What is Lymphoedema?
Introduction Lymphoedema is a swelling that develops as a result of an impaired lymphatic system. This may be as a result of the lymphatic system not developing properly, or through damage or trauma (see section on types of lymphoedema). It can affect any part of the body but is most commonly seen in an arm or a leg. Although thought to be relatively uncommon, a recent study has estimated that at least 100,000 people in the UK may be affected by this condition. In order to understand how lymphoedema occurs, it is important to have an understanding of the lymphatic system in general – what it is and how it works. The Lymphatic System The lymphatics form part of your immune system, helping to deal with infection at a local level but just as importantly, they are responsible for cleansing your tissues and maintaining a balance of fluids in your body. It can be likened to a waste disposal system, taking tissue fluid, bacteria, proteins and waste products away from the tissues around skin,
If you have had breast cancer surgery, your surgeon should have discussed lymph nodes and lymph vessels with you, and warned you about the chance that you could develop lymphoedema. Lymphoedema is swelling, usually of the arm or leg, but it can affect the breast or other parts of the body as well. It is caused by a build-up of fluid called lymph. “Oedema” means swelling caused by fluid. Oedema can have other causes, so it is important to see your doctor to make sure that it really is lymphoedema. You can read more about the different forms of oedema, their causes and symptoms here. The lymph or lymphatic system is an important part of our body’s system to defend us against infections. This means that if our lymphatic system is not working properly, the problem is not only the swelling and the pain that it causes: it also leaves us more vulnerable to infections. Lymph travels around the body through a network of vessels in much the same way that blood travels around the body through the
