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August 21, 2004
Complete Decongestive Therapy
Some breast cancer survivors are surprised after going through chemo, radiation, surgery that they develop swelling in the limb known as lymphedema. Lymph drainage therapy, a technique for decongesting the lymphatic system of the body, is gaining wider acceptance in the US as more doctors are recognizing it's benefits in maintenance of swelling following cancer treatment.
More than two million Americans have lymphedema, an abnormal swelling of the arm, leg or other body part due to fluid build-up in the circulatory vessels and tissues. The swelling is usually triggered after the lymph nodes, which act as filters, are removed, damaged or infected as the result of cancer treatments.
Although there's no cure for lymphedema, that treatment - called complete decongestive therapy - can reduce or eliminate symptoms, said Madeline Chatlain, a nationally certified lymphedema specialist who practices in Savannah and Hilton Head Island.
How to find a nationally certified lymphedema specialist.
Posted by linda at August 21, 2004 12:36 PM
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