Lymphedema

[tonmead]

Finished 6 rounds of docetaxel four and a half months ago. Now have a swollen lower calf and ankle. Been to GP several times but no definitive answer as to why. I'm assuming this is lymphedema, anyone have similar experience?

[ctarleton]

I don't have any direct experience, however, .....

If you should want to rule out anything like an artery/vein blood circulation problem your doctor might refer you to get a color Doppler ultrasound exam of the whole leg, from toes to hip.

I have met several women who have lymphedema after their breast cancer procedures - typically after surgeries that also involved lymph node(s) removal. Some have had it for many years, and it has become a routine maintenance kind of thing.. Several of them have mentioned that, in hindsight, they wish they had begun the systematic wrapping and compression of their affected arm sooner after their surgeries, instead of waiting longer after the swelling symptoms had been there for weeks or months. There are also places to get a broad range of functional and often stylish compression wraps and compression clothing. You may be able to get such things prescribed by your doctor, or a secondary specialist.

There are also physical/massage therapists who specialize in massage techniques specifically for lymphedema..

On the other hand, there may be other causes, e.g. the chemo, etc. Whatever it turns out to be, "Good Luck!" in getting it pretty quickly diagnosed and either quickly resolved or smoothly brought under routinely management.

BTW, I believe that Gregg57 recently completed 6 rounds of chemo, and also had some ankle swelling in the late summer heat. If he does not weigh in here within a day or so, you might send him a Message to see how his ankles/feet are doing, and to compare notes.

Charles

[tonmead in reply to ctarleton]

Thanks for the reply Charles, I should add that I was admitted to a Spanish hospital, whilst on holiday, as leg started weeping from associated varicose eczema. They did the Doppler scan, which was negative. Now back in hands of UK. GP. Seeing my onco man on Thursday for post chemo and post MRI. report.

Keep on keeping on.

Tony

[Neal-Snyder in reply to ctarleton]

Hi Charles,

I was diagnosed with lymphedema at one point, or I should say it was strongly suspected as the cause of some pain in my ankles. I wore the compression stockings on my whole leg, which interfered with my lifestyle in warm weather. Then I got more casual about it, since I was able to do non-advisable activities with no problem, such as playing basketball in very hot weather. And then I forgot to put the stockings on before going to the airport to fly to Thailand, & got away with that.

Years later, in fact this January, I wore some good but non-prescription stockings to fly to Thailand. When we got to the hotel, I found my feet & ankles swollen. The left leg recovered in a day or so, but the right persisted. I had a Doppler ultrasound & was diagnosed with SVT (superficial vein thrombosis) & varicose veins (but not lymphedema). I had to wear the stockings at night, elevate, measure the distance around my lower calf daily & keep records, take it easy & take pills.

I was to return for another Doppler ultrasound shortly before the trip home. When the doctor eyeballed me, she said there was no swelling & no reason to test. When I got home, my doctor almost said the same, but then decided to order the ultrasound to be safe. It was negative. That's my story, for whatever it's worth. I plan to wear Rx stockings for longer flights, but that's all.

Neal

[Neal-Snyder in reply to Neal-Snyder]

P.S. I should have addressed this to you, too, tonmead. I wish you the best of luck. I don't know if there's a definitive test for lymphedema, but since you've had the Doppler, you've ruled out some other possibilities.

[Shumaf]

Did you have also radiotherapy? My dad has both radiotherapy right before the docetaxel chemo. He had swollen leg after a while. He had doppler and other tests, which were negative. Doc said it is because of the damaged lymph vessels. Then he had lymph drainage massage almost every day. This helps a lot. It is even better when a family member learns how to do this massage and do it regularly. His leg is not any more swelling up frequently.

[Neal-Snyder in reply to Shumaf]

I read about self-massage techniques for lymphedema, too.

[JoelT]

Ask about starting on diuretics to help get rid of the liquid.

Joel

[Blair77]

My husband had this pretty bad after finishing his Docetaxel. He tried compression stockings but they didn't seem to help much. It took about a month and a half after his last chemo treatment to actually go away. I think time might be the only thing that works.