails to drain normally from the affected area.
Symptoms of lymphedema typically affect the arm on the same side as the cancer. It can be painful, cause swelling in the arm, hand, and chest wall, and lead to heaviness and fatigue in the arm.
This article explains lymphedema symptoms and their cause. It discusses some of the risk factors and complications, as well as how lymphedema can be diagnosed and treated.
Robert Daemmrich Photography Inc/ Getty Images
Lymphedema Symptoms
Sometimes lymphedema is temporary, occurring just after surgery and then resolving. Often, however, it’s a chronic condition.
It may wax and wane over the course of your life, even after your breast cancer is cured. In rare cases, lymphedema may occur decades after breast cancer surgery.
Lymphedema occurs in four stages, each of which varies in terms of symptoms:
Proper treatment can keep lymphedema from advancing, so it’s important to catch it early, preferably in stage 2. Breast lymphedema can look like visible swelling, with your clothes or jewelry becoming tight or an indentation (pitting edema) when you press your skin.
Other signs and symptoms to watch for in your arm include:
Can You Get Lymphedema Without Having Lymph Nodes Removed?You can develop lymphedema even if your lymph nodes were not removed during breast cancer treatment. Pressure from a tumor or damage from surgery or radiation can affect the lymphatic system and lead to lymphedema.
Can You Get Lymphedema Without Having Lymph Nodes Removed?
You can develop lymphedema even if your lymph nodes were not removed during breast cancer treatment. Pressure from a tumor or damage from surgery or radiation can affect the lymphatic system and lead to lymphedema.
How the Lymphatic System Works
Lymphedema Causes
Breast cancer can result in lymphedema when:
What Are Lymphedema Complications?
If lymphedema isn’t well managed, it can lead to complications that shorten your life expectancy.
Lymphangiosarcoma
The most serious complication of lymphedema is a rare and deadly type of cancer calledlymphangiosarcoma. It results from prolonged, poorly managed lymphedema.
Lymphangiosarcoma symptoms include:
The five-year survival rate for someone with lymphangiosarcoma is about 5%.
Cellulitis
Cellulitis is a skin infection. Trapped fluids are an ideal place for germs to flourish, so it’s common in lymphedema.
Symptoms to watch for include:
Cellulitis is typically treated with antibiotics, wound care, rest, and elevation.
Cellulitis: Everything You Need to Know
Sepsis
Sepsisis a blood infection. It can result from untreated cellulitis. Sepsis is potentially fatal and is always a medical emergency.
Symptoms of sepsis include:
Get immediate medical attention if you develop these symptoms.
What Is the Life Expectancy With Lymphedema?Lymphedema that’s well managed shouldn’t lower your life expectancy. However, poor management can lead to complications that may be fatal. These include a type of cancer called lymphangiosarcoma and serious infections (cellulitis and sepsis).
What Is the Life Expectancy With Lymphedema?
Lymphedema that’s well managed shouldn’t lower your life expectancy. However, poor management can lead to complications that may be fatal. These include a type of cancer called lymphangiosarcoma and serious infections (cellulitis and sepsis).
Lymphedema Risk Factors
Certain treatments or other factors can raise your risk of developing lymphedema. Treatment-related risk factors include:
Having immediate breast reconstruction may lower your lymphedema risk.
Other risk factors include:
Does Lymphedema Go Away?Lymphedema within a few days after surgery tends to be mild and resolves quickly. It also can occur four to six weeks after radiation, and then gradually go away. However, the most common type develops two years or more after treatment and tends to be permanent.
Does Lymphedema Go Away?
Lymphedema within a few days after surgery tends to be mild and resolves quickly. It also can occur four to six weeks after radiation, and then gradually go away. However, the most common type develops two years or more after treatment and tends to be permanent.
Definition and Function of Lymph Nodes
Diagnosing Lymphedema With Breast Cancer
Lymphedema is diagnosed based on your physical examination and may involve some diagnostic testing as well. The arm swelling is usually evident, but it can be subtle. Most healthcare providers recommend screening for breast cancer-related lymphedema both during and after treatment.
There are times when your medical team may be concerned that lymphedema is a sign of an infection or cancer extension.Congestive heart failurecan also cause arm swelling, as canblood clots in the arm. Your medical team may need to rule out these health problems, and diagnostic tests can help clarify the cause of your arm swelling.
Imaging tests such ascomputed tomography (CT), ultrasound, ormagnetic resonance imaging (MRI)scans can often identify masses or areas of infection.
Breast Cancer Healthcare Provider Discussion GuideGet our printable guide for your next healthcare provider’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.Download PDFEmail AddressSign UpThank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up.There was an error. Please try again.
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How to Find a Lymphedema Specialist
If your cancer care team suspects or discovers lymphedema, they’ll likely refer you to a lymphedema therapist. That’s typically a physical therapist with special training in treating this condition.
One of your doctors may oversee your lymphedema treatment or they may send you to a lymphologist. They’re often plastic and reconstructive surgeons with expertise in treating lymphoma and other conditions of the lymphatic system.
Your care team may have recommendations for you. To research these specialists on your own, you can start with these databases:
Lymphedema Treatment
Symptoms of lymphedema, such as swelling and pain, can often be managed. The lymph nodes and lymphatic vessels cannot be repaired, but they may heal on their own.
Lymphedema treatments include:
Lymphedema can’t be cured and you should expect to have recurrences. Keeping it managed prevents it from advancing and having a bigger impact on your quality of life or leading to serious complications.
Lymphedema QuestionnairesLymphedema can have a major negative effect on your quality of life. Healthcare practitioners use several lymphedema questionnaires to gauge its impact. You may be given one or asked a series of questions at your medical visits.
Lymphedema Questionnaires
Lymphedema can have a major negative effect on your quality of life. Healthcare practitioners use several lymphedema questionnaires to gauge its impact. You may be given one or asked a series of questions at your medical visits.
When you have lymphedema, it’s important to avoid anything that might worsen your condition or cause complications. You will need to make a few adjustments to your daily life to avoid exacerbating your lymphedema:
Air Travel With LymphedemaSome people with lymphedema avoid air travel, but researchers have found that air travel does not increase the risk of developing lymphedema or worsening the condition.Lymphedema and air travel can both increase the risk of blood clots, so ask your healthcare provider if you should take any special precautions.
Air Travel With Lymphedema
Some people with lymphedema avoid air travel, but researchers have found that air travel does not increase the risk of developing lymphedema or worsening the condition.Lymphedema and air travel can both increase the risk of blood clots, so ask your healthcare provider if you should take any special precautions.
Summary
Lymphedema can be treated with compression sleeves and other interventions. Rarely, a serious complication such as sepsis can prove life-threatening though lymphedema itself is not.
Early treatment and appropriate care are important, so let your healthcare provider know if you develop arm swelling for the first time or if your lymphedema worsens.
13 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Pagliara D, Grieco F, Rampazzo S, Pili N, Serra PL, Cuomo R,et al.Prevention of Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema: An Up-to-Date Systematic Review of Different Surgical Approaches.J Clin Med. 2024 Jan 18;13(2):555. doi:10.3390/jcm13020555.Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.Lymphedema treatment after breast cancer.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Treating lymphedema.American Cancer Society.Lymphedema.UpToDate.Who gets lymphedema?American Cancer Society.Angiosarcoma of the breast.Mihara M, Hara H, Hayashi Y, et al.Pathological steps of cancer-related lymphedema: histological changes in the collecting lymphatic vessels after lymphadenectomy[published correction appears in PLoS One. 2013;8(5). doi: 10.1371/annotation/6fff4d28-3f99-44eb-82d6-ccd885a1ba11].PLoS One. 2012;7(7):e41126. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0041126American Academy of Dermatology Association.Cellulitis: Diagnosis and treatment.National Institutes of Health, U.S. National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Sepsis.Gillespie TC, Sayegh HE, Brunelle CL, Daniell KM, Taghian AG.Breast cancer-related lymphedema: risk factors, precautionary measures, and treatments.Gland Surg. 2018;7(4):379-403. doi:10.21037/gs.2017.11.04Johns Hopkins Medicine.Breast cancer: Lymphedema after treatment.Cornelissen AJM, Kool M, Keuter XHA, et al.Quality of life questionnaires in breast cancer-related lymphedema patients: Review of the literature.Lymphat Res Biol. 2018;16(2):134-139. doi:10.1089/lrb.2017.0046Co M, Ng J, Kwong A.Air travel and postoperative lymphedema-a systematic review.Clin Breast Cancer. 2018;18(1):e151-e155. doi:10.1016/j.clbc.2017.10.011Additional ReadingCo M, Ng J, Kwong A.Air travel safety in postoperative breast cancer patients: A systematic review.Clin Breast Cancer. 2018 Oct;18(5):e813-e817. doi:10.1016/j.clbc.2018.05.003Karafa M, Karafova A, Szuba A.The effect of different compression pressure in therapy of secondary upper extremity lymphedema in women after breast cancer surgery.Lymphology. 2018;51(1):28-37.Michelotti A, Invernizzi M, Lopez G, Lorenzini D, Nesa F, De Sire A, et al.Tackling the diversity of breast cancer related lymphedema: Perspectives on diagnosis, risk assessment, and clinical management.Breast. 2019 Apr;44:15-23. doi:10.1016/j.breast.2018.12.009
13 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Pagliara D, Grieco F, Rampazzo S, Pili N, Serra PL, Cuomo R,et al.Prevention of Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema: An Up-to-Date Systematic Review of Different Surgical Approaches.J Clin Med. 2024 Jan 18;13(2):555. doi:10.3390/jcm13020555.Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.Lymphedema treatment after breast cancer.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Treating lymphedema.American Cancer Society.Lymphedema.UpToDate.Who gets lymphedema?American Cancer Society.Angiosarcoma of the breast.Mihara M, Hara H, Hayashi Y, et al.Pathological steps of cancer-related lymphedema: histological changes in the collecting lymphatic vessels after lymphadenectomy[published correction appears in PLoS One. 2013;8(5). doi: 10.1371/annotation/6fff4d28-3f99-44eb-82d6-ccd885a1ba11].PLoS One. 2012;7(7):e41126. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0041126American Academy of Dermatology Association.Cellulitis: Diagnosis and treatment.National Institutes of Health, U.S. National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Sepsis.Gillespie TC, Sayegh HE, Brunelle CL, Daniell KM, Taghian AG.Breast cancer-related lymphedema: risk factors, precautionary measures, and treatments.Gland Surg. 2018;7(4):379-403. doi:10.21037/gs.2017.11.04Johns Hopkins Medicine.Breast cancer: Lymphedema after treatment.Cornelissen AJM, Kool M, Keuter XHA, et al.Quality of life questionnaires in breast cancer-related lymphedema patients: Review of the literature.Lymphat Res Biol. 2018;16(2):134-139. doi:10.1089/lrb.2017.0046Co M, Ng J, Kwong A.Air travel and postoperative lymphedema-a systematic review.Clin Breast Cancer. 2018;18(1):e151-e155. doi:10.1016/j.clbc.2017.10.011Additional ReadingCo M, Ng J, Kwong A.Air travel safety in postoperative breast cancer patients: A systematic review.Clin Breast Cancer. 2018 Oct;18(5):e813-e817. doi:10.1016/j.clbc.2018.05.003Karafa M, Karafova A, Szuba A.The effect of different compression pressure in therapy of secondary upper extremity lymphedema in women after breast cancer surgery.Lymphology. 2018;51(1):28-37.Michelotti A, Invernizzi M, Lopez G, Lorenzini D, Nesa F, De Sire A, et al.Tackling the diversity of breast cancer related lymphedema: Perspectives on diagnosis, risk assessment, and clinical management.Breast. 2019 Apr;44:15-23. doi:10.1016/j.breast.2018.12.009
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Pagliara D, Grieco F, Rampazzo S, Pili N, Serra PL, Cuomo R,et al.Prevention of Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema: An Up-to-Date Systematic Review of Different Surgical Approaches.J Clin Med. 2024 Jan 18;13(2):555. doi:10.3390/jcm13020555.Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.Lymphedema treatment after breast cancer.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Treating lymphedema.American Cancer Society.Lymphedema.UpToDate.Who gets lymphedema?American Cancer Society.Angiosarcoma of the breast.Mihara M, Hara H, Hayashi Y, et al.Pathological steps of cancer-related lymphedema: histological changes in the collecting lymphatic vessels after lymphadenectomy[published correction appears in PLoS One. 2013;8(5). doi: 10.1371/annotation/6fff4d28-3f99-44eb-82d6-ccd885a1ba11].PLoS One. 2012;7(7):e41126. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0041126American Academy of Dermatology Association.Cellulitis: Diagnosis and treatment.National Institutes of Health, U.S. National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Sepsis.Gillespie TC, Sayegh HE, Brunelle CL, Daniell KM, Taghian AG.Breast cancer-related lymphedema: risk factors, precautionary measures, and treatments.Gland Surg. 2018;7(4):379-403. doi:10.21037/gs.2017.11.04Johns Hopkins Medicine.Breast cancer: Lymphedema after treatment.Cornelissen AJM, Kool M, Keuter XHA, et al.Quality of life questionnaires in breast cancer-related lymphedema patients: Review of the literature.Lymphat Res Biol. 2018;16(2):134-139. doi:10.1089/lrb.2017.0046Co M, Ng J, Kwong A.Air travel and postoperative lymphedema-a systematic review.Clin Breast Cancer. 2018;18(1):e151-e155. doi:10.1016/j.clbc.2017.10.011
Pagliara D, Grieco F, Rampazzo S, Pili N, Serra PL, Cuomo R,et al.Prevention of Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema: An Up-to-Date Systematic Review of Different Surgical Approaches.J Clin Med. 2024 Jan 18;13(2):555. doi:10.3390/jcm13020555.
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.Lymphedema treatment after breast cancer.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Treating lymphedema.
American Cancer Society.Lymphedema.
UpToDate.Who gets lymphedema?
American Cancer Society.Angiosarcoma of the breast.
Mihara M, Hara H, Hayashi Y, et al.Pathological steps of cancer-related lymphedema: histological changes in the collecting lymphatic vessels after lymphadenectomy[published correction appears in PLoS One. 2013;8(5). doi: 10.1371/annotation/6fff4d28-3f99-44eb-82d6-ccd885a1ba11].PLoS One. 2012;7(7):e41126. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0041126
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Cellulitis: Diagnosis and treatment.
National Institutes of Health, U.S. National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Sepsis.
Gillespie TC, Sayegh HE, Brunelle CL, Daniell KM, Taghian AG.Breast cancer-related lymphedema: risk factors, precautionary measures, and treatments.Gland Surg. 2018;7(4):379-403. doi:10.21037/gs.2017.11.04
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Breast cancer: Lymphedema after treatment.
Cornelissen AJM, Kool M, Keuter XHA, et al.Quality of life questionnaires in breast cancer-related lymphedema patients: Review of the literature.Lymphat Res Biol. 2018;16(2):134-139. doi:10.1089/lrb.2017.0046
Co M, Ng J, Kwong A.Air travel and postoperative lymphedema-a systematic review.Clin Breast Cancer. 2018;18(1):e151-e155. doi:10.1016/j.clbc.2017.10.011
Co M, Ng J, Kwong A.Air travel safety in postoperative breast cancer patients: A systematic review.Clin Breast Cancer. 2018 Oct;18(5):e813-e817. doi:10.1016/j.clbc.2018.05.003Karafa M, Karafova A, Szuba A.The effect of different compression pressure in therapy of secondary upper extremity lymphedema in women after breast cancer surgery.Lymphology. 2018;51(1):28-37.Michelotti A, Invernizzi M, Lopez G, Lorenzini D, Nesa F, De Sire A, et al.Tackling the diversity of breast cancer related lymphedema: Perspectives on diagnosis, risk assessment, and clinical management.Breast. 2019 Apr;44:15-23. doi:10.1016/j.breast.2018.12.009
Co M, Ng J, Kwong A.Air travel safety in postoperative breast cancer patients: A systematic review.Clin Breast Cancer. 2018 Oct;18(5):e813-e817. doi:10.1016/j.clbc.2018.05.003
Karafa M, Karafova A, Szuba A.The effect of different compression pressure in therapy of secondary upper extremity lymphedema in women after breast cancer surgery.Lymphology. 2018;51(1):28-37.
Michelotti A, Invernizzi M, Lopez G, Lorenzini D, Nesa F, De Sire A, et al.Tackling the diversity of breast cancer related lymphedema: Perspectives on diagnosis, risk assessment, and clinical management.Breast. 2019 Apr;44:15-23. doi:10.1016/j.breast.2018.12.009
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