Lymphoedema after breast cancer treatment

In the pooled prospective cohorts of a meta-analysis of 72 studies, 21.4 percent of women developed arm lymphoedema after breast cancer, about four times more often after axillary lymph node dissection (19.9 percent) than after sentinel node biopsy (5.6 percent); the incidence rose over the first two years, and the risk factors with the strongest evidence were extensive surgery and being overweight or obese. Breast Cancer Now says the swelling may come and go at first and be worse at the end of the day, and that tightness, a dull ache, heaviness, tingling, numbness or dry skin can come before any visible swelling. NICE NG101 (2025) says to give information about the risk before treatment starts, including how to self-monitor and take baseline measurements; that physical activity does not cause or worsen it; that there is no consistent evidence of increased risk from air travel, hot countries, manicures, hot tubs, sports injuries or from blood tests, injections and blood pressure measurement on the treated side; not to offer compression as a risk-reducing measure; to refer to a specialist lymphoedema service as soon as possible once it develops; and to offer compression therapy as the first stage of management. The NHS calls the treatment decongestive lymphatic therapy: compression, skin care, exercise and specialised massage, followed by a maintenance phase you run yourself. Cellulitis in a swollen arm is the complication to know about, because it needs antibiotics quickly. This is orientation from public patient pages, guidelines and the trials themselves, not advice for your case: your own team's instructions and 24-hour number come first, and no figure on this page is a prediction about you.