Obese Fathers and Breast Cancer

Scripture of the Day:

Proverbs 3:8 (NLT)

            Then you will have healing for your body and strength for your bones

Some of these articles I find can be disturbing. I've read where smoking can cause breast cancer, personal obesity can cause breast cancer, and according to this article an obese father can cause breast cancer in his daughter. I find this very disturbing. The article and the various links within can be found at the following link:

Obese fathers may increase daughters' breast cancer risk

Obese fathers may increase daughters' breast cancer risk

Written by Honor Whiteman

Published: Monday 27 June 2016

A number of studies have suggested that a mother's diet and weight in pregnancy affects the breast cancer risk of offspring. Now, new research suggests the same may ring true for fathers; being obese alters the gene expression of sperm, which may raise the risk of breast cancer for their daughters.

Lead investigator Sonia de Assis, Ph.D., of the Department of Oncology at Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center in Washington, D.C., and colleagues present their findings in the journal Scientific Reports.

After skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common canceramong women in the United States, with around 246,660 new cases expected to be diagnosed this year.

It is well established that certain changes to genes can influence a woman's breast cancer risk, and around 5-10 percent of these gene changes are inherited.

Previous studies have shown that a woman's lifestyle factors - such as diet and smoking - may lead to gene mutations that can be passed to offspring, and some studies have indicated that maternal obesity can alter genes that could raise a child's risk for breast cancer.

But according to de Assis and colleagues, few studies have investigated how a father's weight may influence the breast cancer risk of future generations.

Paternal obesity affects sperm, raising daughters' breast cancer risk

To address this research gap, the researchers conducted a study in which they fed male mice either a normal diet (the controls) or an obesity-inducing diet, before mating them with normal-weight female mice.

The researchers then analyzed the breast tissue and rates of breast cancer among offspring.

Compared with female pups with normal-weight fathers, those with obese fathers were overweight at birth, had delayed breast tissue development, and were more likely to develop breast cancer.

On analyzing the sperm of the obese fathers, the team found it had an altered microRNA (miRNA) signature - molecular strands that regulate gene expression. The same altered miRNA expression was found in the breast tissue of their female offspring.

Increased birth weight was also identified among male offspring of obese fathers, but the team says the finding was not statistically significant.

Overall, the authors say their findings indicate that miRNAs pass on epigenetic information from obese fathers to their daughters.

This study provides evidence that, in animals, a father's body weight at the time of conception affects both their daughter's body weight both at birth and in childhood as well as their risk of breast cancer later in life.

Of course our study was done in mice, but it recapitulates recent findings in humans which show that obese men have significant epigenetic alterations in their sperm compared to lean men. Our animal study suggests that those epigenetic alterations in sperm may have consequences for next generation cancer risk."

Sonia de Assis, Ph.D.

The researchers say they now plan to investigate whether their findings apply to humans.

"Until we know about this association in men, we should stick to what we all know is good advice: women - and men - should eat a balanced diet, keep a healthy body weight and lifestyle, not only for their own benefit but also to give their offspring the best chances of being healthy," says de Assis.

If you are making this journey as I am, may God bless you with His healing touch. I know He loves you. 

Dog Breast Cancer

Scripture of the Day:

Psalm 107:20 (NLT)

He sent out His word and healed them, snatching them from the door of death.

We had a cocker spaniel several years ago, that had a huge growth on her mammary glands. It was about the size of an apple. We ended up having to put her down. It never occurred to me that it was breast cancer until yesterday (June 18, 2016). We took our dogs with us when we went to the 301 Endless Yard Sale. We met a lot of dog people. Our current cocker's are getting old and have some ailments. We were comparing notes as you do when this one couple told us about one of their dogs got breast cancer. So I came home and looked it up.

The blue words are links in the actual article that you can find at this link:

Breast Cancer in Dogs

Breast Cancer in Dogs

By 

Bobbi Leder

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, but chances are dog owners have no idea that their dogs can actually get breast cancer. The bad news is that breast (mammary) cancer in dogs is common; the good news is that the disease can be treated successfully if caught early.

According to veterinarian Dr. Race Foster, the most common type of tumor in female dogs is the mammary tumor—especially in (unspayed) dogs between the ages of five to 10 years-old. There are male dogs that do develop breast cancer and, sadly, their prognosis is not good because this type of breast cancer is very aggressive.

Signs of Breast Cancer in Dogs
Similar to human breast cancer, mammary tumors in dogs can range in size. Breast tumors in dogs often grow quickly with an irregular shape. These malignant tumors can also cause bleeding and ulceration. However, if your dog’s tumor does not exhibit these signs, that does not mean your dog is free from breast cancer; small tumors that have been present for a while can suddenly grow aggressively as well. As with most other types of cancer, once malignant tumors in dogs start to grow, the cancerous cells can spread to other parts of the body.

If you find a lump on your dog, do not wait to go to the veterinarian. It is always best to play it safe and have your dog examined by a licensed veterinarian who will perform a biopsy. Half of all mammary tumors in dogs are benign, but do you really want to play guessing games when it comes to your dog’s health?

Treatment of Canine Breast Cancer
Treatment of a malignant tumor usually involves surgery. Similar to breast cancer in humans, dogs will either have just the tumor removed or the entire mammary tissue along with lymph nodes. Dogs’ mammary glands are different than humans in that they are outside of the muscle, so the surgery is not as radical. Dr. Race Foster suggests that unlike humans, chemotherapy and radiation in dogs are not successful.

Canine Breast Cancer Prevention
The best way to prevent breast cancer in female dogs is to spay them before they go into heat for the first time—just another benefit of spaying. By doing this, dog owners can practically eliminate the chances of their dog developing mammary cancer.

If you are making this journey as I am, may God bless you with His healing touch. I know He loves you.

Weight Gain and Breast Cancer

Scripture of the Day:

Psalm 103: 1-5 (NLT)

Let all that I am praise the Lord; with all my whole heart I will praise His name. Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things that He does for me. He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies. He fills my life with good things. He renews my youth like the eagle’s.

I've heard lots of things about weight gain and breast cancer. I quit smoking and immediately gained 50 lb. Then I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I'm curious if that had anything to do with it. If you are concerned about breast cancer and are at risk for breast cancer, it is something to think about. 

I could not find who did or published this article. It does have references at the end of the article. Every article I promote here always has links within the article. I highly recommend that you go to those links for more information. 

Weight Gain Associated with Breast Cancer

Weight gain associated with breast cancer survivorship

Weight gain in breast cancer survivors can affect survival and quality-of-life. This study found that breast cancer survivors are more likely to gain weight than women of the same age who are at high risk, but have never been diagnosed with cancer. The study looked at which groups of survivors were more likely to gain weight.

This study is about:

The weight change that is associated with being a breast cancer survivor with a family history of breast cancer.

Why is this study important?

Weight gain is associated with various health issues. Weight gain is a risk factor for postmenopausal breast cancer.  Among breast cancer survivors, higher Body Mass Index (BMI) and weight gain increases risk for breast cancer recurrence and/or a new primary cancer.  This is one of the few studies that have compared weight gain between previvors (women at increased risk of breast cancer) and breast cancer survivors and looked specifically at women with a family history of breast cancer.  

Key study findings:

1. Breast cancer survivors gained significantly more weight than previvors (an average of approximately 3 pounds was gained by breast cancer survivors).
    
2. Compared to previvors women, survivors who received chemotherapy were 2.1 times more likely to gain at least 11 pounds at the researchers’ follow-up point. 

What does this mean for me?  

This study shows that an association between breast cancer survivors with a family history of breast cancer and weight gain.  While this does not show that being diagnosed with breast cancer directly causes weight gain, maintaining a healthy weight is an important issue that should be discussed with your health care provider because research has shown negative associations with weight gain and increased health problems

RESEARCH SUMMARY

Study background:

Many studies have noted weight gain in breast cancer survivors, but they do not directly compare these women with women who have never been diagnosed with cancer.  Without the comparison, it is harder to see whether breast cancer survivors are actually gaining more weight or not. 

Researchers of this study wanted to know:

Whether breast cancer survivors with a family history of breast cancer gain more weight after their diagnosis compared to previvors.

Population(s) used in the study:  

The study compared 303 breast cancer survivors with 307 previvors who had not had breast cancer.  All women had either a family history of breast or ovarian cancer, a BRCA1/2 mutation, or a diagnosis of early breast cancer (diagnosed at age 40 or younger). Participating breast cancer survivors had a personal history of breast cancer (DCIS or stage I-III breast cancer) that had been treated with surgery.  The previvors included in the study were matched to the survivors based on age and menopausal status.  The breast cancer survivors in this study were further subdivided into two categories: survivors who had been diagnosed with breast cancer 5 years or less prior to the study start date, and survivors who had been diagnosed with breast cancer more than 5 years prior to the study start date. 

Study results:

• Overall, breast cancer survivors gained on average approximately 3 more pounds than previvors.
• When compared with other subtypes, breast cancer survivors who were diagnosed with ER-negative invasive breast cancer within the 5 years prior to the study start date had the greatest weight gain. This group gained on average approximately 7 more pounds than previvors.
• Premenopausal breast cancer survivors diagnosed with breast cancer within the 5 years prior to the study start date gained on average approximately 6 more pounds than premenopausal previvors.  
• Postmenopausal breast cancer survivors diagnosed with breast cancer within the 5 years prior to the study start date gained on average approximately 4 more pounds than postmenopausal previvors.
• Overall, breast cancer survivors who had received chemotherapy with or without hormone therapy gained on average approximately 4 pounds compared to previvors. An average weight gain of approximately 8 pounds was seen in breast cancer survivors treated with chemotherapy only.
• Compared to previvors, survivors who received chemotherapy were 2.1 times more likely to gain at least 11 pounds at the researchers’ follow-up point.

The study had limitations. The majority of the study population was white, which means that these findings might not apply to breast cancer survivors of other racial or ethnic backgrounds.  Researchers also did not directly measure the women’s weights—they relied on self-reporting, which may not have been accurate. Additionally, breast cancer survivors who were not at elevated risk were not included in the comparisons. 

Conclusion:

This is a highly relevant study for breast cancer survivors. It shows that in women with a family history of breast cancer and/or a mutation in a gene that increases cancer risk, breast cancer survivorship is a risk factor for weight gain. However, it is important to remember that this is only an association—the study does not show that the weight gain is caused by the breast cancer or the chemotherapy used to treat the breast cancer. More research is needed to find the exact cause, but the study’s authors note that the chemotherapy associated weight gain might be due to less physical activity or with changes in the patient’s metabolism. 

It is also important to note that the average overall weight gain in this study was approximately 3 pounds in breast cancer survivors. Currently we do not know whether gaining that amount increases risk of second primary cancer development or cancer recurrence. For comparison, a study done by Dr. Michelle Holmes’ research group found that women who gained between 0.5 and 2.0 kg/m2 (average weight gain of approximately 7 pounds) and women who gained more than 2.0 kg/m2 (average weight gain of approximately 20 pounds) had elevated risk of breast cancer death compared to women who maintained their weight.

In summary, there is an association between breast cancer and weight gain, and potential health problems are associated with weight gain. Researchers do not know the exact effect that gaining 3 pounds will have on breast cancer survivors. American Cancer Society guidelines say women should try to maintain their weight after a breast cancer diagnosis. 

References

Gross A, May B, Axilbund J, et al. “Weight Change in Breast Cancer Survivors Compared to Cancer-Free Women: A Prospective Study in Women at Familial Risk of Breast Cancer.” Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, published online first July 15, 2015.

Kroenke C, Chen W, Rosner B, Holmes M. “Weight, Weight Gain, and Survival After Breast Cancer Diagnosis.” Journal of Clinical Oncology (2005) 23:1370-78.

posted 8/24/15

If you are making this journey as I am, may God bless you with His healing touch. I know He loves you.

Myths and Truths

Scripture of the Day:

III John 2: 2

Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.

Every year we hold a family reunion. At these reunions, each family makes a quilt block, that my cousin Sonia makes into a quilt for the next year. We usually raffle the quilt off. This year (2011) they gave it to me. Thank you Sonia and family.

There are so many articles out there about one thing or another having to do with breast cancer.  You really don't know what is true and what is not. The following article is about the myths of breast cancer. Some of what it claims actually surprises me. The link for this article is at the end of the page. When you go to the site, each of the numbered items is a link. For more information, I recommend you go to the site to take a closer look at each item. Each of the blue colored items is also a link and some will take you to pertinent information and some to advertisements. If you hold your cursor over the words, you can see what you are going to. I'm not sure I agree with all of these. I can tell you that I know of a number of people that found their lump using the self exam. How they can discourage us from keeping an eye on our own body is unbelievable to me. 

31 Myths and Truths

WARNING: Hearing the truth about breast cancer may surprise you. And it should motivate you.

It’s time to move beyond awareness to action. It’s time to peel back the pink to see what’s really happening in breast cancer research, treatment, prevention and cure.

Our breast cancer myths and truths are backed by science, documented by credible and trusted sources and chosen because they are often misunderstood by or misrepresented to the general public.

We challenge you to become educated, speak up on behalf of women and men everywhere and take action to end this disease. We also call on you to help us spread this message to people you know: friends, family, coworkers, anyone who cares about ending breast cancer.

We will show you the way and give you the tools to get involved and make a difference.

Please join us.

• Myth #1: Monthly breast self-exams save lives
• Myth #2: Mammograms can only help and not harm you
• Myth #3: MRI is better than mammography because it finds more cancer
• Truth #4: When breast cancer shows up on a mammogram, it may have been in your body for 6-10 years
• Truth #5: Breast cancer mortality rates are declining
• Myth #6: Mammograms prevent breast cancer
• Truth #7: We don’t know how to prevent breast cancer
• Myth #8: Most women with breast cancer have a family history of the disease
• Myth #9: Men don’t get breast cancer
• Truth #10: Risk of breast cancer increases with age; 50% of breast cancer occurs among women aged 62 years or older
• Truth #11: Most people think they have a higher risk of breast cancer than they actually do
• Myth #12: Everyone's breast cancer is the same
• Myth #13: Everyone who has a positive BRCA 1 or BRCA 2 test result will get breast cancer
• Truth #14: The mortality rate from breast cancer is higher for African American women than for Caucasian women
• Myth #15: In terms of survival, removing the entire breast is better than just cutting the cancer out and getting radiation
• Myth #16: There are drugs that can prevent breast cancer
• Myth #17: Once diagnosed with breast cancer, it’s very important to make treatment decisions immediately
• Myth #18: Second opinions are only for treatment options. Once I know I have breast cancer, I can get a second opinion on how to treat the disease
• Truth #19: Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) increases your risk of breast cancer
• Myth #20: With new treatments we can now cure breast cancer
• Truth #21: You should question your doctor
• Myth #22: If I am not a scientist, then I won’t be able to understand breast cancer research
• Truth #23: Your tax dollars fund a significant amount of breast cancer research
• Myth #24: My Senators and Members of Congress have no role in what happens in breast cancer
• Myth #25: The media accurately reports breast cancer science
• Myth #26: All breast cancer research is good because it moves us toward prevention and a cure
• Myth #27: Breast cancer survivors are too close to the issue to participate in how research money is spent
• Truth #28: Less than 3% of adult cancer patients participate in clinical trials
• Truth #29: I can educate myself
• Truth #30: I can influence what happens in Washington D.C. about breast cancer
• Truth #31: I can make a difference

Myths and Truths of Breast Cancer

If you are making this journey as I am, may God bless you with His healing touch, I know he loves you.

Hatred is a Cancer

Scripture of The Day:

Luke 4:40

Now when the sun was setting, all they had sick with divers diseases  brought them unto him, and he laid his hands on them and healed them.

 There is another kind of cancer running rampid around the world today. It is far worse than of the diseases that face some of us every day. This cancer like so many others is not racist and yet it is. It's not biased, and yet it is. And no one is immune any more than they are to the medical diseases. 

No one knows how to cure this cancer. Everyone has an opinion, but so far there is no cure, for hatred, bigotry, religious radicals and just plain self-absorption. The world has developed an "all about me" mentality. 

It breaks my heart every time something like this happens. What is really scary is that not more than 4 days ago I remember thinking that we haven't had a devastating incident in quite a while. I remember thinking, I wonder when something horrible will happen again. Not 24 hours later... Terror in Orlando. Isn't that sad to realize that those may be the thoughts of people. Isn't it sad that people have the expectation of tragedy and wonder when it will happen again...and worse, will it happen to me or my family or yours? 

This one definately touched me. There but by the Grace of God, it could've been my son. It could've been a bar in Miami just as easily as in Orlando. It could've been a bar in your town. It could've been your church, ball game, dance, parade, or any event. 

You may be surprised how much you are related to others in other parts of the world.   Your DNA. This video brought it home how close we all are. My husband took this DNA test as we have been researching his ancestry. He is only 4th generation Welsh in this country so we fully expected some Welsh in there. He is primarily Irish. Ok. Close on the map and because of that understandable. But this video will amaze you. Please click on the link and watch this video. I believe you will be amazed.

How do we find the cure? 

Arm Problems and Numbness

Scripture of the Day:

And when evening was come, they brought unto Him many that were possessed devils: and he cast out the spirits with His word; and healed all that were sick.

Matthew 8: 16

I am experiencing some pain in my right arm. This is the side that had the breast cancer. Because of this pain I did the research on Lymphedema. Now because of this pain, I have researched numbness in the arm which I have. I have no feeling in a large part of either breast, especially the side with the cancer. And because of the sentinel lymph node search, I have no feeling in that armpit. So I'm wondering after 5 years, is the pain because that arm is "waking up"?

This article didn't really answer all of my questions but made some good points. So I decided to share this one. The link for the article is at the bottom of the page.

Arm/Shoulder Problems Common After Breast Cancer Surgery

• TOPIC: Diagnosis, Surgery, Day-to-Day Matters, and Side Effects
• TAGS: Lymph Nodes Removed, 0 Involved, Lymph Nodes Removed, 10+ Involved, Lymph Nodes Removed, 1-9 Involved, Lumpectomy, Lymph Node Removal, Mastectomy, Axillary Lymph Node Removal/Dissection,Sentinel Lymph Node Removal/Dissection, Weakness, Ductal Carcinoma In Situ, Invasive or Infiltrating Ductal Carcinoma, Invasive or Infiltrating Lobular Carcinoma, Lymphedema, After Surgery, and Pain

A study found that most women who had breast cancer surgery had some type of arm problem (ranging from mild to severe) even 1 1/2 years after surgery. The research was presented at the 2008 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Breast Cancer Symposium.

After breast cancer surgery, some women experience numbness, swelling, weakness, or tingling in the arm and shoulder area on the same side of the body on which surgery was done. These problems are more likely to happen after mastectomy surgery and less likely to happen after lumpectomy. The possibility for arm and shoulder problems depends quite a bit on whether any lymph nodes were removed during surgery and if so, how many were removed.

Lymphedema (pronounced LIMF-eh-DEE-ma) is a condition that can happen after breast cancer surgery. Research has shown that between 5% and 25% of women develop some lymphedema after breast cancer surgery. Lymphedema is a build-up of lymph fluid in arm tissue, which causes swelling. Edema is the medical term for swelling. Lymph fluid normally drains from body tissue through the lymph nodes and lymph channels. If some lymph nodes and channels are removed or damaged during surgery, lymph fluid doesn't drain properly and collects in the tissue near the surgery site. Lymphedema can cause other symptomssuch as tingling, numbness, stiffness, and weakness. Still, those problems can happen after breast cancer surgery even without lymphedema.

The researchers studied more 250 women for 18 months after breast cancer surgery. Every 3 months, the women reported any arm problems and had a physical exam to check for any movement or function problems. The researchers tested upper body strength and endurance, hand grip, flexibility, and range of motion.

The results:

• Numbness and swelling were the most common symptoms, both at 6 months and 18 months after surgery. Other problems reported or seen in at least 10% of the women included:
  • pain
  • tingling
  • weakness
  • stiffness
  • poor range of motion
• Most women with arm problems had more than one symptom.

• Six months after surgery, 85% of the women had at least one mild problem. At 18 months after surgery, 75% of the women still had at least one mild problem.
• Six months after surgery, about half the women had a moderate or severe arm problem. At 18 months after surgery, more than 37% of the women still had a moderate or severe problem.
• Even if a woman didn't have lymphedema, other arm problems happened after surgery. While more than 65% of the women who developed lymphedema had other problems 6 months after surgery, 44% of the women who didn't have lymphedema still had arm problems 6 months after surgery. Having or not having lymphedema didn't affect the number, severity, or duration of the arm problems.

Many of the women who had arm problems after surgery gradually improved during the 18 months of the study. Still, some surgery-related problems, including lymphedema, can become chronic (come back frequently over a long time period).

Breast cancer surgery side effects can greatly affect your quality of life. In most cases, the side effects are unavoidable and your surgeon will do everything possible to minimize them. But just because the side effects are unavoidable doesn't mean they can't be treated or eased.

If you've had breast cancer surgery and now have arm and shoulder problems, talk to your doctor. While not all problems will go away completely, there are steps you can take to manage them. Depending on your situation, you may want to ask your doctor whether referral to a physical rehabilitation or occupationaltherapy specialist with experience treating breast cancer surgery side effects makes sense. These specialists have experience with specific treatments and exercises that may improve your situation.

For more information on managing and avoiding lymphedema, visit the Breastcancer.org Lymphedema side effect page.

If you are making this journey as I am, may God bless you with His healing touch. I know He loves you.

Risk of Lymphedema

Scripture of the Day:

Matthew 8:7

            And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him.

After my surgery I joined that local chapter of Susan B Komen. It was there that I found out about the Lymphedema. Several there had it. They had to wear the compression sleeves. They also had more severe breast cancer than I did. 

Now 5 years later, one of my arms, the side with the cancer and the lymph node removal feels like it is getting bigger. The sleeves of my shirts don't fit the same as the other side and arm. So I became concerned. My husband did measure my arms and they are the same and I probably am just being paranoid. I did, however, decide to look it up. 

The odds of me developing lymphedema is very low. I will certainly mention it to my oncologist if things chance. This was a great article and there was on statement that I highlighted in the article. It said, "My earnest advice is that once you are a cancer survivor, you must enjoy the gift of life." I really need to remember this and make it my mantra. 

The link to the article is at the end and you really should go and look at some of the links included.

FAQS ABOUT LYMPHEDEMA

Falk Cardiovascular Research Center
Stanford University School of Medicine

Stanley G. Rockson, M.D., F.A.C.P., F.A.C.C.
Allan and Tina Neill Professor of Lymphatic Research and Medicine
Professor of Medicine
Chief of Consultative Cardiology

What is lymphedema?
Lymphedema is the accumulation of a particular kind of fluid, typically in one part of the body. So, in breast cancer, for example, it can appear in the arm on the same side as the cancer, after lymph nodes are removed from the armpit region for cancer staging. Lymph is the protein-rich body fluid that accumulates when the lymphatic system for fluid transport is damaged.

Why is the lymphatic system important?
Fluid transport is one very important component, but many do not realize that the lymphatic system is part of the immune system. It fulfills the function of ‘immune trafficking,’ the process whereby infection-fighting cells can be mobilized to the tissues that require assistance. When the lymphatic system is compromised by surgery, trauma, or improper development, the affected part of the body is prone to recurrent infection because of the faulty surveillance mechanism.

Why is it that I was not warned about the risk of lymphedema prior to my surgery?
Regrettably, many doctors are still very under-educated about the lymphatic system in general and, specifically, about the problem of lymphedema. Here at Stanford we’re trying to rectify ignorance about lymphedema through specific educational initiative and I believe that nationally awareness is also increasing. Patients can also help their doctors to learn. Physicians must learn from their patients about their lymphedema experiences so that they will be better prepared to deal with their future patients.

As a breast cancer survivor, what is my risk of getting lymphedema?
Estimates vary and, fortunately, the risk has been progressively declining. In the beginning, breast cancer surgery carried a 50% risk of lymphedema development. Today, patients who have axillary lymph node dissection have a lifetime risk of 15-25%. For individuals whose surgery is limited to sentinel node techniques, without adjuvant radiation, the risk is about 6%.

How does surgery affect my risk of lymphedema?
The risk is chiefly aligned with lymph node removal. Individuals that have just lumpectomy, or other surgical interventions, are at such low risk that it is impossible to estimate. Sentinel node techniques, alone, are used in about 40% of current breast cancer patients. The sentinel node technique is defined as the removal of no more than four lymph nodes, where the risk is about 6%. If you have more than four lymph nodes removed, the risk rises to 15% to 25%.

Does radiation increase the risk of lymphedema?
Yes, radiation can traumatize the lymphatic system equivalently to surgery, even if surgery is not done. However, just as all surgery is not alike, not all radiation therapy is the same. In general, radiation therapy confers risk that is roughly equivalent to axillary lymph node dissection and increases the risk associated with surgery if both treatments are performed.

If I have had lymph nodes removed under one arm, do I have to worry about the lymph nodes in other areas of my body?
No. The lymphatic system is present throughout the body, but lymphedema is a regional disease that affects only the part of the body that is subjected to surgery or radiation.

Do I have to worry about this for my whole life?
The proper term to use is ‘vigilance.' Stated positively, the primary risk for lymphedema development is in the first year following surgery and radiation therapy, when 90% of the cases occur. By the end of 3 years, 95% of the cases will have appeared. If you don’t have lymphedema after 3 years of vigilance, the risk remains, but it is quite small. If you take the proper precautions and use the proper surveillance, the risk can be maintained as small as possible.

What about exercise after cancer surgery?
While, in the long run, exercise is very beneficial, it is very important to give your body adequate time for healing and to not push the exercise early on.  This is not to say that patients shouldn’t be very active at mobilizing the shoulder, because women are also prone to ‘frozen shoulder’ after a mastectomy. However, do not push the physical activity until the body is ready to do it. For the first three to four weeks, it is important to remain relatively inactive and, thereafter, to try to become progressively more active.

And what about exercise during radiation therapy?
There are similar concerns. One can expect a certain amount of inflammation related to the radiation, and it would be important to avoid over-taxing the lymphatic system. Accordingly, it is reasonable to ‘take it easy’ during radiation therapy.

Should I be using my arm (or leg) for everyday activities?
Yes, absolutely. Bear in mind, however, that physical activity increases blood flow, which increases the formation of lymph in the arm or leg at risk.  You don’t want to push the lymphatic system ‘over the edge’. Once you recognize your threshold for activity, you can gently extend your limits over time, perhaps, in addition, by using a Class I compression garment during activity that is perceived to be physically stressful.

After surviving breast cancer surgery and chemotherapy, I’ve developed lymphedema. I’m angry that I have to go through the rest of my life with swelling, wearing a sleeve and restricting my activities. Is there anything you can suggest to help with that?
The anger and the frustration are very understandable and very common. It seems like a second punishment after enduring so much to get your life back. Unfortunately, at this time, with current treatment techniques, the incidence of lymphedema breast cancer survivors remains at 15-25. There are no simple answers to this question. It is important to strive to keep life as normal as possible in the face of the fixed demands related to the presence of lymphedema. Seeking support from your fellow patients is also often a wonderful way to collectively share the experience and help to mitigate the anger. The ability to talk about the problem is an important step toward acceptance.

Prior to my cancer diagnosis, I led a very active lifestyle. Now I am nervous that my former activities could cause lymphedema to emerge. What do you advise?
My earnest advice is that once you are a cancer survivor, you must enjoy the gift of life. This means not placing boundaries on what your definition of being alive. It is true that there is a small, finite risk of lymphedema appearing for the first time in somebody at risk, or becoming worse in someone who already has it. However, with the appropriate precautions, those risks are quite small. It is very important, activity by activity, to weigh the risk-to-benefit ratio. There is some finite risk of lymphedema with activities like surfing rock climbing, to choose two random examples. But you have to weigh the importance to your life of those continuing experiences. With or without ‘risky’ activities appropriate treatment for lymphedema is essential when the lymphedema appears. It is very important to faithfully use the garment that is provided to you, particularly during the activity poses theoretical risk. It is very important to maintain surveillance for changes in the limb-at-risk. Take precautions against infection when there are breaks in the skin and seek medical attention early if any changes are observed. When you go outside, put on a sun block, because sunburn can aggravate lymphedema. When you are working in the kitchen, be careful. When you’re in the garden, be careful, and wear gloves if there is the possibility of skin trauma. But what you want to lift, lift. What you want to do, do. And where you want to go, go. Just be careful. 

Unlike some in this article, I was made aware of Lymphedema

Living with Lymphedema

If you are making this journey as I am, may God bless y ou with His healing touch. I know He loves you.