Ok so you know that I was diagnosed with breast cancer going on 6 years ago and shortly after I was diagnosed my doctor went back in and put a medical port in under my collar bone and went ahead and removed a large group of lymph nodes from under my left arm. I had asked the doctor to only take out a couple but he went rather aggressive and removed 22 lymph nodes. I really did not want that many removed because me being me I had done a lot of research on it and I knew the more lymph nodes he took the more likely I would end up developing lymphedema.
So to reduce the risk of lymphedema you need to follow a few precautions.
First you do not let them withdraw blood on the affected arm, never ever use that affected arm for blood work.
Second you can never have your blood pressure taken on that arm. Now if you ever have surgery you need to make sure that you let everyone know they cannot start a new IV on that arm and no blood pressures. I have woken up from surgery to a recovery room nurse trying to take a blood pressure on that arm and telling me to stop being combative, she is lucky I could not reach her with my other arm or she may have learned what I am like combative I am just saying. Now when I have surgery I take a washable marker and write down that arm no blood pressure or iv’s on that arm. Don’t use a permanent marker it will come off it just takes more time.
You cannot ever get your cuticles cut during a manicure again. If you get a cut or scrape on that arm you need to be more careful and watch for signs of infection. They recommend using an electric razor when shaving your armpits. I mention this because I ended up developing lymphedema in my left arm and start treatments for it this week. I am not looking forward to it.