Can you move after breast cancer surgery?
Breast cancer ranks first in the incidence of female cancer, but thanks to the progress of medical technology, the survival rate of breast cancer has also been greatly improved in recent years; However, many breast cancer patients still have the idea of moving less, avoiding lifting heavy objects, holding children and doing housework after operation, and are worried about lymphedema. Lymphedema refers to poor lymphatic drainage. Lymph is the circulatory system of body tissue fluid, which contains water, protein, nutrients and white blood cells. This system is distributed in all soft tissues of the whole body, with lymph nodes as the control center of the circulatory pathway. In fact, lymphedema caused by breast cancer surgery has become less and less. Many people think that the more exercise, the faster circulation, and more lymph may be produced. If it can't be excreted, it may cause swelling. It is recommended to reduce activity. But in fact, the more you don't move, the more likely your muscles will shrink. On the contrary, proper exercise or massage will help drain water. Long-term immobility is more likely to cause pain and stiffness and reduce the quality of life. Clinically, many patients with breast cancer dare not do anything after operation, resulting in decreased muscle strength, joint contracture, muscle stiffness, and even turning into fifty shoulders, unable to lift their arms, but inducing edema and falling into a vicious circle.
Causes of lymphedema
The main causes of lymphedema include disease and operation. For example, leukemia or lymphopathy will produce a large number of lymphocytes or white blood cells, leading to lymph node obstruction. Some operations may also need to remove lymph nodes, most of which are malignant diseases. If lymph nodes are known to be the source of cancer cell metastasis, lymph nodes will be removed at the same time to avoid residual malignant cells. In this way, the control center of the drainage system will be destroyed, and lymph will not be excreted, causing edema. Because lymph nodes are mainly concentrated in armpits, neck glands and groin, it may be necessary to remove lymph nodes, such as breast cancer, thyroid cancer, head and neck cancer or gynecological surgery. Among them, breast cancer surgery has a large scope and is close to the limbs. In the past, people thought that the probability of lymphedema was higher. But unlike early breast cancer surgery, lymph nodes will be eradicated as much as possible. With the improvement of surgery, fewer and fewer lymph nodes will be removed at the same time in breast cancer surgery, or even only sentinel lymph node resection, that is, the lymph nodes closest to breast cancer tissue and reaching the fastest, which will have little impact. Now it is more common that the disease itself has not been treated, and the tumor has entered the lymphatic system, causing obstruction, such as advanced breast cancer, but not lymphedema caused by surgery. Symptoms include redness, fever and even cellulitis, causing ulcers, and some severe swelling will harden.
Correct prevention of lymphedema
1. Take protective measures: if you have breast cancer, you should reduce insect bites, injections and wounds on the surgical site or upper limbs; At the same time, try not to wear accessories, such as bracelets and rings, to reduce the obstruction of lymphatic circulation. Therefore, even in summer, try to wear thin long sleeves, in addition to avoiding injury, but also reduce sun damage.
2. Reduce local temperature changes: such as steam bath and hot compress, because temperature changes will easily cause edema, the doctor reminds.
3. Diet should be low in sodium and high in fiber: low salt can reduce the release of water from blood vessels and reduce lymphogenesis.
4. Exercise (muscle training)+raising the affected part: The doctor suggested that the affected part can be raised for muscle contraction. First, the affected part is higher than the heart, so gravity can be used to help reflux; Secondly, muscle strength training can alleviate and prevent lymphedema. But remember, this process should be gentle and gradual to avoid skin damage, sprain or strain.
For example, raise your arms and pull elastic belt; Or forcibly holding and twisting the elastic rod; You can also hold your arms high, take a bouncy ball and stretch your forearm back and forth; Even if you just open your hand and clench your fist, your muscles are contracting.
5. Lymphatic drainage massage: Upper limb lymphatic drainage massage can hold the arm high, and touch the lymphatic system with the other hand, starting from the proximal end of the heart and then slowly bringing it back to the proximal end from the distal end of the arm. Do it for 3 to 5 minutes at a time.