“Can lymphedema be caused by radiation therapy?”
I had radiation therapy for breast cancer, and some time after I was diagnosed with lymphedema. Did this develop from the radiation?
3 Answers
It's usually caused by surgical removal of the lymph nodes in axilla (node dissection). Radiation can make it worse.
Lymphedema generally occurs when some lymph nodes are removed like when you have a sentinel nodes biopsy or axillary node dissection. Radiation alone without lymph node removal can also cause it but this is more rare.