Vim & Vigor - Fall 2017 - Community Healthcare - 12

LE&RN. "The more people that come
out and the more people that say they
need help, if we all band together,
we give it-as we call it-a face. Then
I dare people not to pay attention."

What Is LYMPHEDEMA?

When the body's lymphatic system
is working correctly, "it is part of the
essential machinery to maintain balance
everywhere in the body," says Stanley
Rockson, MD, who specializes in lymphatic diseases and is a member of the
International Society of Lymphology.
The body forms liters of fluids in its
tissues, and much of that fluid must
travel through the lymphatic system
back to the heart, Rockson says.
Lymphedema occurs when the ability
to transport fluid is impaired. It begins
as a "plumbing problem," Rockson says,
with fluid accumulating just below the
surface of the skin, causing one area-
typically an arm or a leg-to swell.
Long term, lymphedema involves
much more than fluid accumulation.

In advanced cases, the condition causes
changes in the skin, including thickening and hardening. The affected area
becomes enlarged, first because of fluid
buildup, later because of the diminished
quality of the skin.

Cancer's MANY
CONSEQUENCES

The most common causes of lymphedema are related to cancer treatment.
The lymphatic system is the path cancers use to migrate from a primary
tumor to the rest of the body. When
surgeons want to determine the stage
of a cancer that has spread, they take
samples from lymph nodes, causing
damage to the lymphatic system.
"It's like testing for termites by
taking out part of the house-you've
weakened the house," Rockson says.
Radiation treatment for cancer also
targets lymph nodes, because that's
where residual cancer cells are. To
eradicate cancer, the lymphatic system
is significantly compromised.

"There are improvements, but we
can't get away from lymph node sampling" or radiation therapy to control
a lot of these cancers, Rockson says.
Between 15 and 25 percent of breast
cancer survivors who underwent extensive treatment will develop lymphedema, Rockson adds. The likelihood
is higher for those who are treated for
other types of cancer, such as cervical
and endometrial.

Profound EFFECTS

Suffering from lymphedema is akin to
carrying 15 pounds of weight on one
part of your body but not anywhere else,
says Repicci, of LE&RN.
Those with lymphedema face a
host of difficulties: traveling by plane,
because high altitudes exacerbate
the condition; engaging in intimacy,

THINGS YOU (PROBABLY)
DON'T KNOW ABOUT

KATHY BATES
1 Kathy Bates was 42 when she landed the role that catapulted her into

2
3

5
6
7

Sources: IMDb.com, TVGuide.com, AARP.org, Fandango.com

FA L L 2017

PHOTO BY GETTY IMAGES/MICHAEL TRAN

the limelight, playing psychotic nurse Annie Wilkes in the movie Misery,
based on the Stephen King novel. For that movie, she won the 1991
Academy Award for best actress in a leading role.
One of her movies, 2002's About Schmidt, included a nude hot tub
scene with Jack Nicholson.
Her TV debut was on the show The Love Boat. She played a bride on a
segment that aired Jan. 7, 1978.
She's a native of Memphis, Tennessee, and a graduate of Southern
Methodist University in Dallas.
She once worked as a singing waitress at a Catskills resort.
Her extensive theater credits include a role written just for her by playwright Terrence McNally. She starred as Frankie in a 1987 off-Broadway
production of McNally's Frankie & Johnny in the Clair de Lune.
She loves driving and owns an RV.

http://www.IMDb.com http://www.TVGuide.com http://www.AARP.org http://www.Fandango.com

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