Forum Discussion
Lymphodema Swelling During Chemo
Hi All
i had a simple mastectomy with auxiliary lymph node removal at the end of February and had my first TC chemo on the 26th March. On Wednesday I noticed that the veins on the inside on my wrist weren’t as prominent on the arm that had the nodes removed and so I measured my arms for comparison and they appear to be about the same size. My lymphodema physio says that it may not necessarily be lymphodema as she see patients with swelling like this during treatment. She has given me a sleeve to wear as I willl need one for flying in the future but I was wondering if anyone else has experienced this?? Thanks xo
i had a simple mastectomy with auxiliary lymph node removal at the end of February and had my first TC chemo on the 26th March. On Wednesday I noticed that the veins on the inside on my wrist weren’t as prominent on the arm that had the nodes removed and so I measured my arms for comparison and they appear to be about the same size. My lymphodema physio says that it may not necessarily be lymphodema as she see patients with swelling like this during treatment. She has given me a sleeve to wear as I willl need one for flying in the future but I was wondering if anyone else has experienced this?? Thanks xo
21 Replies
- @Sister - thanks so much!!
- I think it's as @afraser says - BIS. And L-Dex is short for Lymphoedema Index. This is what I found with a quick google:
- Bioimpedance scanning (BIS): Instead of measuring the volume of the arm, bioimpedance scanning detects the amount of fluid in the arm. The scanning device passes a small, painless electrical current through the limb and measures resistance to the current. Measurements are taken all the way up and down the arm. The higher the fluid content in the spaces between the tissues (also known as interstitial fluid), the lower the resistance. It’s thought that BIS is most useful when there are early changes in the arm associated with lymphedema, even before any symptoms become apparent.
- @Sister - how ironic!!
- @"Kiwi Angel" Sorry for the delayed reply - I was sitting in the lymphoedema clinic waiting room when I first responded! I think they call it an Eldex or something similar measurement... It's taken using some sort of device and with electrodes on your skin. They take a measurement and compare both sides. Apparently, it's more accurate at getting some sort of baseline than measurement, although at the clinic I've been going to, they take both.
- Good news that this may be entirely temporary! Lymphatic fluid measurement is usually BIS - bioimpedance scanning, which gives a more accurate idea of any increase in fluid than observation or measurement.
- @Glemmis - thanks for that - a heartening response that hopefully it may not be permanent. How do they measure the fluid levels??
- Hi @"Kiwi Angel", I had mastectomy & nodes removed & developed lymphodema during chemo. It was mild but got into to see a therapist straight away. Fluid levels under 10 are pretty normal, mine were 22 so had to wear a sleeve & also had massaging done by her & also did it nightly at home. The levels went down but then rose again during radiotherapy. It has completely resolved & had my final appointment with her a month ago, 10 months after radiotherapy. It happens to some people but doesn't mean it is permanent & if treated quickly can prevent further problems.
- @Sister - she just measures the size of them. What is involved with the testing of fluid levels??
- Does your physio test fluid levels in each arm?
- Thanks for that @Jane221 good to know it is possible. Will let my oncologist know.
