Episode 4 - Busting Lymphoedema Myths Artwork

The Positive Health Project Podcast

Helping people after a cancer diagnosis navigate the new world they find themselves in by providing advice from health and medical professionals in the oncology field. We look to educate and empower cancer survivors by providing evidence based information and sharing other cancer survivors stories.

All Episodes

The Positive Health Project Podcast

Episode 4 - Busting Lymphoedema Myths

March 22, 2022 • Hope Spencer • Season 1 • Episode 4

This episode is all about debunking some of the persisting myths that surround lymphoedema. Some of these ongoing myths around lymphoedema are from anecdotal, theoretical, and non-evidence based recommendations. So can getting a blood test done on your affected arm cause lymphoedema? Can a sentinel node biopsy cause lymphodema? Well you are going to have to listen to find out.

If you are interested in reading the research for yourself, please look for the below articles.

RESEARCH ARTICLES:

Ferguson, C. M., Swaroop, M. N., Horick, N., Skolny, M. N., Miller, C. L., Jammallo, L. S., Brunelle, C., O'Toole, J. A., Salama, L., Specht, M. C., & Taghian, A. G. (2016). Impact of Ipsilateral Blood Draws, Injections, Blood Pressure Measurements, and Air Travel on the Risk of Lymphedema for Patients Treated for Breast Cancer. Journal of clinical oncology : official journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, 34(7), 691–698. https://doi.org/10.1200/JCO.2015.61.5948

Bryant, J. R., Hajjar, R. T., Lumley, C., & Chaiyasate, K. (2016). Clinical Inquiry-In women who have undergone breast cancer surgery, including lymph node removal, do blood pressure measurements taken in the ipsilateral arm increase the risk of lymphedema?. The Journal of the Oklahoma State Medical Association, 109(11), 529–531.

Kilbreath, S.L., Ward, L.C., Lane, K. et al. Effect of air travel on lymphedema risk in women with history of breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res Treat 120, 649–654 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10549-010-0793-3

Cemal, Y., Pusic, A., & Mehrara, B. J. (2011). Preventative measures for lymphedema: separating fact from fiction. Journal of the American College of Surgeons, 213(4), 543–551. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2011.07.001

Schmitz KH, Ahmed RL, Troxel AB, Cheville A, Lewis-Grant L, Smith R, Bryan CJ, Williams-Smith CT, Chittams J. Weight lifting for women at risk for breast cancer-related lymphedema: a randomized trial. JAMA. 2010 Dec 22;304(24):2699-705. doi: 10.1001/jama.2010.1837. Epub 2010 Dec 8. PMID: 21148134.