Some women who have had surgery for breast cancer may be at risk for lymphedema. The pathway that circulates fluid through our body (lymphatic system) filters our body's waste fluid by circulating lymph fluid. For some women the system becomes overloaded or obstructed and lymphedema develops. It can cause swelling and pain in your arm, hand, chest, axilla or shoulder. The key is to prevent it from ever occurring, which is the goal of two Mount Carmel programs– Survivor Arm Clinics and Aquatic Exercise Program.
Aquatic Exercise Program
Exercising in the water can prevent or treat lymphedema, improve your emotional wellbeing and help with arm strength and mobility after breast surgery. In addition to water exercise, our nurses will educate you on how to recognize lymphedema symptoms and what you can do for symptom relief.
A grant from the Columbus Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation enables Mount Carmel to offer a five week session at no charge to first-time participants.
Contact the Breast Health Nurse Navigator at 614-234-8124 for more program information or to register for the program.
Survivor Arm Clinics
The Survivor Arm Clinics provide unique educational and treatment programming in which patients meet with Mount Carmel's specially trained nurses. Breast Cancer Survivors learn to recognize early swelling or pain, where to seek treatment and how to prevent reoccurrences of lymphedema.
Regardless of the symptoms, proper treatment requires a thorough assessment and individualized therapy. Customary therapies include arm massage or the use of custom-fitted lymphedema sleeves. Whatever the course of treatment, the specially trained nursing staff at the Survivor Arm Clinic is highly experienced in all of the available therapies and will work with you to eliminate your discomfort and prevent further swelling.
This clinic is offered free of charge through a grant from Columbus Komen for the Cure. For more information about the program, call the Breast Health Nurse Navigator at 614-234-8124.
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