The need for proactive approach to lymphedema

It seems treatment varies greatly - presumably degree of impairment also. Many of us "get away" with off the shelf garments for exercise or in my case for each chemo and Herceptin treatment swelling . Some of us then get swelling and heaviness which requires further treatment. Problem is with diagnosis etc. For me treatment was month long program of several hours massage, exercise and either laser or swimming on alternate days. This was when i took my daily shower pnce bandaging removed. Custom garments came at end of this month which were worn 24/7 for year or more. Some continue with this. Once arm bandaged swelling moved down into hand so,then that was also bandaged. Hence arm garment and gauntlet worn for a year or more. Now on,y wear arm garment for exercise or travel. I was lucky, although i waited what i thought was a long time 3 or 4 months from initial heaviness, others come once the lymphoedema is thick and forget the word anyway less likely to respond to treatment. For me water exercises the easiest, weight bearing ones good too although difficulty can be not overdoing for those of us starting from a point of negligible exercise.