Wear compression sleeve right after surgery can prevent LE?

stephilosphy00

Is it true? When should I start wearing the sleeve to prevent LE? Thanks!

Binney4

Hi, Stephil,

It looks from your profile that you have been doing neoadjuvant chemo, and your surgery is still to come, right? Best bet by far is to ask anyone on your medical team to write a referral for a well-qualified lymphedema therapist before surgery. S/he can take baseline measurements for future reference, teach you a simple lymph drainage "massage" that you can use throughout the rest of your treatment, fit you for a compression sleeve and glove or gauntlet (fingerless glove) to wear for exercise or travel, and give you personalized lymphedema risk-reduction tips. Here's how to find a trained therapist near you:

http://www.stepup-speakout.org/Finding_a_Qualified...

It is possible to develop lymphedema at any time following breast cancer treatment. Here are some tips for reducing your risk of developing it:

http://www.stepup-speakout.org/riskreduction_for_l...

All best wishes for smooth sailing through the rest of your treatment, and here's hoping you never have to join our Swell Sisterhood! Gentle hugs,
Binney

Kicks

Yes - you should get a referral to an LET sooner rather than later. This allows for baseline measurements before /IF LE should develope. It also allows you to get information/knowledge about what LE is (and isn't).

While for most it is not a 'big deal' to get garments BUT it does need to be remembered that we are each very unique. For a VERY few of us there are issues that do not 'fit in the norm' and can be challenging for us. Me - I have to have low compression or major swelling within 1/2 hr. Others will need high compression to prevent swelling. I have syndactyly (webbed fingers) so 'normal' gloves are not an option for me - have to be custom for my 'nutsy hands'. Also they don't make OTS (Off The Shelf) sleeves in the compression I need with my measurements.

It is possible to developed LE while still in TX depending on your TX plan in addition to after TX. My LE started 1/2 way through 12 weekly adjuvant Taxol (9 weeks after UMX.). Had already done 4 DD A/C neoadjuvant and had a UMX. This TX plan is not what all do but a few of us do.

We EACH have to learn what 'works for us and do that for our QOL. It's definitely not the same for all of us. There is 'No One Size Fits All'.

Educate yourself and LIVE!