Lymphedema: A Breast Cancer Patient's Guide to Prevention and Healing

By Jeannie Burt and Gwen White

Women who undergo surgery for breast cancer may end up with lymphedema, a painful, visible swelling, usually of the arm. Coming to their aid, LYMPHEDEMA lays out the many options for preventing and treating the condition. The book provides information on reducing lymphedema through professional therapy as well as exercise and self-massage, plus helpful illustrations and additional resources. It also tells encouraging stories of women who have dealt with lymphedema successfully. With updates throughout on the latest research, products, and techniques, this new edition features expanded nutrition and exercise sections and covers naturopathy, acupuncture, and Chinese herbal medicine, as well as potential future therapies being tested.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Turner Publishing Company
• Release date: Aug 25, 2005
• ISBN: 9781630266189

Reviews for Lymphedema

[bakersfieldbarbara · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Jeannie Burt, a former lymphedema sufferer, has coauthored this book with a Physical Therapist, Gwen White and together they have presented a program that will enhance the life and health of lymphedema sufferers. About 25%of breast cancer surgery patients experience lymphedema, and yet most people are not aware of this disfiguring, painful swelling(usually in the arm). Most doctors feel that little can be done, but the authors show that help IS available. 50 illustrations are included, along with stories of those who have been helped with the information from this book.Some chapters include the signs and symptoms of the disease, diagnosis of it, an explanation of the lymphatic system,and the treatment available. Emotions are discussed, as are obesity, lymphoma in men, causes and types of lymphedema and radiotherapy. This disease is severely neglected in Mexico and Latin America, so this Spanish version will be a welcome gift to anyone suffering and not knowing what to do. Have your bookstore order this, as it is a necessary book for helping cancer patients in their recovery. Finding emotional support is a challenge; this book will be a way to help your loved ones find that support.

[justchris_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Lymphedema is swelling caused by the buildup of lymph fluid as a result of damage to the lymph system interfering with its proper function. In the case of breast cancer, radiation, surgery, and sometimes even chemo and biopsies may destroy, remove, or damage the lymph nodes in the armpit especially, but also in the chest or above the collarbone. So the swelling, if it happens, tends to be limited to the arm on the side of the affected breast, and sometimes just the hand or the affected quadrant of the torso. It's a lifelong complication that may result from cancer treatment, and it is perhaps not so rare. It is also a lifetime risk--a lymphedema attack can occur many years after treatment has ended, given the right confluence of circumstances. No expiration date on this side effect. However, it is still poorly recognized as a potential issue and poorly addressed once it develops, leading to worse outcomes for the sufferers. In other words, the medical establishment tends to discount it given its supposed rarity. In all of those glossy brochures and handouts given at each stage of treatment, lymphedema is alluded to only indirectly by describing some of its symptoms or mentioning it in passing without any real explanation or listing some basic precautions without explaining what they are for. Infection is discussed more explicitly and more often. While my oncologists were less willing to let me consult the physical therapists as a precautionary measure, they did not hesitate when my left hand showed pronounced swelling one day midway through radiation. And I've been lucky so far--just that one day--but I remain vigilant (when I remember).Anyway, all of this is a long prelude to explain that this book Lymphedema: A Breast Cancer Patient's Guide to Prevention and Healing fills a real need. It was published in 1999, but the content is still quite relevant and the need is still real. The authors are a physical therapist specializing in lymphedema care and a "former lymphedema sufferer" who helps other patients via a guided exercise program. The book is a mix of personal anecdotes, physiology overview, and specific recommendations and exercises (with accompanying drawings). It goes into a range of specific physical procedures: manual lymph drainage, scar massage, compression with bandages, compression garments, pumps, breathing, and some weight training. They also discuss the role of emotions, stress, spiritual needs, and nutritional supplements. A list of resources and suppliers is included. Each chapter includes notes giving the specifics of the relevant medical studies and other literature cited, so readers can go straight to the primary sources if they want. I don't know how this compares to the other books available on this topic. It was the only one I found at the local bookstore. It's a keeper for me, despite the massively curling paper covers.