Lymphedema and does anastrozole cause swollen feet?

Posted by kamra @kamra, Sep 9 7:39pm

Background: I had bilateral lumpectomies last year--stage 1 breast cancer. One node removed on left side for the more aggressive tumor. Interestingly, they had a really hard time finding the sentinel node--they tried for four and a half hours the day before to find it. They finally found it on the day of surgery. I developed lymphedema this spring after flying and using a heavy camera for a week. It's stage 1 and I manage with a compression sleeve. I don't wear the gauntlet because it bothers my hand, which has mild Dupuytren's Contracture. Now I'm starting to have some hand pain--but I don't know if it's because I'm on the computer a lot. I don't know if Anastrozole could be contributing. And just in the last week, my shoes have started to feel tight, like my feet are swelling. There's so much going on that I don't know where most of it is coming from. Sorry for whining a little. But it's really confusing. Anyone have issues with swelling from Anastrozole? Any combination of arm/feet swelling? Any Dupuytren's? Thanks!

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@kamra

Does the flying make your lymphedema worse? Does it stabilize when you come home? I'm a little afraid to fly, but I want to. Thank you for your feedback. I appreciate it.

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It does, if I don’t take some precautions. Compression sleeve on the affected side is a must for me. Also if I don’t get up and walk to the back of the cabin every half an hour, or at least stand up and stretch and walk in place my feet might swell. I wear a light compression sock since that isn’t lymphadema exactly but my feet will sometimes swell on those long flights. The added benefit is that it cuts your risk for a blood clot.
Frankly, I hate flying, it always leaves me feeling physically crappy, but it is occasionally a necessary evil. Especially when I love the results of the in person meetings and visiting someplace that is unfamiliar and getting to see new places.
Since you are far enough out from treatment, with some forethought, I can’t see why you shouldn’t. Have you reached out to your medical team about the swelling in your feet and the lymphadema after your last adventure?
I am dying to know where you want to go and take pictures, have you thought about trying to lighten your load by carrying a lighter camera?

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I am not sure but you could also check with your doctor if it is water retention. I had swelling and heaviness in my legs during my chemos and after doing the MRI my doctor realised it was water retention. Just a small dose for a week relieved me from the suffering!

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@kamra

Thank you for your story. I do yoga, but not frequently enough. I'm going to up my game on that. My lymphedema therapist said they don't know enough but it could be that people who don't have a "sentinel" lymph node but just nodes that all work together may be more likely to get lymphedema when one is removed. It's an interesting theory.

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It IS an interesting theory. The doctors never addressed that part of the pathology report and I never advocated. I frequently wonder in my head if the lymph node dissection was accurate because that one wasn’t found.
If I think of all my doctor groups, the only one I can ask is my oncologist. A lot of practices are only starting to release electronic health records and I recently discovered that in my MRI report (I get 1 every 2 years), it said ‘benign finding on left side, been there awhile.’ It’s a long story…but to sum up, it wasn’t well received when I called to ask what that meant because I had unresolved feelings from realizing that there had also been a record of an “inconclusive ultrasound” (which was on my left side) and the answer was that those were different doctors. Then I was told that whatever it is, (they aren’t sure,) didn’t enhance on the MRI so it was benign, but I could have it biopsied when I have my next one. And I certainly intend to.

Sorry I got off the lymphedema topic!

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@auntieoakley

It does, if I don’t take some precautions. Compression sleeve on the affected side is a must for me. Also if I don’t get up and walk to the back of the cabin every half an hour, or at least stand up and stretch and walk in place my feet might swell. I wear a light compression sock since that isn’t lymphadema exactly but my feet will sometimes swell on those long flights. The added benefit is that it cuts your risk for a blood clot.
Frankly, I hate flying, it always leaves me feeling physically crappy, but it is occasionally a necessary evil. Especially when I love the results of the in person meetings and visiting someplace that is unfamiliar and getting to see new places.
Since you are far enough out from treatment, with some forethought, I can’t see why you shouldn’t. Have you reached out to your medical team about the swelling in your feet and the lymphadema after your last adventure?
I am dying to know where you want to go and take pictures, have you thought about trying to lighten your load by carrying a lighter camera?

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I take photos of wildlife and need my telephoto lens. The whole thing weighs about 5 pounds. I've gotten smarter about not trying to carry it for miles. I flew to Costa Rica, and when I came home I had lymphedema. I didn't think I was at risk, so I didn't wear a sleeve at all. Not too smart, as it turns out. I see one of my doctors in two weeks, so I'll mention it. I'd love to go back to Africa. That was the best. I do have compression socks I bought for long drives and flights. Thank you!

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@varsha08

I am not sure but you could also check with your doctor if it is water retention. I had swelling and heaviness in my legs during my chemos and after doing the MRI my doctor realised it was water retention. Just a small dose for a week relieved me from the suffering!

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Thank you!!

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@lcr2017

It IS an interesting theory. The doctors never addressed that part of the pathology report and I never advocated. I frequently wonder in my head if the lymph node dissection was accurate because that one wasn’t found.
If I think of all my doctor groups, the only one I can ask is my oncologist. A lot of practices are only starting to release electronic health records and I recently discovered that in my MRI report (I get 1 every 2 years), it said ‘benign finding on left side, been there awhile.’ It’s a long story…but to sum up, it wasn’t well received when I called to ask what that meant because I had unresolved feelings from realizing that there had also been a record of an “inconclusive ultrasound” (which was on my left side) and the answer was that those were different doctors. Then I was told that whatever it is, (they aren’t sure,) didn’t enhance on the MRI so it was benign, but I could have it biopsied when I have my next one. And I certainly intend to.

Sorry I got off the lymphedema topic!

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Isn't it true that if we could go through it again (not that we want to!!) we'd know so much more. Yes, my tumor on the right side they said was just hanging out and not active, and they said I didn't have to have radiation on it---it was up to me. But they told me my breasts might be different sizes if I didn't. So I elected to have some--I think 8 treatments. Same thing--they had a hard time determining if it even needed to be addressed.

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