Breast Cancer’s “Dirty Little Secret”
“Suzanne’s” breast cancer was in remission – but her breasts were still so painful that she couldn’t bear to have her husband touch her. She came to the clinic of physical therapist Lesli Bell almost in tears, telling Bell that her pain was like a “migraine in her chest”.
Suzanne was one of a large and growing number of breast cancer survivors with truncal lymphedema (lymphedema of the breast, chest, and/or back). Although some studies suggest that up to 80% of women may develop truncal lymphedema after certain breast cancer diagnosis and treatment procedures, the condition remains largely unacknowledged in the medical community – a kind of “dirty secret” behind the advances in breast cancer treatment. Like the better-known lymphedema of the extremities, truncal lymphedema occurs when protein-rich lymphatic fluid accumulates in tissues, causing swelling, tenderness, and infection. However, unlike most lymphedema of the limbs, truncal lymphedema can be agonizingly painful.
Bell treated Suzanne with Complete Decongestive Therapy, a combination of lymph drainage, infection prevention, and self-maintenance techniques. After several treatments, Suzanne experienced a 90% reduction in her symptoms and enjoyed a quality of life she hadn’t had for years.
Now Lesli and Suzanne faced another challenge. A crucial part of Suzanne’s self-care regimen was the use of compression to prevent the re-accumulation of fluid, but there were no compression garments on the market for the trunk and breast area. Lesli ended up having to design and manufacture a compression garment herself, which give Suzanne the comfort and freedom she needed to live normally again.
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