Lymphedema Makes Summer Preparations Challenging After Breast Cancer

The year is flying by and soon Summer will be here. In the South, that means scorching temperatures. Those warm days can cause challenges for those with lymphedema. In this article, read how Bonnie Annis prepares each year to beat the heat and reduce lymphatic swelling.

I live in the deep South and have for my entire life. When I was a child, Summers never bothered me. I ran around in sleeveless tops, shorts, and rarely wore shoes. I even grew up without air conditioning, which was a challenge, especially in the evenings when I was exhausted and longed for a comfortable sleep. An attic fan and open windows helped cool down our house some, but not enough.

As I grew older, I learned the best times to be outdoors during the Summer months. I’d rise early and get my work done. During the hottest parts of the day, I’d stay indoors in the wonderful air conditioning. As they day ended, and the temperatures lowered, I could venture outdoors to do some gardening or other outdoor chores.

When I was diagnosed with breast cancer, Summer had just begun. The stifling Georgia heat was just cranking up. I spent the first month after surgery either in a doctor’s well air-conditioned office, or at home resting in my own cool home. Nothing seemed to bother me until about a month after surgery.

About midday, I noticed some swelling. Reaching out to the doctor who’d performed my surgery, I explained my concerns. She asked me to come in for a post-surgical checkup and after examining me said I’d developed lymphedema. Although I’d heard of it before, I wasn’t quite sure what it meant. I asked questions and she gladly answered them before recommending I see a therapist certified in manual lymphatic drainage. She said when she’d removed lymph nodes from my arms after removing both my breasts, my lymphatic system had suffered.

I saw the therapist for 6 weeks. On each visit, she’d massage my arms for about an hour, working on one and then the other. She explained the massage would encourage excess fluid to flow upwards toward my heart if she started at my fingertips first. Then, it would travel through the “railway like” lymphatic system where it could be expelled. After the massages, she’d wrap my arms with compression bandages. I’d go home looking like a mummy, but admittedly, my arms felt better.

When my insurance coverage for these treatments expired, the doctor prescribed compression sleeves to help with the swelling. They were expensive, but insurance covered a good portion of the cost and allowed me to get 4 pairs a year. I found an online company that offered pretty patterns and bought the sleeves, but they were challenging to put on because they were so tight. I was told to put them on first thing in the morning and leave them on all day. They did keep the swelling down but as Summer progressed and temperatures soared, I found them uncomfortable to wear. Sweating was not something I enjoyed, and those tight Spandex sleeves made me sweat a lot! I looked for alternative ways of managing the swelling.

I started dry brushing in the shower. I bought a soft bristle body brush and would gently use it to push the fluid up toward my heart like the therapist had shown me. Then, I’d take a lukewarm shower. Hot showers could exacerbate the swelling, I had been told. Next, I’d use body lotion and beginning at the fingers, I’d gently move up my arm. Those things were great, but I had to do more if I was going to be outside.

While visiting the lymphatic massage therapist, I’d been warned about protecting my arms from injury. That included small wounds like bug bites, burns, or even sunburn. When I questioned the information, I was told wounds to my damaged limbs could cause cellulitis, a dangerous infection that can quickly escalate and sometimes require surgery. That scared me.

Now when Summer comes, and I plan to be outdoors, I wear thin long-sleeved shirts when I can. I’ve found several sporting goods stores that offer these type shirts with built in sun blockers. When it’s too hot to wear long sleeves, I spray myself with insect repellant. Normally I choose a product with DEET but lately I have opted for more natural sprays that don’t contain that chemical.

I also make sure to layer on sunscreen if I’ll be out for extended periods of time. I don’t want to risk a painful sunburn. And when I’m cooking at the grill, I wear long silicone mitts made especially for outdoor use. That way I’m sure my arms are protected from excessive heat.

Lymphedema isn’t something that can be cured. As a secondary complication from breast cancer surgery, the best thing I can do is manage it by protecting myself. When my arms begin to feel tight and uncomfortable, I’ll use my electric compression pump designed specifically for those who suffer from lymphedema and when I can’t do that, I’ll elevate my arms.

Summer seems to aggravate my symptoms. During cooler months, I don’t notice the lymphedema as much, but it’s still there. I guess it’s a small price to pay for surviving breast cancer and I’m willing to do whatever necessary to keep myself well and comfortable.

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