leeve When Flying if you Don't Have Lymphedema?

I don't have lymphedema but have worn my sleeve each time I fly. I also try to move around frequently and do stretches over my head while seated during flights. I have no idea if it helps but I figure it can't hurt either. I had 8 nodes removed and radiation to the remaining nodes. Best wishes.

I’m just trying see if there is any research that shows that flying CAUSES lymphedema if you don’t already have it.

OCD - there's lots of research about ambient pressure changes. Not only flying, but sometimes going from sea level to hiking in Colorado. And studies in hyperbaric chambers. There are several LE threads on BCO that describe the process & the research. Everyone has a different risk tolerance. I just wanted to do every possible thing I could to prevent the LE from going down my arms.

Getting pricked by a rose thorn can bring on LE. Tons of other things to avoid.

I have never seen a study that shows that flying causes lymphedema in breast cancer patients.

My LANA-Certified PT advised against wearing a sleeve while flying for those who don't have lymphedema.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3652571/

"Patients with a history of lymph node dissection are often told to avoid air travel or wear compressive garments (even if they do not have lymphedema) when flying. Unfortunately, as with many other recommended preventative measures, this guideline appears to have little scientific evidence supporting it. Ward and colleagues presented case reports (level 5) of lymphedema development after air travel and cited anecdotal rates of lymphedema development in 5–30% of at risk patients by The National Breast Cancer Centre of Australia 32. Casley-Smith (1996) reported a questionnaire based retrospective study (level 4) in an effort to determine the triggers that led to lymphedema development (infection/insect bite/plane flight/burn/other/unknown) 33. 531 patients responded (1020 surveys were sent) and of these 27 reported that their symptoms started after an aircraft flight. In addition, 67 patients reported worsening of existing lymphedema after flying. These findings led the authors to conclude that lymphedema can be triggered by travelling on aircraft and may be due to reduced activity or lower cabin pressure for long periods of time resulting in pooling of blood in the limbs. However, the authors acknowledge that this is merely a speculation with no direct evidence.

Other retrospective studies have suggested that air travel has little effect on the development of lymphedema. For example, Graham and colleagues surveyed 293 breast cancer survivors about changes in arm circumference and airplane travel (level 3) and found no cases of permanent new onset lymphedema in this cohort 34. In fact, patients who had taken precautions when flying, such as using compression garments, were actually more likely to develop lymphedema or have progression of their existing lymphedema than those who had not. Similarly, Kilbreath et al prospectively assessed the impact of flying on at risk limbs in breast cancer patients (level 2) by evaluating patients who had flown from Canada to Australia to attend a dragon boat regatta. They found no adverse changes in impedance ratios comparing the normal limb to the at risk limb in 95% of patients when comparing pre and post flight measurements. The authors acknowledged that the subjects in this study had trained for dragon racing and that this exercise may have had a protective effect 35."

This bothers me for two reasons.

1) It is a report from 2011/2013. Things change every day with cancer treatment, not to mention LE.

2) I didn't mention before, but there are plenty of studies that confirm most doctors have only 15 minutes education about Lymphadema in the entire 4 years of medical school - plus specialty training. The first of these studies came from a Stanford doc who specialized in LE. I'll look for the video.

You don't say where you are located OCD. If you have an National Cancer Hospital close by, it may be worth more research. Perhaps it's worth talking to a certified LTPT, or finding a doc who specialized in wound care & LE.

BTW - I never said flying causes LE. But it is & can be a risk. I've sat in waiting rooms with patients who's arms (or legs) are swollen to the size of elephant legs and are in extreme distress and I will take any precautions I can to avoid that.

My breast and plastic surgeon are both with an NCI Designated Cancer Center affiliated with a major university. I’m pretty sure my breast surgeon, who removes lymph nodes has had more than 15 min of training in LE. Thanks for your input.

Summer: As I said above "BTW - I never said flying causes LE. But it is & can be a risk."

As I also said, we each have to make our own decisions. I'm glad both of you have had no issues.

As discussed, there is disagreement on this topic, and many of those most trained in the subject of Lymphedema (LANA certification) do NOT recommend wearing a sleeve for those who don't already have it. There is no evidence at this time that flying causes Lymphedema, regardless of people attempting to frighten those on this board into wearing one "just in case".

I've posted on other LE threads, but wanted to share this info here too since one major hospital is saying we are no longer at risk with blood draws. Pooh Pooh.

Here's the latest seminar posted on line from Dr. Stanley Rockson at Stanford. It's an hour & 30 minutes - but I thought really worth it - even the questions at the end.

https://stanfordhealthcare.org/medical-clinics/center-lymphatic-venous-disorders.html/presentation-mode/stanford-health-care-now/health-library-videos/rockson-lymphedema-treatments

And here's a short summary. Long, but shorter than watching the seminar/lecture if you decide it doesn't apply to you.

5/30/18 talk at Stanford - Center for lymphatic & venous disorders
Diagnosis, treatment & research
Dr. Stanley Rockson is a guru -Only half doz other docs in the US. You may have seen him on NPR

Still true - 1/2 the docs in North America have between 15-30 minutes of their entire medical training.
Fascinating new research since the last seminar online in 2012. But scary what as he tells what most docs will say if you go to them with problems.
Most important to PRESERVE working lymph movement which will PREVENT progression
ANY injury to the skin - cut, burn, insect bite, rose thorn, small scratch. ANYTHING that traumatizes the skin and needs a wound healing response can bring on LE. Including pressure changes in an airline. And he talks about locations over 5000 ft.

10 million people in the US have LE. 90 million world wide
With breast cancer - chances 15-20% of developing LE
90% of the problems develop in the first year but risk never goes away.
So after 2 years, you probably have 2% for the rest of your life. How much you want to work on preservation & prevention depends on how much a gambler you are???
If you get past that 1st year, statistics show you may not be prone to be pushed over the edge to progression.
But if you're in the 1% - do you want to take that chance???

With only 1-4 nodes (like SNB) you have only 1/4 of the risk - but you can get LE with only ONE node out
You have to determine what you are willing to risk.
Yes are finite risks with surgery on parts at risk - even if LE is dormant or sub-clinical. Weigh the benefits. Even carpal tunnel surgery

New bio-impedance surveillance - if treat REALLY early, can reverse the problem
Coming - Biobridge implant at time of breast surgery

AND FINALLY... here's the link to the lymphatic network. Select 'resource downloads' on the right for TONS of facts.

SummerAngel - really all I have been doing is making sure to clean any bite or cut and put antibiotic ointment on it. And I don't panic. If I'm gardening, I don't stop until the "end of the row". If I'm out & about, I always carry alcohol wipes in my purse - even before coronavirus.

I'm attempting to keep my truncal & breast LE from progressing to my arm (s) - so I do use sleeves and gauntlets for flying. And I do wear a compression bra. But part of my gamble is I don't use gloves for daily exercise classes. I do carry antibiotics when I'm traveling just in case of cellulitis, especially when I'm not close to a big city or hospital. And I make sure all shots are in my hip or butt and not my arms, and all blood draws & IVs are by my ankle.

I was fortunate that my RO recognized the condition and got me in to a great LEPT. I had treatments for several months and supposedly learned how to manage it myself. Still, I'd love to have a refresher course.

I'm not sure what I'd do if I had never had any evidence of LE. Probably be going merrily along with my life and never giving it a thought. But my BC recurrence in a lymph node and subsequent ALND & rads was a game changer for me. Still as I said, I haven't made lots of major changes and am still gambling.