Most people who survive cancer are eager to move on with their lives. Unfortunately, the emotional and physical stress caused by cancer and its treatment can leave scars behind that last for a lifetime. One of these scars is lymphedema. Lymphedema is a condition that can develop from radiation treatment used to treat certain cancers. It is not life threatening, and therefore, has largely been ignored by doctors who treat cancer patients. However, it does drastically affect a cancer's survivor's life.



Lymphedema occurs when damage to the lymphatic system causes blockages to form. These blockages, in turn, cause the limbs to swell and then remain in their swollen state. There is no medical cure for lymphedema, but symptoms can be treated.

You may have lymphedema if you notice: swelling in your leg; a feeling of tightness or heaviness in your leg; rough, dry skin on your foot or leg; foot ulcers or foot injuries that do not heal or take an abnormally long time to heal; skin that pits (i.e., when you push your finger into the afflicted area it remains indented for five seconds or longer); difficulty moving or manipulating the foot or leg.

If you are diagnosed with lymphedema it is important to pay extra attention to the skin care of the swollen area. Even the most minor foot injuries can lead to massive infections ? infections that can further damage an already impaired lymphatic system. Foot ulcers (open wounds on the foot) are common among people suffering from lymphedema in their lower limbs and should be treated aggressively.

Minor foot injuries or foot deformities such as calluses, corns, bunions, hammertoe and claw toe should be carefully monitored to ensure that the skin does not break. Only use an electronic razor to shave the affected area. Keep the affected limb clean and dry, and avoid cutting cuticles (instead, use a cuticle cream, push cuticles back using a blunt instrument, or see a physician so that she can properly care for your cuticles). Some people with lower limb lymphedema may need to purchase two different sizes of shoes in order to not cramp the swollen foot.

Some suggest that somewhere between one and two million Americans suffer from lymphedema, and many of those people are cancer survivors. Approximately half a million women who have battled breast cancer end up with lymphedema due to damage done to their lymph nodes during surgery or radiation treatment. Lower leg lymphedema normally can be linked to surgery or radiation treatment in the groin area (prostate and melanoma cancers).