L-W-O Community supports primary and secondary lymphoedema by promoting emotional wellness, lymphatic health, self-care, patient empowerment, online and in the community.
Secondary Lymphoedema
Secondary Lymphoedema is a failure of the lymphatic pathways because of damage to the normally functioning system.
Not everyone who has cancer or cancer treatment will develop lymphoedema
Why is the lymphatic system important to us? The two videos take a brief look at the lymphatic system explain why the lymphatic system can fail. The lymphatic system is important as it helps protect us from infection and disease. One of the most common causes of failure of the lymphatic system is during or after cancer treatment. Secondary lymphoedema is a failure of the lymphatic system and develops because of damage to a normally functioning system.
While cancer related lymphoedema is one of the most common causes of failure to the lymphatic system other causes of failure to the lymphatic system can include:
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Immobility
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Inflammation
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Obesity
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Trauma & Injury (even an insect bite)
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Venous Diseases
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Cellulitis
In an ideal world every Clinician or student at medical school would study the lymphatic system in detail. Each one of us needs our lymphatic system to function properly so that our health and wellbeing can be maintained.
There are several reasons why cancer related lymphoedema develops, surgery if lymph nodes are removed or a combination of surgery and radiotherapy treatment. Treating lymph nodes or an area of the body where there are lymph nodes with radiotherapy treatment can cause damage and you may develop lymphoedema. Radiotherapy was the reason I developed secondary lymphoedema.
Treatment of some types of cancer are more susceptible to lymphoedema, these include: Bladder, Breast, Cervical, Prostrate, Head & Neck, Penile, Lymphoma, Skin Cancer, Vulva and Womb.
At no stage in my cancer journey was I warned that I could develop lymphoedema. Therefore, I want to see all cancer teams but more importantly all radiotherapists warn patients that they are at risk in developing lymphoedema through radiotherapy treatment. I would have liked to have been given the opportunity to make an informed choice as to whether I had radiotherapy or not.
Signs and Symptons
That those of you at risk should look for
Swelling in the 'at risk' limb or body area
Even if the swelling goes down at night
Heavy feeling or ache in the limb or area of the body
Increasing tightness of clothing or jewellery
Red hot area, rash or 'flu-like symptoms that may suggest cellulitis
Skin changes, thickening of the skin or peau d'orange changes (especially in the breast or abdominal area
Venous Insufficiency
Lymphoedema can also be caused by a venous system that is not working properly in people who have experienced a deep vein thrombosis (DVT), varicose veins, or ulcers. Patients who lack muscle movement are at risk as are patients who have a stroke or develop Multiple Sclerosis.
Venous insufficiency is when the leg veins don’t allow blood to flow back the heart. Under normal circumstances, the valves in your veins ensure that blood flows back to the heart. When the valves do not function properly, blood may flow backwards, causing blood to gather or pool in the legs.
Page first published 2016
Last updated April 2024
Next review April 2026