Could lymph drainage exercises be helpful after breast cancer?

Moving Forward after breast cancer – could lymph drainage exercises be beneficial for you? This article explores the topic of lymphoedema, what it is, who is at risk of developing it, how the lymphatic system functions and how lymph drainage exercises can greatly reduce the risk of lymphoedema or prevent existing lymphoedema from progressing.

By India Gooderham

My work as a Physiotherapist, Cancer Exercise Specialist and Cancer Yoga teacher prescribing exercise and creating home exercise programmes has taught me that for new health behaviours to become habits it is fundamentally important to understand exactly why it is going to benefit your health and wellbeing and how it works. In the case of starting daily lymph drainage exercises, knowing what your lymphatic system is, what its job is, how cancer treatments may have affected it, what lymphoedema is, and how exercise can help is always my starting point.

These exercises are for everyone who has had breast surgery, lymph node removal and/or radiation. If you do not have lymphoedema these exercises can reduce your risk of it occurring, and if you already have lymphoedema these exercises can help reduce swelling and prevent it from progressing. Always get consent from your oncologist to start these exercises.

What is Lymphoedema?

Lymphoedema is a swelling (oedema) that develops when lymph fluid builds up in the tissues of part of the body.

What causes lymphoedema?

If you have had breast cancer surgery and/or radiation, you may be at risk of lymphoedema. Surgery and radiation can damage the lymph vessels in and around the breast and surgery also often includes the removal of some or all lymph nodes in your armpit on the affected side. When lymph nodes have been damaged or removed, lymph fluid may not be able to drain as it should and instead builds up in the tissues, causing swelling. Breast cancer related lymphoedema (BCRL) can cause swelling of the trunk, breast, arm and hand on the affected side.

People who have had surgery followed by radiation therapy to the armpit are more at risk of experiencing this side effect.

“The great news is that most people who are at risk never develop lymphoedema as the body is amazing at healing and adapting, finding ways to bypass the damaged lymph vessels and nodes. However, lymphoedema can affect people at any time – during active treatment or months or years after treatment”

What you need to know about lymphoedema after breast cancer surgery

This is very important to read if you have had any lymph nodes removed. Your surgeon and nurses will explain the risk of lymphoedema to you when you are in hospital for your surgery. But, as with a lot of information which is given to you right now, you may not take in what they say. So here is our top ten list of all things lymphoedema We’ve written this article from our own experience as patients and we encourage you to speak to your medical team about your personal situation. 1. With fewer, or no, lymph nodes in your…

Understanding the lymphatic system

The lymphatic system is part of the immune system. It also maintains fluid balance and plays a role in absorbing fats and fat-soluble nutrients.

The lymphatic or lymph system involves an extensive network of vessels that passes through almost all our tissues to allow for the movement of a fluid called lymph. Lymph circulates through the body in a similar way to blood.

There are about 600 lymph nodes found in the body. These nodes swell in response to infection, due to a build-up of lymph fluid, bacteria, or other organisms and immune system cells.

Signs of lymphoedema

Signs to look for include swelling; a feeling of tightness, heaviness or fullness in the fingers, wrist or the whole arm; and aching in the affected area. These signs may begin gradually, and they may come and go. Some people experience pain, redness or fever, which can be caused by an infection called cellulitis in the area with lymphoedema.

If you have any of these symptoms, see your doctor as soon as possible. The condition is easier to manage if it is diagnosed and treated early.

Lymphoedema Specialist Services

Referral to a specialist lymphoedema team can be very helpful, they can assess you and offer regular monitoring for lymphoedema. They can also fit you for compression garments that can help reduce swelling. They may also offer you treatments such as lymphoedema massage or low-level laser treatments to help with lymph flow and drainage.

Upper Limb Lymph Drainage Exercises

How do these exercises work?

These simple, gentle exercises can help the proteins in lymph fluid to be reabsorbed. The gentle contraction of the muscles in and around your trunk, chest, arm and shoulder can assist lymph fluid to move back to your blood circulation. Returning the lymph back to the blood should reduce swelling and gently support your lymphatic system. These daily exercises should only take around 15 minutes a day.

If you already have lymphoedema these exercises can:

• assists lymph drainage
• reduce ache if your arm is heavy,
• keep your joints supple and muscles strong
• strengthen postural muscles that can help relieve discomfort around the neck and shoulders caused by the extra weight in your arm
• help to make everyday activities easier.

Keeping Exercises safe

• Be sure to discuss these exercises with your doctor before you start.
• If you have recently had surgery, wait until your surgical drains and sutures are out before trying these exercises.
• If you have been prescribed a compression sleeve, please always wear this when exercising.
• All exercises should be comfortable, strain and pain-free, even over-stretching your muscles can increase you risk of lymphoedema.
• All exercises should be done in a gentle, rhythmical way with the body warm and comfortable
• Stop exercising if your arm begins to swell or turn red.

I have created a Lymph Drainage Exercise poster to guide you through these exercises:

About the author

India Gooderham is a trained physiotherapist specialising in oncology and palliative care.

Breast cancer support: book classes, therapies and workshops

In-person or online, wherever you are in the UK. Future Dreams offers a wide variety of group and individual support for women at any stage of a breast cancer journey.

Further information

Future Dreams hold a range of support groups, classes, workshops and events to help you and your carers during your breast cancer diagnosis. These are held both online and in person at the London-based Future Dreams House. To see what’s on offer and to book your place, see here.

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Reviewed April 2023

The information and content provided in all guest articles is intended for information and educational purposes only and is not intended to substitute for professional medical advice. It is important that all personalised care decisions should be made by your medical team. Please contact your medical team for advice on anything covered in this article and/or in relation to your personal situation. Please note that unless otherwise stated, Future Dreams has no affiliation to the guest author of this article and he/she/they have not been paid to write this article. There may be alternative options/products/information available which we encourage you to research when making decisions about treatment and support. The content of this article was created by India Gooderman and we accept no responsibility for the accuracy or otherwise of the contents of this article. The links and/or recommendations in this article to third-party resources are for your information and we take no responsibility for the content contained in those third-party resources. Any product recommendations made in this article are not product endorsements and unless otherwise stated, they are made without any affiliation to the brand of that product. We ask you to note that there may be other similar products available.