Lymphedema is the swelling that occurs in one or your arms or legs, and at times both arms and legs. It is commonly caused by the removal or damage of the lymph nodes as part of a cancer treatment.

Symptoms of lymphedema are a swelling of part or all of your arm or leg, including the fingers and toes, a feeling of heaviness or tightness, restricted motion, aching or discomfort and a hardening or thickening of the skin called fibrosis. Swelling ranges from mild, hardly noticeable to the extreme which makes the limb hard to use.

Your lymphatic system carries protein-rich lymph fluid throughout the body through your lymph vessels, which led to your lymph nodes. The waste product is then filtered out by lymphocytes, infection fighting cells that live in your lymph nodes, and are flushed form the body. Lymphedema occurs when your lymph vessels are unable to drain the lymph fluid adequately, usually from an arm or leg.  It can occur on its own as primary lymphedema or be caused by another disease or condition, secondary lymphedema. Primary lymphedema is a rare inherited condition caused by problems with the development of the lymph vessels in your body. Secondary lymphedema is far more common than primary lymphedema, and can be caused by either surgery, radiation treatment for cancer, cancer itself or an infection.

Lymphedema can lead to serious complications like infections or lymphangiosarcoma, a rare form of soft tissue cancer, if left untreated.

There is no cure for lymphedema, so treatment focuses on controlling the pain, and reducing the swelling. Light exercise moving the affected limb may encourage lymph fluid drainage and help prepare for everyday tasks. Wrapping your arm or leg in bandages encourages the lymph fluid to flow back towards the trunk of your body – it should be tightest towards your finger or toes, and looser toward your body. Manual lymph drainage performed by a specially trained massage therapist encourages the flow of lymph fluid out of your arm or leg. Pneumatic compression is a sleeve that is worn over the affected leg or arm and is connected to a pump which intermittently inflates the sleeve, putting pressure on your limb and moving lymph fluid away from your fingers and toes. Compression garments also compress the arm or leg and encourage the flow of the lymph fluid out of your affected limb.

In severe cases your doctor may consider surgery to remove excess tissue in your arm or leg to reduce the swelling.