Lymphoedema: The 'hidden' cancer side-effect no one talks about

Patients who beat cancer can be left with an incurable ,chronic and painful condition.Sufferers and doctors alike are fighting to bring this hidden condition to light..

Lymphoedema is a chronic condition causing excessive swelling due to a damaged lymphatic system, which is crucial for fluid balance , immune function, and waste removal in the body . This system consists of glands and vessels that filter and return to the bloodstream and circulate white blood cells to fight infections.

Kimberley Steele, a former bariatric surgeon and lymphatic research manager, explains that the lymphatic system permeates every organ but is invisible to surgeons due to its translucent vessels. The system's dysfunction is linked to chronic disorders like heart failure , Alzheimer's , inflammatory bowel disease , and cancer. Despite its complexity , the vital role of the lymphatic system often goes unnoticed until it is impaired. 

A Silent Pandemic:

Lymphoedema can affect anyone, regardless of gender, age , ethnicity, or socioeconomic status , explain Karen Friett, chief executive at the Lymphoedema Support Network. The condition , often a result of cancer treatments such as surgery or radiotherapy , causes significant swelling due to damaged lymph nodes. It affects one in five women treated for breast cancer, betwee 2-29% of prostate cancer patients, and 90% of head and neck cancer patients.

Lymphoedema can also be genetic (primary lymphoedema) or result from injury , obesity, or infection(secondary lymphoedema).Hazledine recounts that some cancer survivors find lymphoedema more challenging than cancer itself. Despite being a common and severe condition, it is often underdiagnosed, undersearched, and underfunded, leading to delayed diagnoses and worsening symptoms.