What is lymphedema?

 

The human body has 70 to 100 trillion cells. Every one of them makes waste products, similar to a car that burns gasoline and gives off exhaust.

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It's the job of the lymphatic system to collect these waste products, filter them at lymph nodes and return this fluid to the venous (blue, deoxygenated) blood.

If this infrastructure is damaged through cancer intervention, surgical procedures or trauma, fluid can accumulate in the tissue space, causing  a special type of swelling called lymphedema.

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Primary  lymphedema is a genetic condition in which lymphatic vessels are misbuilt or overabundant. This impairs lymphatic flow leading to lymphedema. Secondary lymphedema is the result of direct trauma to the lymphatic system such as surgery or radiation.

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Why is lymphedema dangerous?

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If left untreated, lymphedema tends to worsen over time and  can cause recurrent infections (cellulitis). Protein-rich fluid in the tissue space also solidifies causing fibrosis and hardening of this tissue.

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Extreme late stage lymphedema is known as elephantiasis. Additionally, in some cases, a rare form of lymphatic cancer known as Stewart-Treves syndrome can develop.

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How is lymphedema treated?

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There is no current cure for lymphedema. It can, however, be very successfully managed if it is diagnosed early. 

 

Complete Decongestive Physical Therapy (CDT) is currently the gold standard worldwide for managing lymphedema.

 

Specially trained therapists, such as Mark Van Loan, MPT, combine the art of manual lymphatic drainage, exercise, good skin hygiene and compression to reduce a resident volume for eventual fitting into a long-term compression garment.

 

This compression garment holds swelling down and prevents fluid from re-accumulating.