Breast Cancer & Lyphedema Flashcards
Uncontrollable Risk Factors of Breast Cancer
- Being a woman
- Aging
- Hx – family, personal
- Biopsy (pre-cancerous condition)
- Menarche before 12 yo
- Menopause after 55 yo
- (+) breast cancer gene test (BRCA1 & BRCA2)
Controllable Risk Factors of Breast Cancer
- > 1 alcoholic drink/day
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Diet: high fat
- Obesity after menopause
- Adult weight gain
- Recent use of oral contraceptives
- Never having children
- 1st child after 30 yo
- Use of HRT
Warning Signs of Breast Cancer
- New lump in breast / axilla
- Thickening / swelling of part of breast
- Irritation / dimpling of breast skin
- Red / flaky skin at nipple or breast
- Pulling in of nipple
- Nipple discharge other than breast milk
- Any change in size or shape of the breast
- Pain in any area of the breast
Surgery to remove cancer or other abnormal tissue from the breast.
Lumpectomy
Surgery to remove all breast tissue from a breast as a way to treat/prevent cancer.
Mastectomy
Rehab implications of a Mastectomy.
- integumentary
- muscle
- soft tissue
- joints
- radiation effects
The interventions to be made Pre-Mastectomy.
- educate pt on what to expect
- review exercises
- ensure independence/understanding of exercises (PROM/AROM)
- exercises will be MUCH easier post-op if done pre-op
- educate pt on signs of lymphedema
Primary interventions for Post-Mastectomy patients
- balance, *new asymmetry
- fall prevention
- STM/MT (due to radiation causing postural and ROM issues)
A chronic disorder characterized by an abnormal accumulation of lymph fluid in the tissues of one or more body regions
Lyphedema
Type of Lymphedema that is rare, congenital or inherited. Abnormal lymph node or vessel formation occurs more in females. *hypoplasia
Primary Lymphedema
Caused by injury to one or more components of the lymphatic system. Some portion of the lymphatic system is blocked, dissected, fibrosed, removed, and damaged/altered.
*Far more prevalent
Secondary Lymphedema
Causes of Lymphedema
- secondary*
- Cancer and subsequent treatment
- Chronic venous insufficiency
- Complications from paralysis
- Disuse tin chronic regional pain syndromes
- Trauma to lymph nodes following surgery
- Filariasis (parasitic disease that is spread by mosquitos)
True/False? Those who suffer from Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI) also commonly suffer from lymphedema
True
- triggered by longstanding fluid overload in the LEs
A parasitic disease caused by infection with round worms that causes inflammation and blocked lymph vessels.
Filariasis
What are the signs of Lymphedema?
- Swelling distal or adjacent to damaged lymph
- swelling not relieved by elevation
- pitting edema in early stages/non pitting in latter
- fatigue, tightness
- numbness
- discomfort
