All patients who receive removal of the lymph nodes in the axilla (axillary dissection) as part of their treatment for breast carcinoma can present to our lymph consultation in Benrath after 6 months.
Lymphoedema often only manifests itself years after treatment. Our lymphatic system has the ability to regenerate itself and compensate a lot of harm done to it, however only up to a certain degree.
After that, symptoms such as:
- swelling of the arm,
- heaviness of arm or
- infection of the affected limb (erysipelas).
There are ways to diagnose a blockage in the drainage of lymphatic fluids before its clinical manifestation:
As lymphedema commonly becomes a chronic condition and conservative treatments such as the wearing of compression garments and complex manual lymphatic drainage are the only options when it comes to its therapy this early diagnostic poses an opportunity to offer reconstructive lymphatic surgery at an early stage.
Nowadays we are able to transplant lymph nodes and install lymphovenous anastomoses (microsurgically installed connections between a vein and a single lymph vessel) to transport the pent-up fluid away from the affected area.
We have established a center for reconstructive lymphatic surgery in our clinic, “Sana Krankenhaus Benrath” in Düsseldorf, where we have performed lymph reconstructive surgeries on more than 300 patients over the past 5 years.
The results show that the success rate of the surgical treatment of said condition is higher the earlier it is performed, and the less tissue remodeling had already taken place.
It is therefore all the more important to recognise possible symptoms and problems at an early stage. As a participant in our Lymphoprevent study, you have the opportunity to recognise emerging symptoms and problems at an early stage.
Targeting patients who are at risk of developing lymphedema the aim of the „Lymphoprevent Study“ is to educate and monitor the aforementioned and to consequently be able to take action in early stages once the lymphedema occurs.
Please speak to the team of the senology department if you are interested in taking part in the program. In this way your data will be forwarded to our department and we can initiate the contact with you and arrange a consultation appointment. Or write to us using the following form and we will get back to you as soon as possible!
