🎗️ The Journey Beyond Cancer Treatment

Finishing cancer treatment is a major milestone! While this phase brings relief and excitement, the post-treatment stage is one of healing—and it comes with unique challenges. Cancer treatments are designed to improve outcomes, but they may also affect nearby organs or tissues, leading to side effects that can appear months or even years later. One lesser-known late side effect is lymphedema.

🔬 What is Lymphedema?

Lymphedema is a condition where swelling occurs due to a buildup of lymph in the soft tissues of a limb. Lymph is a protein-rich fluid that is part of the lymphatic system.

🔍 The Role of the Lymphatic System

Your lymphatic system plays a critical role in (1):

• ✅ Protecting against infections (removing germs & toxins)
• ✅ Draining extra fluid from tissues back into the bloodstream
• ✅ Removing waste like damaged or abnormal cells
• ✅ Transporting fats & vitamins from your digestive system to other parts of the body.

📊 Lymphedema in Cancer Survivors

Lymphedema is common in individuals who have undergone cancer treatments involving:

• Lymph node removal (surgery)
• Radiation therapy (damaging lymph nodes)

👉 Higher Risk: The more lymph nodes affected, the greater the likelihood of developing lymphedema (2). People with breast cancer have a higher risk of lymphedema because they have a lot of lymph nodes under the arm that may be removed during surgery or affected by radiation.

Although not widely discussed, it is estimated that 155,000 Canadian cancer survivors were affected by lymphedema in 2017 (3-4).

🚦 Stages of Lymphedema: What to Expect

Like cancer, lymphedema progresses through different stages (5):

• Stage 0 🔵: No visible swelling, but feelings of tightness, heaviness, or tingling in a limb.
• Stage 1 🟢: Swelling may come and go. If you press your finger into the skin, the indent stays for a few seconds. Elevation helps.
• Stage 2 🟡: Swelling does not go away with elevation. The affected area may feel harder, more painful, or difficult to move.
• Stage 3 🔴: The most severe stage
  • Major swelling limits movement
  • Swelling causes pain and pressure
  • Skin becomes more prone to infections
  • Body image and confidence may be impacted (6).

🍽️ Nutrition & Lymphedema: 5 Key Considerations

While compression therapy, movement, and exercise are often used to manage lymphedema, nutrition plays a crucial role too (3,7)!

1️⃣ 🧂 Control Sodium Intake

• Why? Excess sodium or salt causes the body to hold onto more fluid, worsening swelling (7).
• Tip: Choose naturally low-sodium foods:
  • Fresh vegetables & fruits 🍎🥦
  • Lean meats 🍗
  • Yogurt & milk 🥛
  • Whole grains (quinoa, brown rice, barley) 🌾

2️⃣ 💧 Stay Hydrated

• Why? Unlike other types of swelling, reducing fluids is NOT recommended for lymphedema. If you’re dehydrated, your body holds onto more fluid, worsening swelling (7).
• Tip: To stay hydrated, choose fluids like:
  • Water 💦 (all varieties)
  • Milk or plant-based alternatives 🥛
  • Herbal tea 🍵
  • Decaffeinated coffee ☕

3️⃣ 🍗 Eat Enough Protein

• Why? Protein supports wound healing & muscle maintenance (8).
• Risk: Excess fluid from lymphedema can help bacteria grow, which increases the risk of infection if wounds develop (9).
• Tip: Incorporate lean proteins like:
  • Chicken 🍗
  • Fish 🐟
  • Tofu & beans 🫘

4️⃣ 🌾 Prioritize Fibre

• Why? Incorporating enough fibre in our diet can prevent or reduce chronic inflammation from inflammatory conditions, like lymphedema, obesity, high blood cholesterol, and more (7).
• Tip: Aim for 30g of fibre per day (10).
• Food Sources:
  • Whole grains 🌾
  • Fruits & vegetables 🥕🍓
  • Nuts, seeds, beans, lentils 🥜 🫘

5️⃣ 🥑 Consider Fat Intake

• Why? The lymphatic system absorbs fat from food. A high-fat diet may stress this system, worsening lymphedema (7).
• Tip: A lower fat diet is not needed for everyone with lymphedema, but may be helpful in certain cases.
• Food Sources:
  • Cooking oils (canola, olive, avocado, etc.) 🫒
  • Avocado 🥑
  • Nuts and seeds 🥜
  • Milk and cheese 🥛 🧀
  • Eggs 🥚
  • Meat, poultry, and fish 🍗 🐟

💪 Empowering Your Recovery

Managing lymphedema requires a holistic approach—including mental health support, nutrition, and movement.

At Revive Wellness, we are committed to providing personalized support to help you take control of your health.

📞 Book a free discovery call with our cancer dietitian, Laura, to learn how nutrition can help you thrive! 🌱💛